Rocky Mountain 22, Eagle 15

The Mustangs finally met a defense capable of wrangling quarterback Ben Ford, while the Grizzly offense pushed just enough in the closing moments to escape with a first-place standing in the Southern Idaho Conference West Division. 

Running back Max Lehman tallied 206 yards and two touchdowns, rebounding from a pair of fumbles in the first half. Despite the miscues, Rocky Mountain kept Eagle at bay, holding the Mustangs scoreless through the first half. Ford did his best down the stretch, throwing for 156 yards, but a lack of dynamic play couldn’t break the fourth-quarter tie at 15.

Grizzly quarterback Kobe Warr found receiver Justin Douglas in the end zone in the final minutes, giving Rocky Mountain just enough gas to make it to the finish line. 

Rocky Mountain will play Kuna Oct. 2, while Eagle plays Meridian.

Lakeland 39, Lewiston 24

After smoky skies and unhealthy air forced the Bengals and Hawks indoors, Lakeland took advantage of the pseudo home game inside the University of Idaho Kibbie Dome, handing Lewiston its second consecutive loss. 

Kash Lang made a name for himself in the Inland Empire as a dual-threat menace, but against a stingy Hawk defense failed to prevent the upset. Instead, it was quarterback Devon Suko who lit up the scoreboard, throwing for 234 yards. 

Lakeland will face another 5A opponent in Post Falls Sept. 25. Lewiston will face Sandpoint. 

Highland 31, Pocatello 7

The Rams notched their 10th consecutive win in the Black and Blue Bowl, defeating their second Pocatello-based team in two weeks. 

Highland performed in all three phases, with quarterback Easton Durham throwing 165 yards and a score, while rushing for another 64 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Hayden Good recovered a muffed punt, and junior Ian Hershey nailed a field goal from 44 yards out. 

Pocatello’s lone score of the game came on an 82-yard pass to Casey Bruner from Zach Parker. 

Highland moves on to Madison Sept. 25, while Pocatello takes on Idaho Falls.

Skyline 14, Blackfoot 3

The Broncos failed to live up to the hype, dropping a tight contest shortly after earning first-place votes in the statewide media and coaches polls this week. 

Quarterback Cade Marlow tallied 152 yards through the air for the Grizzlies, while Abrahn Silverio and Eli Ames kept pace for a combined 133 yards.

On defense, Skyline managed to contain the Broncos’ main playmaker Teegan Thomas. The Blackfoot star running back managed just 45 yards. 

The Grizzlies, now a serious contender in the 4A High Country Conference, play Bonneville Sept. 25. Blackfoot looks to rebound against Preston Sept. 25.

Vallivue 20, Middleton 19

Just a few yards separated the Middleton Vikings and the prevention of a major 4A upset Friday night. 

Faced with the decision to go for two or kick an extra point to tie the game at 20, Middleton Coach Bill Brock rolled the dice on the former. Unfortunately for the Vikings, quarterback Ky McClure’s pass missed its mark, and the Falcons escaped with the one-point win. 

McClure failed to recreate the fireworks of last week, throwing for 114 yards, one touchdown and one interception. On the ground, Vallivue’s Casey Cope and Santiago Diaz combined for 130 yards on the ground and a pair of scores. The Falcon defense bottled up McClure’s attempts to scramble, holding the junior signal caller to negative-22 yards on the ground. 

Vallivue, now the top team in the 4A SIC, plays conference rival Caldwell Sept. 25. Middleton plays Ridgevue Sept. 25. 

Century 21, Idaho Falls 10

The Diamondbacks handed 5A Idaho Falls its fourth loss of the season, as the Century offense cruised behind quarterback Mckean Romriell. 

Romriell threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Drew Roberts added another 75 yards and a score from the backfield. The Diamondback defense held the Tigers at bay, snagging an interception and jumping on a forced fumble. The Tiger defense, meanwhile, did its best to spark a comeback late, holding Century scoreless in the second half. But stalled drives in the red zone prevented the Tigers from creeping back into contention. 

Idaho Falls will search for its first win of the year against Pocatello Sept. 25. Century moves on to Twin Falls. 

Emmett 49, Ridgevue 28

Hot off a huge upset win against Bishop Kelly a week ago, the Huskies managed to hold on against Ridgevue, thanks to a ballhawking secondary. 

