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 ORDER GAME PHOTOS
Idaho high school sports fans were treated to an incredible opening weekend of action, as we saw shocking upsets, nail-biting games and some incredible individual performances across the state.
If last weekend was any indication, we are in for a fun ride this year.
As Week 1 of football season gets underway this weekend and teams in all fall sports hit the field for the first time, the excitement only continues to grow.
The Rocky Mountain Rumble (RMR) is back, spotlighting some of our state's best football programs as they compete against quality opponents from Utah, California and even Alberta, Canada. All the action will go down in East Idaho, hosted primarily by Madison High School, and we at IdahoSports.com will have coverage of every single game.
In soccer, several playoff teams from a year ago will square off and a few of the Treasure Valley's best squads will travel to East Idaho to take on the top teams in District 5-6.
All of this is not to mention cross country season getting underway and some huge volleyball tournaments taking place across the state.
Needless to say, we have a lot to cover, so let's get going!
As always, if I missed a big game I should have covered, botched a spelling or maybe even wrote something you really appreciated, please let me know. My email is crweaner@liberty.edu and my X (Twitter) handle is @christianweaner. I always appreciate your feedback!
FOOTBALL
Raymond (Alberta) vs. Marsh Valley
11 a.m. Friday
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The 2023 Rocky Mountain rumble kicks off Friday morning at Madison High School as Marsh Valley takes on Raymond High School from Alberta, Canada. Facing one of the toughest schedules in the state last year, the Eagles managed just a 3-5 record in the regular season and suffered a blowout loss to Teton in the opening round of the 3A playoffs. Marsh Valley is in for another tough run this season, as eight of the nine opponents on the schedule were playoff teams in 2022. That gauntlet begins Friday when the Eagles take on the reigning Tier I Provincial Champions from a season ago in the Raymond Comets. The Comets are not unaccustomed to competing against teams from Idaho, as they faced Lake City last fall in a game the Timberwolves won 36-22. As it turned out, that was Raymond's only loss last season, as the Comets finished with an impressive 10-1-1 record en route to their ninth provincial championship in school history.
Desert Hills (UT) vs. Minico
2 p.m. Friday
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Game No. 1 of the Sherm Blaser era at Minico was an overall success last week as the Spartans took down 5A Thunder Ridge 28-14. Quarterback Carson Wayment paced the Spartans offense, throwing for 212 yards and one touchdown and adding another 135 yards and a score on the ground. Running back Preston Cranney-Sonner also bulldozed the Titans for 143 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Minico is going to need that kind of powerful running attack once again Friday afternoon in Rexburg when they take on Utah's defending 4A state champion Desert Hills. The Thunder enter Friday's contest 0-2, having lost to 5A Brighton and 6A Lehi in consecutive weeks to open the season, but do not let that record fool you. Desert Hill's defense allowed less than 19 points per game last season, and the Thunder have the talent to compete for another state title in Utah this season.
Layton (UT) vs. Skyline
5 p.m. Friday
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A perennial participant in the Rocky Mountain Rumble, Scott Berger and his Skyline Grizzlies are back again this season after capturing their third straight 4A State Championship last fall. Skyline will be without a bevy of all-state caliber players from its 2022 squad, most notably the two-time 4A Player of the Year Kenyon Sadiq who is now playing tight end for Oregon, but we should all know by now not to sleep on the Grizzlies. First up for Skyline this season are the Layton Lancers, a 6A school in Utah and a state playoff team last season. The Lancers are currently sitting at 0-2 after dropping games to Alta and Northridge, but they have proven that they can compete with some of Idaho' best teams over the years. Last season, Layton took down Lewiston 41-28 in the opening game of the season for the Bengals, who went on to make the 5A state playoffs. So, Coach Berger and the Grizzlies will need to get things figured out quickly as younger players step up into bigger roles and Skyline prepares itself to contend for another state title this season.
Lehi (UT) @ Rigby
7 p.m. Friday
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In one of the most intriguing matchups of the Rocky Mountain Rumble, a pair of two-time defending 5A state champions will square off in Lehi and Rigby. The Trojans will enter Friday night's contest at 0-1 after being upset 27-21 by Coeur d'Alene in their season opener last week at the University of Montana. Senior quarterback and Montana commit Luke Flowers was picked off four times by the Vikings, and he will need to perform much better if Rigby hopes to have any chance of competing with Lehi. Over the past two years, the Pioneers have proven themselves to be one of the top football programs in the state of Utah. Last season, the Lehi was unstoppable, finishing 14-0 and winning a second straight 5A state title while scoring 41.5 points per game and allowing only 9 points per contest. In last season's RMR, the Pioneers defeated Highland (Poc.) 42-7. The last time Lehi lost a game was Oct. 7, 2021, and the Pioneers, who moved up to the 6A classification in 2023, are already off to a 2-0 start this season.
