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ORDER GAME PHOTOS
FOOTBALL
Raft River @ Carey
7 p.m. Friday
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With wins over both Raft River and Carey, two-time defending 1AD1 champion Oakley has already locked up the Snake River Conference (SRC) title and a first-round playoff bye. What is yet to be decided is who will take second place in the stacked SRC. That will be decided Friday night when the Trojans (5-1, 4-1 SRC) play on the road against the Panthers (5-2, 4-1). Both Carey and Raft River have had great seasons as members of 1AD1’s toughest conference, and both teams will likely host playoff games next week. However, with both the Trojans and Panthers preparing for what they hope will be deep playoff runs, a big momentum-building win to end the regular season would be huge. Statistically, Carey seems to have the slight edge over Raft River, but what the Trojans lack on paper, they make up for in experience and pedigree. Friday’s game should be an exciting matchup between two of 1AD1’s finest 8-man squads.
Thunder Ridge @ Highland (Pocatello)
7 p.m. Friday
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With the regular season coming to a close this Friday, Thunder Ridge (2-6, 0-2 District 5-6) and Highland (5-3, 2-0) are two teams trending in opposite directions. The Titans, led by first-year Head Coach Michael Berger, got off to a promising 2-1 start to the season and nearly took down the defending 4A champion Skyline Grizzlies in Week 4. As their record indicates, things have gone downhill since then for Coach Berger’s squad. First-year Rams Head Coach Nick Sorrell and his team have experienced the antithesis of Thunder Ridge’s results. Highland began 0-2 but have since won five of their last six games, with the lone loss coming on the road against 5A’s consensus No. 1 team, Meridian. The Rams picked up huge wins over Rigby and Madison in consecutive weeks, securing the District 5-6 title and locking up a first-round playoff bye.
Post Falls @ Lake City
7 p.m. Friday
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The Trojans avenged their fate from last season, defeating Coeur d’Alene 21-6 at home last Friday and securing the 5A Inland Empire League’s (IEL) top seed in the state playoff bracket. Post Falls (6-2, 2-0 IEL) now turns its sights to Lake City (2-6, 0-2), the basement dwellers of the stacked IEL, which has lost three straight games. The Timberwolves, however, are much better than their 2-6 record might suggest. Every loss this season has been to a 4A or 5A playoff-caliber team, and Lake City has kept it close in its two IEL losses to Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston over the past two weeks. The Timberwolves actually led the Bengals early last Friday in Lewiston before allowing a second half comeback, losing 42-31.
Coeur d’Alene @ Lewiston
7 p.m. Friday
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Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston will move all their chips to the center of the table as they go all in for this huge IEL battle that will potentially knock the loser out of 5A state playoff contention. Both the Vikings (4-4, 1-1 IEL) and Bengals (6-2, 1-1) lost road games at Post Falls over the past two weeks while picking up wins over Lake City. Friday’s winner will receive the IEL’s No. 2 seed, while the losing team will have to sweat out one of the two 5A at-large bids. Last year, the teams met in Coeur d’Alene, where the Vikings rolled to a 38-7 victory over the Bengals. Lewiston would love nothing more than to return the favor this time around.
Century @ Pocatello
7 p.m. Friday
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The de facto South East Idaho Conference (SEIC) title game will be played Friday night in Pocatello when the Thunder (3-4, 1-0 SEIC) host the Century Diamondbacks (1-6, 1-0). This game has major playoff implications, especially for Century. The Diamondbacks have struggled mightily this season but thanks to a convincing 33-13 win over Preston two weeks ago, they find themselves one win away from a conference championship. If Century fails to pull the upset Friday, then it will be a disappointing 1-7 final record, but if the Diamondbacks can come up with some magic against Pocatello, the Diamondbacks would be SEIC champions and host a playoff game next week. For the Thunder, this game is hugely important. As has been mentioned for Century, Pocatello would be SEIC champs with a win and the Thunder would also get to stay at home next week for a winnable playoff game, avoiding a potential trip to North Idaho or the Treasure Valley in the first round.
Shelley @ Skyline
7 p.m. Friday
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After surging out to 3-0 records in the 4A High Country Conference (HCC), both Shelley (4-4, 3-1 HCC) and Skyline (5-3, 3-1) lost shockers last week. After starting the season 0-3, the Russets were on an impressive four game winning streak before they were upended 22-10 at home last week against Hillcrest. Similarly, the defending 4A champion Grizzles fell 16-13 in a tight road contest at Bonneville. Despite their losses last week, Shelley and Skyline still sit atop the conference standings, meaning that a win Friday would secure the HCC championship. In addition to earning a conference title, a win also would go a long way in earning a higher seed and homefield advantage deeper into the playoffs. This is especially important for the Russets who are currently projected as the No. 7 seed, while the Grizzlies sit at No. 2.