The Huskies picked off Warhawk quarterback Cole McDonald three times, while senior running back Westyn Smith took over Friday’s second half. Smith carried the rock 10 times for 70 yards on the opening drive of the third quarter. Smith then burst for an 83-yard scoring scamper, definitively putting the game in the Huskies' hands. 

The Huskies face Nampa Sept. 25, while Ridgevue plays Middleton. 

Sugar-Salem 7, Marsh Valley 6 (OT)

A defensive slug fest came down to the kicking prowess of the Sugar-Salem homecoming queen. 

After a scoreless regulation, the Diggers struck first in overtime off a goal line push by Kyzon Garner. And extra point by kicker Sunny Bennion gave Sugar-Salem a 7-0 lead, making all the difference after Marsh Valley failed to convert the two-point try on the subsequent scoring drive. 

Sugar-Salem’s offense, which managed just 39 yards on the ground and has struggled in recent weeks after the loss of Crew Clark, will play Preston Oct. 2. Marsh Valley plays South Fremont Oct. 2.

McCall 30, Grangeville 0

The state hasn’t had much to evaluate from this year’s Vandals, as COVID restrictions have limited McCall-Donnelly’s time on the gridiron. 

But Friday’s shutout against Grangeville proved Lee Leslie’s squad, once again, is ready to take the year by storm. The Vandals, behind quarterback Josh Sorensen, showcased their retooled roster. Sorensen tossed a first-half touchdown pass to DJ Green, while Shane O’Brien and Beau Carr found daylight on the ground. 

The Vandals earned their first win of the season after a 28-7 loss to Marsh Valley back in August. They play Homedale Sept. 25. Grangeville faces Kellogg Sept. 25. 

Payette 20, Wendell 14 (OT)

The Pirates escaped with an overtime win, thanks to quarterback Joey Ward’s 114 yards passing and a lights out defensive performance by Aden Bunn. 

Bunn accounted for 12 tackles, including forced fumble, while his compatriot Bode French added six tackles and a sack. 

Ward’s favorite target of the night, Isaac Slade, hauled in five balls for 64 yards and a touchdown, catching a two-point conversion to help put the Pirates over the top. 

Payette will take on Parma Sept. 25. Wendell will play Filer Sept. 25. 

American Falls 28, Parma 7

The Beaver home field clock did not get much rest Friday night, as both American Falls and Parma utilized a run-first mentality. But just one team seemed capable of pulling off the game plan. 

Andre Adkins found the end zone three times for the Beavers, providing the hard-to-find offensive highlights in a black-and-blue slugfest. 

Jeremy Henesh provided the defensive spark for the Beavers, coming up with a momentum swinging interception late in the third quarter with his team up by only seven. 

Parma takes on Payette Sept. 25. American Falls will play Teton.

West Side 50, Cole Valley Christian 0

While the Charger offense has impressed in recent weeks, Cole Valley Christian's attack proved no match against the Pirates' staunch front seven. 

In Head Coach Tyson Moser’s 100th win with the program, the Pirates finally overcame their offensive woes, with quarterback Blaize Brown scoring four times and hitting each of his eight pass attempts.

The Chargers move on to Melba Sept. 25, while West Side takes on Bear Lake. 

Kendrick 62, Troy 12

Freshman quarterback Ty Koepp, the IdahoSports.com player of the game, looked the part of varsity veteran, tossing five touchdowns and 294 yards in the University of Idaho Kibbie Dome. 

Wyatt Fitzmorris added another 119 yards on the ground, helping Kendrick rip apart any thought of a defensive stand by the Trojans. 

The Tigers will play Clearwater Valley Sept. 25, while Troy moves on to Kamiah. 

North Gem 33, Rockland 22

The Cowboys kept it on the ground, with great success, tallying 365 yard and three touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Bridger Hatch and Brett Yost accounted for more than 100 yards a piece, while Hatch added a pair of touchdowns through the air. 

The winless Cowboys managed the upset against the undefeated Bulldogs thanks to a staunch defense that limited quarterback Braden Permann on Homecoming night. Permann managed 260 yards total, but the bend-don’t-break North Gem defense kept Rockland’s offense from finding much success in the red zone. 

North Gem moves on to Watersprings Sept. 25, while North Gem plays Dietrich.