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Something that first-time readers of the Idaho8Man “3 Stars” should know: there’s no magic criteria that automatically means Player X will be honored. It’s a bit of an intentional floating target – the goal is to recognize many kids and teams, not just a few.

This week’s winners all had massive performances, not just statistically, in crucial games for their respective teams:

1. Thaine Loughmiller, Raft River
A balanced, all-around effort for Loughmiller as he rushed for 127 yards and two scores, recovered two fumbles, and collected 16 tackles in the Trojans' (6-0) win over Murtaugh.

2. Dace Jones, Oakley
Jones spearheaded a fast start with three touchdown receptions and a kickoff return for a score - four touchdowns in all - and also collected 17 tackles in less than three quarters as the Hornets (6-0) took care of business on the road against Glenns Ferry on Friday.

3. Luke Trogden, Mullan/St. Regis
Keeping with the theme of "balance", Trogden had 125 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, two receptions for touchdowns through the air, 14 tackles, and a blocked punt as the Tigers (5-1) clinched the North Star League championship with a win over Clark Fork.

Honorable Mention
Bridger Hatch, North Gem
Jrew Plocher, Watersprings
Gabe Zavala, Salmon River
Pedro Varela, Rimrock
Benny Guevara, Notus
Austin Stowell, Shoshone
Dawson Bovard, Deary
Ty Hambly, Lewis County
Brody Hasselstrom, Prairie
Mason Brown, Lapwai
Jack Johnson, Genesee
Willis Williamson, Kamiah
Tucker Sanchez, Lakeside
Tyson Tucker, Potlatch
Carter McGann, Kootenai
Ty Koepp, Kendrick


Notes

We mentioned on Twitter last week that Friday afternoon's North Gem/Watersprings game featured two of the more productive 8-man players as Bridger Hatch (North Gem) had a chance to top 1,000 yards on the ground in the game and Jrew Plocher (Watersprings) had an opportunity to go over 1,000 rushing and passing.  Both reached those milestones in North Gem's win as Hatch rushed for a school-record 442 yards to easily eclipse 1,000 yards and Plocher threw for 173 and rushed for 112 to go over 1,000 in both categories.  What likely made it more fun for both - despite living 100 miles apart, the two have developed a good friendship off the field, so they got to see the other reach these milestones in person.

Mullan/St. Regis became the first team to officially clinch a berth in the upcoming 1A Division 2 state playoffs.  Remember, leagues/conferences get one automatic berth in both Division 1 and Division 2.  In D1, the remainder of the slots are filled by at-large selections based on a mathematical equation provided by the website MaxPreps.  D2, meanwhile, has a predetermined bracket that has already determined how many teams from each conference qualify.

Teams like Oakley (Division 1), Raft River (Division 1), Carey (Division 2), and North Gem (Division 2) seem virtual locks to reach the postseason, either as a league champion or an at-large selection.  But scan down the list a little bit and you'll see that Glenns Ferry, Potlatch, Wilder, Clearwater Valley, Lighthouse Christian and Kamiah are still jockeying for opportunities in Division 1.  Meanwhile, Council, Watersprings, Garden Valley, Camas County and Hansen (among others) are still fighting to earn slots in Division 2.  Very few games going forward will mean "nothing" and a lot of things can change over the next three weeks.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!