By BRIAN RATHBONE • The Bulletin

Mountain View will open its football season at home against Springfield on Aug. 30 and try to make another run at claiming its first state championship since 2011.

The Cougars came oh so close to winning the Class 5A state title less than nine months ago. But just missing out on an undefeated season has fueled the returning players to prove that last year was not a flash in the pan.

“They were hungry,” said Mountain View coach Brian Crum. “We didn’t do a lot of offseason football-related work because I wanted them to stay a little hungry. It is a neat group because I haven’t seen the entitlement. I haven’t seen that with this group. They legitimately understand that they have to work.”

Last fall, Mountain View boasted one of the best runs in program history. The Cougars rolled off 12 consecutive victories, won the Intermountain Conference title and scored 40-plus points in each of their first three playoff games.

In the state championship game against Wilsonville, Mountain View marched down the field and into the red zone in the closing seconds with a chance to win the game with a touchdown. But the Cougars were unable to punch the ball in and came up just short of claiming the program’s second state title, falling to the Wildcats 29-23.

“A couple days after the championship the younger guys who are coming up to varsity were texting me saying, ‘We want it just as bad,’” said senior wideout Jack Foley. “We had the taste in our mouths. We knew how close we were.”

Added senior lineman Garren White: “Everyone was left with a sense of hunger. We all really want to get back. We are working hard and we are holding ourselves accountable.”

This Mountain View team will look vastly different from previous years. A 22-player senior class graduated, including the IMC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year (quarterback Connor Crum and defensive end Eli Clason).

But the Cougars return some fire power in junior running back Angel Valenzuela (1,611 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2023), Foley (592 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns), and White — all of whom were all-state selections last season and are motivated to make another deep run in the postseason.

“I know how special we can be,” said senior defensive back Brady Kennedy. “Ever since those seniors left, we knew that we weren’t going to be able to make any excuses. We were the ones who had to show how good we can be and put in the work.”

Said Valenzuela: “I think our young guys will step up and fill the roles. I’m excited to see what we are going to do with what we got.”

Mountain View must replenish several positions on its defense — primarily the defensive line — that allowed fewer than 10 points in nine of its games last season. A couple of spots on the offensive line will be filled with new players as well, and one of the most notable replacements will be under center.

Senior Mason Chambers will take over at quarterback for the Cougars, replacing Connor Crum, who started 26 games over the previous three seasons and accounted for 28 touchdowns last season.

“He’s going to fit right in,” Foley said of Chambers. “He’s coming in with a championship mindset like the rest of us.”

Mountain View and several other local football teams will start their seasons a week earlier than normal by playing a Week Zero game on Aug. 30. On one hand, the earlier start to the seasons allow teams a bye week at midseason. On the other hand, they have less time to prepare for their first games.

“We want to be in shape from a conditioning standpoint,” Brian Crum said. “We want to be clean and efficient in what we do. On defense, can we run around, play really fast, communicate, get a turnover or two and tackle really well? Offensively, can we consistently move the ball, not turn it over, and let our game-changers be game-changers?”