23 seniors aim to prove Farmers still potent

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

FARMINGTON – One year ago, Farmington football was loaded with 21 seniors and 19 returning starters – a talented core that put together the finest season in school history.

This year, the Farmers return just two starters to a defense that was the heart of their success in last year’s run to the Class 2A semifinals. Five returnees are back on offense but the quarterback position is still uncertain.

Down year?

Hold on a second, says Coach Toby Vallas, pointing 23 seniors on the 2025 roster – many of whom are finally getting their chance to shine.

“I think it’s deceptive because we have a lot of guys who were good players as juniors who just got put behind a special class,” Vallas said. “I think this can be a special class, too. We’ve got some talented guys who got to practice for 13 weeks last year against a great group.”

As examples, Vallas points to seniors 6-foot-4, 245-pound Noah Passmore and 6-3, 195-pound Thomas Seaborn. “Any other year, those guys are playing everywhere, every down,” Vallas said.

This year, they will be, at least on defense, where Passmore is a starting defensive end and Seaborn is part of a strong linebacking crew. Passmore will also start on offense at left tackle. There are similar stories throughout the lineup, Vallas said.

There’s a cost to all those promotions. Juniors who last year provided great depth have been replaced by a less robust 12-member junior class.

“In all honesty, is the ceiling as high as last year? Maybe not, because of the depth we had,” Vallas said. “But I would not undersell this group of seniors, either.”

The offense will be led by a strong receiving corps featuring senior Jack Gronewold (6-3, 210), who led Farmington with 1,050 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions. Gronewold has committed to play linebacker at the University of North Dakota and says the decision is a big relief.

“It’s a monster weight lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about any more recruiting and can just focus on football and winning games.”

Two other prime pass-catching threats are senior Boston Smith, a speedy two-year starter who will sit out the season opener, and 6-4, 190-pound senior Landon Crawford – who Vallas said is poised for a breakout season after catching 18 balls for 240 yards and five TDs last year.

Add senior backup Kyle Miller and there’s plenty of threats outside.

“Right now with the receiver corps we have, I think our bread and butter is going to be our offense,” Crawford said. “Our offense is super, super easy to learn, but it’s super beneficial.”

The question to be determined is who will throw the ball? The early nod will likely go to 6-1 senior Treyven Haroldson, who is more of a running threat but has “come a long way and been a really great decision-maker this year,” according to Vallas.

One complication is that Haroldson is also a key cog on defense as a defensive back.
“I don’t think we can be without Treyven on defense. He’s been that good all summer,” Vallas said. “But we haven’t played a quarterback on defense for awhile.”

If not Haroldson, 6-4 freshman Carson Noy has shown poise beyond his years. Gronewold could also play QB in a pinch, especially if a nagging ankle injury slows him at wideout.

“Whoever it is, we’ve got to get the ball into (the wide receiver’s) hands,” Vallas said. “If we can get it in their hands, those guys will be dangerous.”

Speedy junior Noah Fleming will be the featured running back, though senior Gage Smith and Bradyn Brewer will also get carries.

Up front, Vallas said a revamped line looks “really good,” though depth is an issue. Returning senior starters are center Bryse Hunter and guard Carter Gavelys. Junior Garrett Perkins is a guard and 6-5, 245-pound Kaydon Bollinger is the other tackle.

Defensively, things are more in flux. Vallas says the linebackers look the sharpest, the line is solid and the defensive backs will be a strength if they get past nagging injuries.

Passmore and Bollinger will be defensive ends, with Carson Horn (6-foot, 275) and Jaxon Darsham (5-11, 210) splitting time at nose guard.

Perkins is a returning starter at lineback and will be joined by Seaborn, Ethan Martin and Gage Smith.
Gronewold and Haroldson are safeties and Barrett Demmin and Craword will play cornerback.

“We have a lot of people to prove wrong. A lot of people are doubting us because we had a monster senior class last year that graduated,” Gronewold said. “We have a lot to prove every day and it drives us to be better.”