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Here are the top performers from Week 9 of the regular season.
1. Terrell Ellenwood-Jones, Lapwai
Many assumed Lapwai (5-3, 4-3 Whitepine) had already locked up a playoff berth before its regular-season finale on Saturday against Genesee. Turns out those assumptions were incorrect. The Wildcats had to win and its senior quarterback made sure it happened, completing six of seven passes for 148 yards and three scores to go along with 14 carries for 182 yards and two more scoers in the team's win over the Bulldogs.
2. Teague Matthews, Rockland
It wasn't a win-and-you're-in, but it was a win-and-avoid tiebreakers for Rockland (4-4, 2-0 Rocky Mountain) on Friday. Matthews, the junior standout, threw four touchdown passes (three to Gavin Permann) and ran for two more as the Bulldogs blitzed rival North Gem. In doing so, Rockland avoided a three-team tie in the Rocky Mountain Conference and secured the top seed from the district for the upcoming 1A Division 2 state playoffs.
3. Troy Smith, Camas County
Okay, back to the win-and-you're-in theme. The winner of Friday's game between Camas County (6-2, 3-2 Sawtooth) and Hansen would earn the third and final playoff spot from District 4. The Mushers locked up the berth and Smith spearheaded a defense that posted a shutout. He had 10.5 tackles, four of which came behind the line of scrimmage for Camas County, while rushing for 65 yards and a score. On the season, he's averaging eight tackles per game for a defense that has limited five teams to 12 points or less.
Honorable Mention
Treyton Allen, Butte County
Conner Simpson, Carey
Gabe Mahannah, Castleford
Louie Fabbi, Clearwater Valley
Elvis Rickert, Deary
Conner Perkins, Dietrich
Nolan Bartosz, Genesee
Ky Kendall, Hagerman
Ayden Egbert, Hansen
Brody Backus, Idaho City
Conner Weddle, Kamiah
Lane Clemenhagen, Kendrick
Decoven Beckman, Kootenai
Jarius Moffitt, Lakeside
Wyatt Webb, Lewis County
Lucius Comis, Logos
Carter Woodland, Notus
Houston Bingham, Oakley
Trenton Lorentz, Prairie
Daniel Rocha, Shoshone
Darren Bonner, Timberline
Cristian Cuellar, Wilder
COMING IN HOT
The Grace Grizzlies are entering the 1A Division 1 postseason on a roll, having won five consecutive games to end the regular season. The capper came on Friday when Grace (7-1, 2-0 High Desert) went to Arco and defeated rival Butte County in a see-saw contest, 32-26.
The Grizzlies have put up some points this fall, for sure, but the team has gained attention since its season-opening win over Carey with its defense. Grace shut out Carey, forcing several turnovers along the way. The Panthers, playing in the uber-competitive Snake River Conference, haven't been held below 34 points since.
Meanwhile, Grace has held its opponents to an average of 13.3 points per game, including two shutouts and two more games where it held the opposition to a single touchdown.
COMING IN HOT, PART 2
Speaking of being on a roll, the Notus Pirates have won seven straight after their season-opening loss to Kendrick (Kendrick, you may have heard, is a decent football team, having scored an incredible 372 points since it last allowed a score on September 9).
In those seven games, Notus has outscored its opponents 455-144. Only 34 of those 144 points allowed came in conference play as Notus dominated District 3's Western Idaho Conference to earn a first-round bye in the 1A Division 1 playoffs.
If you're the type of person to look ahead, a quarterfinal matchup between Notus and Carey could be a real doozy, featuring two of the top ballcarriers in 1A Division 1, Conner Simpson (Carey) and Carter Woodland (Notus).
FUTURE STAR?
If you want to file a name away for the future, try Hagerman sophomore Ky Kendall. The Pirates finished 4-5 overall, 1-4 in the Sawtooth Conference, but appear to have a big-time playmaker in Kendall. He had over 600 yards rushing, over 500 yards receiving, and over 15 touchdowns for Hagerman this fall.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!
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