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Rocky Mountain 49, Capital 13
There seemed to be no likelier outcome for the first-ever Southern Idaho Conference Championship game.
The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies, a Treasure Valley powerhouse and the conference’s most successful team for years, trounced the challenger Eagles behind the arm of quarterback Kobe Warr. The Grizzlies’ leading man threw for 236 yards, good for four touchdowns. Jordan Erickson gained 58 yards on just three carries, highlighted by a 42-yards scamper. C.J. Anderson finished as the team’s leading receiver, catching five balls for 103 yards and a score.
Rocky Mountain earns a first-round bye in the 2020 state tournament. The Grizzlies will play the winner of Highland and Meridian. Capital also earns a first-round bye.
Coeur d’Alene 30, Post Falls 14
A few special teams miscues gave the Trojans life early on a frigid north Idaho night. But Jack Prka and the ever reliable Viking offense overcame the struggles to secure a 5A Inland Empire title.
The prolific Prka couldn’t unleash his full potential in snowy conditions, but still managed to throw a pair of touchdowns to put CDA back on top after a Post Falls touchdown off a blocked punt.
Coeur d’Alene earns a first-round bye into the playoffs. North Idaho received two seeds, meaning Post Falls will also make the tournament.
Sandpoint 6, Lakeland 0
As the saying goes, offenses win games and defenses win championships.
But special teams must win a trip to the playoffs, as a punt return for a touchdown marked the only score in a North Idaho blizzard. The Bulldogs and Hawks sledded their way through an Inland Empire slugfest in the snow, with both teams failing to score via passing or rushing. Gerrit Cox finally got Sandpoint on the board in the second quarter with a 61-yard return to the house, the lone touchdown of the game.
Sandpoint, 2-0 in the IEL, earns a guaranteed trip to the playoffs. Moscow, 1-1 in the conference, will have to wait for Sunday’s MaxPreps rankings.
Century 28, Pocatello 14
The Diamondbacks saved their best for last, surviving a thriller against the Indians.
Century accumulated 366 yards of offense, as Drew Roberts put the D-backs definitely on top with a goal line run.
Century wins the South East Idaho Conference, while Pocatello will learn its fate after MaxPreps releases its final rankings Sunday.
Bishop Kelly 54, Ridgevue 7
Should Emmett lose Saturday, the Knights will hold the top spot in the 4A SIC after their win over the Warhawks.
Seth Knothe had another big game, gaining an even 100 yards on 16 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Quarterback Keegan Croteau used the productive run game to his advantage, throwing a pair of scores over the course of his 89-yard night. Receiver Jason Buss hauled in both touchdowns.
The Knights, regardless of the results from Saturday’s game, will receive a bid to the playoffs. Seeding will be released Sunday.
Middleton 41, Columbia 14
The Vikings reeled in its air raid offense, instead relying on the legs of Jake Vickhammer to keep their playoff hopes alive. Vickhammer rushed for only 25 yards, but his red zone production netted two touchdowns. Quarterback Ky McClure threw for 227 yards and another two scores on 17 completions.
Middleton will likely earn a bid to the playoffs, but will have to wait for Sunday’s MaxPreps rankings to know for sure.
Minico 22, Twin Falls 14
The Spartans earned a second-placed finish in the Great Basin Seven Conference, edging out Twin Falls by just one conference win Friday night.
Teigan Severe opened up the scoring with a punt returned 55 yards for a Twin Falls touchdown. But the Spartans responded with back-to-back scoring runs by quarterback Brevin Trenkle. Trenkle finished with 200 yards on the ground, compared to just 27 through the air. Karter Zampedri sealed the deal with an 11-yard touchdown run.
District Four is allotted three guaranteed spots in this year’s 4A tournament, meaning both the Bruins and Spartans will likely earn a seed.
Gooding 36, Kimberly 35 (OT)
The Senators looked to be Kimberly’s toughest opponent of the year, but few predicted the shootout fans were treated to in the final regular season game.
The Senators matched every blow by the electric Bulldog offense, pulling the trigger in overtime on a gutsy two-point conversion. Kimberly knotted the game at 28 in the fourth after trailing the Senators quick start.
While Gooding earns the conference title, both teams are expected to make the playoffs.
Teton 19, South Fremont 13
This is going to be interesting.
The Timberwolves pulled off a rivalry upset when it mattered most, keepings its season alive thanks to a 25-yard touchdown run by tailback Cooper Cooke.