Eagle @ Meridian
7 p.m. Friday
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The 5A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) championship will be decided Friday night in Meridian when division winners Eagle (6-2, 6-0 SIC River) and Meridian (8-0, 6-0 SIC Foothills) square off for the second time this season. The Warriors dispatched the Mustangs 36-14 back on Aug. 19 in the season opener, but Eagle is determined for a different result the second time around. To do that, the Mustangs will need to have their best performance of the year against a Warriors squad that has the best scoring defense in 5A and the second-best scoring offense. Meridian has proven itself time and again this season, earning signature wins over Eagle, Mountain View, Highland and Rocky Mountain en route to an 8-0 start to the year. Both Eagle and Meridian will receive first round byes in the 5A state playoffs, but a win this week would provide some added excitement as the Mustangs and Warriors vie for a state championship.
Kuna @ Middleton
7 p.m. Friday
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With District 3’s automatic playoff bids being decided by the season-ending SIC River and Foothills Divisions’ crossover games, the implications for Friday’s Kuna-Middleton showdown practically write themselves. For both the Kavemen (4-4, 2-4 SIC River) and Vikings (6-2, 3-2 SIC Foothills) it is win and you are in. Lose Friday, however, and they will have to hope that the cards fall right, and they get one of the two remaining at-large bids into the 5A playoffs. Because the criteria for at-large bids is winning percentage against 5A schools, Middleton (5-3 overall against 5As this year) would have a good shot of sneaking into the bracket even if they lose Friday. Kuna (3-5 versus 5A competition), however, will likely be on the outside looking in if they fail to pull the upset Friday at Middleton.
Minico @ Twin Falls
7 p.m. Friday
After struggling early against crosstown rival and 4A Great Basin Conference (GBC) opponent Canyon Ridge last Friday, the Twin Falls Bruins (7-1, 4-0 GBC) roared back for a big 44-25 win over the Riverhawks, setting up a mammoth showdown with Minico (7-1, 4-0) Friday night that will decide who receives the 2022 District 4 crown. Regardless of Friday’s outcome, the Bruins and Spartans will both receive automatic bids to the state playoffs and each team will host a first-round game next Friday as well. Minico and Twin Falls have each won five consecutive games and would love to continue those streaks heading into the playoffs. Last year, the Spartans bested the Bruins 26-19. Twin Falls would love to get some payback this year on the Bruins’ home turf.
Bonners Ferry @ Timberlake
7 p.m. Friday
With an impressive 25-0 shutout at Kellogg two weeks ago, the Bonners Ferry Badgers (7-0) proved that they are no joke this season. The Badgers are off to potentially the best start in program history (the best since the mid-1970s, before the IDHSAA even existed, according to Head Coach Travis Hinthorn), but all of that excitement would be remiss if the Bonners Ferry failed to take down perennial Intermountain League (IML) powerhouse Timberlake (4-2) to end the season. Because Kellogg and Priest River each transitioned down to 2A this season, Friday’s showdown between the Badgers and Tigers will be the deciding factor for who wins the District 1 championship. To understand what a win over Timberlake would mean for Bonners Ferry, consider this: The last time the Badgers won a football game against the Tigers (and the last time they won the IML) was 2005. After 17 seasons of four wins or less, the 7-0 Badgers have a chance to make history. A win would not only secure a district title, but it would also likely lock in homefield advantage in the first and second rounds of the 3A state playoffs.
Sugar-Salem @ South Fremont
7 p.m. Friday
The Sugar-Salem Diggers (7-0, 1-0 Mountain Rivers) just keep doing what they always do: win football games. Last week, Sugar-Salem made a solid Teton team look like a JV squad, walloping the Timberwolves 56-6. This Friday, the Diggers set their sites on South Fremont (6-2, 1-0), who picked up a huge win over Teton two weeks ago. Despite losing 41-21 against Marsh Valley last week and entering Friday’s game as heavy underdogs, the Cougars can earn a District 6 championship with a win over Sugar-Salem. If the Cougars hope to keep it close, they will need to control the ball with their run game and figure out how to slow down the Diggers prolific offense, which has averaged nearly 50 points per game.