Skyline (UT) vs. Highland (Poc.)
8 p.m. Friday
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Speaking of Highland, the Rams will open their 2023 campaign in the nightcap of the RMR Friday night at Madison High School against Skyline from Salt Lake City, Utah. Highland and second-year Head Coach Nick Sorrell are looking to start the year off strong in what the Rams are hoping will be a special season. The Rams return a number of key weapons on both sides of the ball this year, including 2022 all-state honorees Kai Callen, Bruce Galo and Zerek Younis. After a slow start to the season last fall, Highland rebounded nicely to upset Rigby 43-42 and win the District 5-6 outright, going 3-0 in the league, but the Rams ultimately lost in the 5A State Quarterfinals to Mountain View, leaving a sour taste that has fueled their offseason training. Skyline should be a good test for Highland to open the season, as the Eagles were a 5A state playoff team last season. Skyline blasted Post Falls, who went on to win the 5A Inland Empire League (IEL), 35-17 in the RMR last season. The Eagles are off to a bit of a slow start in 2023, however, as they are currently 0-2 on the year.
Templeton (CA) vs. Sugar-Salem
1 p.m. Saturday
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Saturday's RMR action will kick off at 1 p.m. as the Idaho's defending 3A champion Sugar-Salem takes on the Eagles from Templeton, California. The Diggers has no problem in their season opener against 4A Century last week, smacking the Diamondbacks 43-0 while racking up 282 yards on the ground. Running back Carson Harris, a 2022 first-team all-state selection, led the charge for Sugar-Salem in the win, as he finished with 87 yards and two touchdowns. The competition is going to get a lot more stiff this week for the Diggers, though, as they face a Templeton team that was a playoff team in California a year ago. The Eagles will be making the 1,000-plus mile journey for their season opener, and they will surely give the Diggers their best shot Saturday afternoon.
Woods Cross (UT) vs. Lewiston
4 p.m. Saturday
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The Lewiston Bengals will once again be making the trip down to East Idaho for the RMR, this time to take on the Woods Cross Wildcats. Lewiston bolstered the highest scoring offense in all of Idaho 5A football a season ago, and the Bengals bring back first-team all-league quarterback Drew Hottinger and 2022 IEL Offensive Player of the Year Jackson Lathen at running back. Lewiston opened its season in the RMR last fall, losing 41-28 to Layton (UT), but the Bengals quickly bounced back to win five in a row after that and they ultimately earned a home playoff game last fall. This season, the Bengals will open the year against a talented Woods Cross squad that was a 5A state playoff team last year in Utah. The Wildcats sit at 1-1 on the season so far, losing a heartbreaker 27-26 in their first game before picking up a 41-27 win last Friday.
Wasatch (UT) @ Madison
7 p.m. Saturday
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Rocky Mountain Rumble hosts Madison will play Wasatch in the finale Saturday evening in what should be a fun matchup between the Bobcats and Wasps. Madison enters Saturday's game at 0-1 after losing 24-17 last Friday to Owyhee in a back-and-forth contest. Madison's downfall last week was turnovers, as the Bobcats allowed a pick-six that ultimately sealed their fate against the Storm. Wasatch, meanwhile, enters at 0-2 after losing a pair of high scoring affairs in the first two weeks of the season. Last year, despite a dismal 3-6 regular season record, the Wasps went on a magical playoff run, making it all the way to the 5A State Quarterfinals.
Notus @ Clearwater Valley
6 p.m. Friday (Pacific Time)
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Notus and Clearwater Valley will square off Friday evening in a battle between a pair of 2022 1AD1 playoff teams. The Pirates enter the season coming off a solid 7-2 season from a year ago, but they have already been bitten by the injury bug, losing several key players to series injuries sustained during the offseason. Notus does bring back a trio of first-team all-league selections from a year ago in Grayson Benitez, Benny Guevara and Easton St. Germain. With talent and experience across the field, the Pirates look poised to compete for another 1AD1 Western Idaho Conference title this season. Clearwater Valley, meanwhile, knifed its way through a loaded 1AD1 Whitepine League field a season ago, finishing 6-1 in the league and earning a fourth straight trip to the state playoffs. The Rams will need to move on without a number of key players from their 2022 squad, most notably three-year starter at quarterback Anthony Fabbi. With some roster turnover on both squads, Friday's game between the Pirates and Rams should be a good test for both teams as they look to start the season strong.