Had South Fremont, which already downed defending state champion Sugar-Salem, won Friday night, the 3A Mountain Rivers Conference would be settled. But the Timberwolves upset the first-place cougars, meaning we’re headed toward a Kansas City playoff. District Six will only send two of its three teams to the tournament this year, meaning we still don’t know who won the conference and is headed to the playoffs. The Kansas City playoff, which resembles college football overtime rules, is scheduled for Monday at Madison High School. Stay tuned for updates.
American Falls 36, Marsh Valley 34 (OT)
The Beavers prevented a game-winning two-point conversion in overtime, dropping the Eagles to the bottom of the South East Idaho Conference.
Taeson deBruijn’s four-yard touchdown run put the Beavers in front after trailing for most of Friday’s game. Caden Goodworth notched American Falls’ first two-point conversion after opening overtime with a touchdown.
The Beavers earn a trip to the playoffs, while Marsh Valley ends the season at 3-6.
Homedale 28, Fruitland 14
For the third-straight year, the Snake River Valley belongs to the Trojans.
Homedale captured the conference and an automatic bid to the state tournament over the rival Grizzlies, thanks to the tough running on a chilly night by tailback Hayden Kincheloe. The junior Trojan ran for 190 yards, carrying the rock 31 times. Quarterback Jaxon Dines threw for 98 yards and ran for another 57.
The Homedale defense made a huge impact, throttling Fruitland’s normally dominant running attack. The Grizzlies gained just 88 yards of offense on the ground, forcing Fruitland to go to the air.
Homedale will earn a first-round bye in the state tournament. Fruitland will have to await the final MaxPreps rankings, released Sunday, to learn its fate.
North Fremont 22, Firth 6
The undefeated Huskies faced a scare in a fight for the 2A Nuclear Conference.
Firth jumped out to an early lead, aided by a Jason Tucker touchdown. But the advantage didn’t last long, as the Huskies scored their next 22 unanswered. Jordan Lenz threw for a score, followed by running back Deshon Wheeler.
North Fremont ends the season 7-0 and will get an automatic bid to the playoffs. Firth will have to await Sunday’s MaxPreps rankings.
Nampa Christian 36, Cole Valley Christian 26
The Trojans fell behind early, but held the Chargers scoreless the entire second half to secure third place in the 2A Western Idaho Conference.
Dane Bradshaw ran for 259 yards and three touchdowns, while Landon Cheney complimented with another 115 yards and a pair of TDs.
While Nampa Christian’s spot in the playoffs is not guaranteed, a Friday night win certainly helped the Trojans’ chances. Final MaxPreps rankings will be released Sunday.
New Plymouth 50, Marsing 23
The Pilgrims locked up the 2A Western Idaho Conference with ease, rolling past Marsing on the backs of Erin Vian and Spencer Lyman. The pair racked up more than 200 yards rushing, scoring three touchdowns between the two of them.
The Pilgrims will get an automatic bid in the playoffs. Marisng, which ranked 18th among 2A teams, is likely done for the year.
Raft River 40, Oakley 38
The Trojans enacted their revenge over the Hornets, overcoming a 22-8 loss that opened the season.
Ethan Bernad rushed for 195 yards, scoring four times while nabbing an interception on defense. Thaine Loughmiller followed up with 165 yards and another two touchdowns. Tegan Whitaker gave Raft River excellent field position all game, accumulating 98 yards on kick and punt returns.
The Hornets and Trojans will likely earn a bid to the state tournament. Seeding will be released Sunday.
Butte County 26, Grace 20
The Pirates earned a last-second automatic bid to the state tournament with a nailbiter against the Grizzlies.
Butte County’s Treyton Miller gained 124 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Tyler Wanstrom ran for another 95 under center. The Grizzlies committed two turnovers on a pair of lost fumbles, dooming the chances at a comeback.
The Pirates, although a conference champion, will likely be the lowest ranked of the 1ADI’s top squads, meaning Butte County will not receive a first-round bye. Grace will have to wait for Sunday’s MaxPreps rankings before making playoff plans.
North Gem 30, Rockland 28
Quarterback Bridger Hatch overcame a lost fumble to help win the game on a pair of miraculous plays.
Hatch, who finished with 304 yards rushing and four touchdowns, used his legs to tie the game, sprinting 47 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing two-point conversion, Hatch evaded tacklers to put his Cowboys in front.
Brett Yost also carried a bulk of the offense, gaining 132 yards on 22 carries. Yost also recorded a sack and two tackles for losses.
North Gem plays Council, the third-place team out of District Three. Rockland will play Carey 4 p.m. Oct. 29 in Round 1.
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