Madison @ Rigby
7 p.m. Friday
After Highland picked off Rigby and Madison in consecutive weeks to secure the District 5-6 title, the defending 5A champion Trojans (6-2, 1-1 District 5-6) and Bobcats (5-3, 1-1) are now both fighting for their playoff lives. Essentially, barring Rigby or Madison miraculously earning one of the two at-large bids, this is a winner take all game for Rigby and Madison. The strong edge Friday must go to the Trojans, who are playing at home and have looked much more dominant than the Bobcats this season. However, Madison cannot be counted out. Despite early losses to Owyhee and Blackfoot, the Bobcats bounced back to win four games in a row before falling 28-21 to Highland last week. Regardless of how things turn out, a solid team will likely be on the outside looking in next Friday when the playoffs begin.
Camas County @ Hansen
7 p.m. Friday
Speaking of loser-out games, Camas Country (5-2, 2-2 Sawtooth) will travel to Hansen Friday to play the Huskies (3-4, 2-2) in a game that will determine who will claim District 3’s third and final automatic bid to the 1AD2 playoffs. The Mushers started the season 4-0 and had high hopes of vying for the Sawtooth Conference crown this year before being upended by both Castleford and Dietrich. Now, Camas County must go on the road and defeat an underrated Hansen squad just to sneak into the playoffs. The Huskies have a golden opportunity in front of them if they can slow down the Mushers high-powered offense. Hansen has not given up all season and they will not make things easy for the Mushers on Friday.
Grace @ Butte County
7 p.m. Friday
This is the showdown 1AD1 High Desert Conference (HDC) fans have been waiting for all season: Grace (6-1, 1-0 HDC) versus Butte County (5-1, 1-0) with a District 5 title and first-round playoff bye on the line. The Grizzlies have the best defense in all 1AD1 football. Their stout defensive unit held a Carey squad that averages nearly 45 points per game scoreless in a 7-0 win earlier this season. Grace’s only slip up this season came in an 8-0 loss against 1AD2 Castleford back on Sept. 9. Butte County, meanwhile, suffered an early loss on Sept. 2 at Carey 34-28. Aside from that game, the Pirates have scored no less than 38 points in a game, winning all five of those contests by three or more scores. Last week, Butte Country picked up a huge win over defending 1AD1 runner up Raft River. Friday’s showdown in Arco has big playoff implications for a pair of teams capable of making a deep playoff run this season.
Bonneville @ Blackfoot
7 p.m. Friday
The 4A HCC standings are a bit all over the place, and if things play out right this weekend, there is a chance that all six District 6 teams could make the state playoffs. With that being said, Friday’s game between Bonneville (3-5, 1-3 HCC) and Blackfoot (4-4, 2-2) is very important for both teams. The Bees and Broncos both should make the playoffs regardless of the outcome, but winning Friday would help boost each team’s shot at earning a better seed. Bonneville essentially locked up a playoff spot last week with a huge upset win over the defending 4A champion Skyline. The Bees have played four games this season that have been decided by three or fewer points, meaning they are battle tested and ready to make some noise as a dark horse team in 4A. Blackfoot will have something to say about that this week, however. The Broncos snapped their four-game losing streak with a dominant 44-14 win over Idaho Falls last Friday. As of now, Blackfoot is slated to be the No. 9 seed heading into the playoffs, but with a win Friday and some help, the Broncos could hypothetically earn a home playoff game.
Aberdeen @ Bear Lake
7 p.m. Friday
The SEIC has looked like the best conference in all 2A football this season. Everyone expected three-time defending champion West Side to dominate, but what fans might not have seen coming was an Aberdeen-Bear Lake matchup to decide the District 5 championship. After pulling off a huge 28-27 upset over West Side on Sept. 23, Bear Lake (6-1, 3-0 SEIC) can clinch its first outright district title since 2016 with a win. The Bears lone defeat this season came in the season opener at North Fremont by a score of 24-22. Aside from that, Bear Lake has looked like potentially the best team in 2A football, outscoring opponents by an average of more than 20 points per game. Aberdeen (5-2. 2-1) has been 2A’s dark horse team all season. After an early-season loss to 3A South Fremont, the Tigers burst onto the scene two weeks ago when they shut out North Fremont 24-0. Last week, Aberdeen fell to West Side, however, which means that a win over Bear Lake Friday would create a three-way tie for the district title. Win or lose, the Tigers are comfortably in the playoffs and will likely host a first-round playoff game next week.
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