.
MOUNTAIN HOME BOMBERS – FOOTBALL
Mountain Home went 9–3 last season and enters 2026 with a strong culture, a demanding schedule and a roster that blends emerging youth with a handful of proven leaders. Head coach Steve Ary, backed by a seasoned staff, says he is excited about “a bunch young guys looking to make a name for themselves” while a few returning veterans guide the way. He credits last year’s senior class with developing a good culture, and the program’s focus now is to build on that standard rather than reinvent it.
Offensively, Mountain Home is in transition but not backing away from its identity. The Bombers return only one offensive starter, senior center Calin Frownfelter (listed around 6‑2, 250), who anchors the line and provides stability up front. Ary describes the offense as multiple, with the philosophy centered on moving the chains and scoring points rather than favoring run or pass. One staff note explains that they use the passing game to set up the run, pairing formation variety with an intent to keep defenses off balance. Another note frames them as a spread offense that is “wide open at just about every position,” reflecting the reality that jobs are up for grabs and the team doesn’t yet have a locked‑in quarterback or experienced receiving corps. The coaches are searching for playmakers, but they are clear about the goal: score points, whether that comes through the air or on the ground.
Defensively, Mountain Home has more returning production and a clearer sense of who it is. The Bombers bring back four impact defenders and operate out of a multiple scheme that can toggle between odd and even fronts. Ary and his staff emphasize stopping the run and eliminating explosive plays, acknowledging that big plays allowed last year often turned directly into points and must be reduced. Senior defensive end Ford Coleman (6‑3, 235) is the tone‑setter; he’s described as a “weight room warrior” who benches 325 pounds and inclines 305, plays with anger and aggression, and is considered the strongest player on the team with two offers already in hand. Senior defensive back Gus Wilber (around 6‑0, 170) is praised as one of the best people the coaches have ever met, constantly lifting others up and volunteering in the community, including mission‑trip work.
Linebackers Kobe Dotson and Saxton Bodenhamer, along with DE/LB Elijah Hillstrom and linebacker Nazsier Johnson, round out what should be a tough, active front seven. Another staff note lists Coleman, Hillstrom, Wilber, DB Jake Thomas, Dotson and Bodenhamer as the core of a defense that will switch fronts but must fix its tendency to give up explosive plays. Taken together, the comments from Ary and his assistants paint a clear picture: Mountain Home is proud of its recent success and locker‑room culture, but fully aware that this year’s path will depend on how quickly new offensive pieces settle in and whether the defense can turn toughness and effort into consistently stingy Friday‑night performances.
