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Post Falls vs. Coeur d’Alene
7 p.m. PST Friday
Friday night could determine the future of the 5A Inland Empire. With just four teams comprising the northern conference, every league contest matters, and a battle between the Vikings and Trojans could have playoff implications down the line.
The state hasn’t seen much from last year’s state runner-up, with the Vikings playing just two games in 2020. But those two contests paint a clear picture of a team hungry for redemption. Coeur d’Alene blanked Sandpoint Sept. 4 55-0 and steamrolled Lakeland 41-7 Sept. 11. Quarterback Jack Prka hasn’t missed a step from 2019, with 10 touchdowns under his belt so far.
But the Trojans remain a legitimate threat, with their one loss in four games coming against Rigby, last year’s 5A champion. And unlike the Vikings, Post Falls has played in its classification twice, notching a pair of wins against Lake City and Lewiston. And while Prka remains the golden boy of the north, quarterback Jaxon Anderson is not far behind statistically, throwing for more than 800 yards on the year with seven touchdowns and 251 rushing yards.
Lewiston vs. Moscow
7 p.m. PST Friday
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Lewiston looked to be the team to watch out of the IEL early in the year, winning back-to-back games in thrilling fashion, thanks to a high-powered offense. But two wins preceded two losses, with Post Falls and Lakeland defeating the Bengals, again by just a nose.
For the Bengals, quarterback Kash Lang has shown flashes of dual-threat greatness. But last week, it was the defense that stepped up, holding Sandpoint to just 45 rushing yards.
But Lewiston won’t be the only team fielding a much improved defensive unit. The Bears, still shaking off the rust of a once-canceled season, have Jonah Elliss on their side. On offense, Moscow showcased an elite rushing attack, scoring eight times on the ground against the Bonners Ferry Badgers.
Bishop Kelly vs. Middleton
7 p.m. Friday
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Just one point separates the Vikings from perfection. Two games ago, Middleton dropped a 20-19 contest to Vallivue, the lone lowlight in a season dominated by the Vikings.
Quarterback Ky McClure has excelled in Head Coach Bill Brock’s air raid offense, eclipsing 1,000 yards on the season last week against Ridgevue.
But the Knights could be Middleton’s toughest challenge yet, with Bishop Kelly on a revenge tour after dropping its first game of the year to Emmett. Since then, the Knights have posted 42-13 and 52-7 wins against Nampa and Columbia, respectively. BK features a balanced attack, with quarterback Keegan Croteau and running back Seth Knothe leading the charge. The pair has scored 18 times combined against three 4A Southern Idaho Conference opponents.
South Fremont vs. Marsh Valley
7 p.m. Friday
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Quarterback KIaimen Peebles has his Cougars 5-0 for the first time since 2016. Last week against Snake River, Peebles tossed an easy 300 yards, helping the offense cruise to a 40-point performance over the Panthers.
Marsh Valley will look to play spoiler Friday. Despite three back-to-back losses, the Eagles have shown promise, defeating McCall-Donnelly in August and taking Sugar-Salem to overtime two weeks ago. The Eagles held the Diggers to a meager 39 yards and scoreless in regulation. The Eagles could have pulled off the upset, thanks to Bradley Belnap’s 111 rushing yards. But a failed two-point conversion kept the Eagles out of reach.
Marsing vs. Melba
7 p.m. Friday
The Huskies and Mustangs have experienced opposite trends heading into the thick of the 2020 season. But Melba will have momentum on its side, as the Mustangs look to extend a two-game winning streak.
Melba blew out Cole Valley Christian last week, as the offense fired on all cylinders and quarterback Henry Clark threw for 274 yards and three scores. The Marsing secondary will look to lock down receiver Cameron Wood, who hauled 148 yards from his QB against the Chargers.
Meanwhile, Marsing is looking to rebound from its worst defensive outing in half a decade. Nampa Christian managed to score 71 points against the Huskies Sept. 18, the most points allowed by a Marsing defense since Homedale dropped 72 in 2015.
Butte County vs. Grace
7 p.m. Friday
The top team in the 1ADI High Desert Conference may emerge after the dust settles Friday night.
Both Butte County and Grace enter the game 1-0 in the conference, with the Pirates holding a slight edge with a 2-1 overall record. Last year's state runner-up defeated Challis by a narrow 12-6 margin last week. The Grizzlies’ last win also came against Challis, but via a much more definitive performance. Grace beat the Vikings 46-6, snapping a two-game skid against Oakley and Raft River.
Murtaugh vs. Lighthouse Christian
7 p.m. Friday
For a moment, the Lions looked near unbeatable. Then, conference competition began.
The then 3-0 Lions dropped a 66-14 conference game to Raft River last Friday, Lighthouse Christian’s first loss since the 2018 1ADII state championship and the team’s worst loss in four years.
Expect quarterback Collin Holloway and company to be on a revenge tour Friday, as the high powered Lion offense looks to rebound against a Murtaugh defense allowing 38 points per game. Holloway still managed 183 yards against a stingy Raft River defense, but a pair of interceptions plagued scoring efforts.
Murtaugh is in the midst of a three-game losing streak, with tough matchups against Castleford, Rockland and Oakley tanking the Devils’ record. But promise in the offense remains, as Murtaugh averaged 58 points through the first two games of the year.
Dietrich vs. Rockland
7 p.m. Friday
The undefeated Blue Devils face yet another worthy opponent in a gauntlet of 1A powers. Rockland will be the latest installment in Dietrich’s quest for the playoffs, as the Bulldogs started the year 3-0, averaging 50-plus points per game in the season’s early weeks.
Quarterback Braden Permann tried to keep the Bulldogs afloat last week against Watersprings, but Rockland quickly ran out of gas against a smaller Warrior roster. Dietrich, meanwhile, defeated North Gem last week, the first team to hand Rockland an “L” this year.
The Blue Devils will rely on the arm and legs of quarterback Brady Power, who tallied 200 yards of total offense last week. Jett Shaw was Power’s favorite target, accumulating 73 yards and a score against the Cowboys.
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