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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. Titus Yearout, Lapwai
We'd been waiting for someone to jump out and take control of the 1A Division 1 State Player of the Year race.  Maybe Yearout just did.  He passed for 255 yards and five touchdowns.  He ran for 254 yards and four touchdowns.  He had nine tackles.  He had a sack.  In the playoffs.  On the road.  Against one of the premier 8-man programs around.  On to the semis.

2. Tate Whitaker, Raft River
The Trojans quarterback also had a balanced game in a big playoff win, rushing for 124 yards and four touchdowns, while passing for 124 yards and two scores as Raft River defeated Potlatch to reach the 1A Division 1 semifinals.

3. Conner Simpson, Carey
In a matchup of district champ versus district champ, Simpson exploded through holes and picked up huge chunks of yardage against a good Mullan/St. Regis team, to the tune of 305 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns to ensure the Panthers advanced to the next round in Division 2.

Honorable Mention
Treyton Miller (Butte County), Payton Beck (Oakley), Cody Power (Dietrich), Eric Taylor (Castleford), Ty Koepp (Kendrick), Tyler Howard (Potlatch), Jack Johnson (Genesee), Blaine Meyer (Horseshoe Bend), Dawson Kramer (Camas County), Teague Matthews (Rockland), Tayden Hibbard (Prairie), Aaron Jiminez (Notus), Blake Layton (Mullan/St. Regis).

NOTES
Something that is impressive about Oakley - their balance.  There's not one "dude."  There is Dace Jones...and Payton Beck...and Ethan Toribau...and Bry Severe...and Houston Bingham...and a very good defense.  Similar story down the road in Malta, where Raft River can throw Tate Whitaker at you, along with Thaine Loughmiller, Seth Tracy, Tegan Whitaker and a very good defense.

How good is District 4 in the 1A Division 2 ranks?  Three of the four semifinalists come from that district and it probably shouldn't surprise anyone if the no. 3 seed - Dietrich - reaches the state title game.  The Blue Devils have three losses this season and all came against teams that are still playing: Castleford, Carey and Butte County (Division 1 semifinalist).  Dietrich defeated Carey for the state title last fall.

Brody Hasselstrom did not play for Prairie against Lapwai and the visiting Wildcats went from a 30-point loss in the regular season to a 30-point win in the playoffs.  Notus quarterback Kaeden Clemens was injured early and Butte County pulled away.  Horseshoe Bend's two-way standout Colten Meyer didn't play in the second half and Kendrick pulled away.  Genesee's Cy Wareham didn't play in the second half and Oakley pullled away.  We're not saying nor implying Lapwai, Butte County, Kendrick and Oakley should have lost.  Those teams won and deservedly so.  We're saying it changed the trajectory of the game(s).  Depth is so critical in the 8-man game, especially when you're playing top-tier programs like Lapwai, Butte County, Kendrick and Oakley.  The margin for error is razor-thin and good programs capitalize on every advantage.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!