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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. Connor Simpson, Carey
We’ve been saying all season that we could pick him virtually any week and it would be justified. Well, he ran for 231 yards and five scores to lead the top-ranked Panthers past the no. 2 team in the state, Castleford, on Friday night. He chipped in on defense as well. Doubly-deserving this week.

2. Parker Brown, Timberline
In a game the Spartans had to have in order to reach the playoffs, their quarterback threw for 391 yards and five touchdowns and also added 100 rushing yards and three more scores in a wild win over rival Lewis County.

3. Colten Meyer, Horseshoe Bend
Speaking of rivals, with the Mustangs facing their chief rival Friday (Garden Valley), Meyer had a hand in eight touchdowns to key the win for unbeaten Horseshoe Bend. He threw for 165 yards and three scores while rushing for 180 yards and five scores.

Honorable Mention
Adam Ball (Mullan/St. Regis) Carter Woodland (Notus) Bridger Hatch (North Gem) Ty Hambly (Lewis County) Cy Wareham (Genesee) Ronaldo Gomez (Rimrock) Trinity Hoxie (Council) Charlie Orford (Kootenai) Carter Sanroman (Clark Fork) Ethan Roland (Castleford) Peyton Sneddon (Dietrich) Junior Benites (Murtaugh) Koby Rivas (Meadows Valley) Dylan Pickering (Clearwater Valley) Kendrick Wheeler (Kamiah) Tyler Howard (Potlatch) Ty Koepp (Kendrick) Titus Yearout (Lapwai) Liev Comis (Logos)

NOTES
We’ve talked a lot about the three-headed monster for Mullan/St. Regis (6-1) and Adam Ball, Caleb Ball, and Luke Trogden combined for well over 400 yards rushing and six touchdowns in the Tigers’ win on Friday over Charlo (Montana). A dynamic duo we haven’t mentioned as often? Prairie’s Brody Hasselstrom and Tayden Hibbard. Sure, we’ve mentioned them individually, but the two are already over 2,000 yards combined (Hasselstrom 1,194, Hibbard 836) and 36 touchdowns rushing for the unbeaten Pirates (7-0). Hasselstrom is averaging five tackles per game, Hibbard has 14 total tackles for loss, and the two have chipped in six receiving touchdowns for a team that has beaten a pair of one-loss teams in the past two weeks by 32 and 34 points, respectively.

Game of the weekend? Timberline 78, Lewis County 66 in Weippe. The visiting Eagles had 42 points on the scoreboard at halftime and were *trailing*. Timberline head coach Pat Christopherson told the Lewiston Tribune it’s the highest-scoring ballgame he had ever been a part of. Timberline’s Parker Brown had 491 total yards and had a hand in eight touchdowns (five pass, three rush) in the win, while Lewis County’s Ty Hambly had 425 total yards and had a hand in seven touchdowns (four pass, three rush) in defeat. With the win, Timberline will return to the 1A Division 2 state playoffs.

Horseshoe Bend (7-0) defeated one rival on Friday by topping Garden Valley and there’s another one looming this week as the Mustangs will host Council (5-1). Both teams will advance to the 1A Division 2 state playoffs, the question is who wins the Long Pin and claims seed “3A” in the bracket. This game will decide that. Horseshoe Bend has been on the proverbial radar most of the season – with good reason – but Council is authoring a great story as well. After a season-opening loss to Division 1 Notus, the Lumberjacks have allowed only 12, 22, 12, 12, and 12 points since. If Council’s defense can limit Horseshoe Bend’s potent offense, they can pull the upset.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!