Council @ Kendrick
6 p.m. Friday (Pacific Time)
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It is hard to put into words just how dominant the Kendrick Tigers were last fall. Kendrick, which has not lost a game since Oct. 22, 2021, went 12-0 in 2022 and outscored opponents by an average of 52-8 en route to the Tigers second straight 1AD2 State Championship. While Kendrick did lose key players Jagger Hewett and Jack Silflow to graduation, the Tigers still bring back first-team all-state nominees Dallas Morgan and Lane Clemenhagen as well as the 2022 1AD2 Player of the Year Ty Koepp at quarterback. This season, the Tigers will be tested right off the bat, as they face a talented Council squad in the season opener Friday night. The Lumberjacks cruised through the 2022 regular season, going 7-2, scoring 42 points per game and winning the 1AD2 Long Pin Conference. Then, they got shocked in the 1AD2 State Quarterfinals, being shutout 6-0 against upstart Castleford. But, with a veteran roster returning in 2023, the Lumberjacks are hopeful to be 1AD2 contenders again this fall, and they will have a tough test Friday night as they travel north to take on the best 8-man team in the state.
Hillcrest @ Century
7 p.m. Friday
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A pair of East Idaho 4A squads will face off Friday night in a non-league contest between Hillcrest and Century. Friday will be the season opener for the Knights, who went 5-5 in 2022 and snuck into the 4A state playoffs as the No. 12 seed. Hillcrest brings back a number of veteran players in key positions, including quarterback Peyton King and running back Trason Keller. The Knights have a been tabbed as a team to watch in the 4A High Country Conference, and they will have a chance to start the season strong as they head down to Pocatello for a matchup against the Diamondbacks. Century opened its season on the road last week, being shutout 43-0 by defending 3A champion Sugar-Salem. The Diamondbacks will look to turn things around Friday night in their home opener.
Nampa @ Middleton
7 p.m. Friday
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Nampa and Middleton were both big surprises in each school's first season after transitioning to the 5A classification. However, their 2023 outlooks and team makeups are far from similar. The Bulldogs head into Friday's season opener with a new head coach, as Jon Choate headed back to the college coaching ranks after leading the Bulldogs to a seven-win season last fall as he left to coach at College of Idaho. Nampa's new leader is Dave Sandau, who has previous coaching experience at a number of colleges across the country. Sandau will need to rebuild after losing star running back Daniel Carillo, who rushed for an incredible 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns last year, and he will look to a solid sophomore class coming up to step in and fill some important roles this season. Middleton, meanwhile, is led by Bill Brock, who is now in his 25th year at the helm for the Vikings. The Vikings played at Rocky Mountain last Friday and gave the Grizzlies a run for their money but ultimately fell 31-21. With a number of key players back this season, Middleton hopes to stay competitive within the 5A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) Foothills Division. Friday's game will be big for both teams as they look to snag the first win of the season.
Rocky Mountain @ Coeur d'Alene
6 p.m. Friday (Pacific Time)
Rocky Mountain will make a familiar trip north Friday evening to take on the upstart Coeur d'Alene Vikings. The Grizzlies played in Kootenai County last fall, when they took down Post Falls 22-0 in the 5A State Quarterfinals. As mentioned before, Rocky Mountain knocked off Middleton 31-21 last Friday, but the Grizzlies will need to come prepared for a Vikings defense that baffled the Rigby offense last week in a shocking 27-21 upset over the defending 5A champions. For the second week in a row, Coeur d'Alene will test themselves against some of the best competition in the state. The Vikings passed the first test, now we will see how they hold up Friday night in their home opener.
Meridian @ Mountain View
7 p.m. Friday
After losing in heartbreaking fashion to Eagle last Friday, the Meridian Warriors will face another tough test as they head to Mountain View for a rematch of the 2022 5A State Semifinal game that Meridian won 34-10. Despite a stellar performance from running back Marco Del Rio, who finished with 131 yards and a touchdown against Eagle, the Meridian defense showed surprising regression from last season in last week's 36-33 loss. But, the best teams have a short memory, and that is exactly what the Warriors are trying to do as they prepare for their rivalry game against the Mavericks. Once considered the top program in Idaho just a few years ago, Mountain View has lost three straight times to Meridian, including twice in the postseason. This year, the Mavericks will look to exact some revenge and relegate the Warriors to a shocking 0-2 start to the season.
Post Falls @ Sandpoint
7 p.m. Friday
One overlook game that could turn into the most exciting contest of the weekend will go down along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille Friday night as the defending 5A and 4A IEL champions face off in Sandpoint. Post Falls broke through last season, finishing 7-3 overall and winning its first outright league title since 1995. Despite losing several key players, including 2022 IEL Player of the Year Trevor Miller, the Trojans have a senior-heavy squad back this season and should be contenders in the IEL again this season. Post Falls will have a tough test to start the season as they make the road trip to take on a Bulldogs squad that has made it to the 4A State Semifinals in each of the past three seasons. With Parker Pettit now playing football at MIT, Sandpoint has a new signal caller in senior Hunter Garcia, who will have a tough test Week 1 against a formidable Post Fall defensive unit. The Bulldogs also bring back 2022 all-league performers in wide receiver Max Frank, running back Kody Brewster and defensive back Eli Allhouse. With some new players and high expectations for both programs, Friday's game will go a long way in determining the trajectory of the season for the Bulldogs and Trojans.
BOYS SOCCER
Boise vs. Highland (Poc.)
1 p.m. Friday
Madison @ Timberline (Boise)
7 p.m. Friday
The weekend soccer slate features several intriguing matchups between the top teams in the 5A SIC and District 5-6 traveling to play a few crossover games. Boise and Highland will get things started Friday afternoon as the Brave hit the road for a matchup of undefeated teams. The Brave downed Rocky Mountain 2-0 in their opener before playing to a 3-3 draw against Borah on Monday and shellacking Capital 8-2 Wednesday. The Rams, coming off a disappointing 2022 season, are off to a hot start this year, as they sit at 3-0. Highland has yet to allow a goal this season, beating Pocatello 2-0, Twin Falls 1-0 and Preston 2-0 in its first three games. The other Treasure Valley-East Idaho showdown features the Madison Bobcats and the defending 5A champion Timberline Wolves, a rematch of the opening round of the 2022 5A State Tournament. Madison has played only one game so far, defeating Skyline 5-1, but Timberline's resume is already full of impressive victories. The Wolves, who sit at 3-0-1, tied with Bishop Kelly in their opener but have since ripped off three consecutive wins over Borah, Capital and Centennial, outscoring opponents in those three matches 14-3. These four teams will all be back in action Saturday at Iron Horse Stadium in Pocatello as Boise plays Madison at 11 a.m. and Timberline takes on Highland at 3 p.m.
Coeur d'Alene @ Lake City
1 p.m. Saturday
Coeur d'Alene and Lake City will clash Saturday afternoon in a cross-town rivalry match between the top two teams in the 5A IEL last season. After making a surprising run to the 5A State Semifinals last fall, the Timberwolves are off to a hot start in 2023 as they enter Saturday at 2-0 with blowout wins over Lewiston and Moscow. The Vikings are also undefeated so far in the young season, besting Lakeland 3-1 on Wednesday. Coeur d'Alene and Lake City played four times last year, splitting the season series at two game apiece. The Vikings beat the Timberwolves in the 2022 IEL Championship Game, but the Timberwolves got the last laugh at state, winning 1-0 over CDA in the opening round. The Vikings did bounce back nicely, however, going on to win the 5A Consolation Championship with consecutive victories over Madison and Borah. Saturday's match will go a long way in shaping the 2023 league race.
Wood River @ Mountain Home
10 a.m. Saturday
The 4A Great Basin League (GBL) is going to be a ton of fun this season, and Wood River and Mountain Home have already proven they can compete for the league title. The Wolverines picked off defending 4A champion Caldwell 4-2 in their season opener last weekend, and they currently sit at 2-0-1. Mountain Home, meanwhile, is a team that nearly upset 2022 GBL champion Canyon Ridge in the district tournament last season. The Tigers are 2-0 so far in 2023 with wins over Twin Falls and Minico, and they could make a huge statement with a home win over Wood River Saturday morning.
GIRLS SOCCER
Rocky Mountain @ Madison
3 p.m. Friday
Timberline (Boise) vs. Highland (Poc.)
5 p.m. Friday
Just like on the boys side, four of the best 5A girls soccer programs will meet Friday and Saturday for matches that could likely be state playoff previews. Rocky Mountain was a 5A State Semifinalist in 2022, but the Grizzlies are off to a rough 0-2-1 start to the year after dropping contests to SIC rivals Eagle and Boise last week. The Grizzlies will play at Madison Friday afternoon and then turn around to play a Highland team Saturday morning that they beat In penalty kicks in the opening round of the state playoffs last season. Rocky Mountain will need to come prepare to avoid getting themselves in too big of a whole to start the season. Timberline, meanwhile, enters the weekend at 2-1-1 with wins over Borah and Capital and a draw against Centennial. Madison, who sits at 1-0-1 and 2-1 Highland will look to defend home turf and prove that East Idaho teams can compete with the best in the SIC.
American Falls @ Teton
11 a.m. Saturday
A pair of 3A state tournament qualifiers from last season face off Saturday morning in Driggs, as American Falls travels to take on Teton. The Beavers currently sit at 1-0 with a win over South Fremont last weekend while the Timberwolves are 1-1 with a loss to Marsh Valley and win over Snake River. American Falls and Teton split the season series in 2022 with both teams winning 3-1 on their home field.
Grangeville @ Timberlake
Noon Saturday
Heading into the 2022 3A State Tournament as the No. 8 seed, the Timberlake Tigers pulled off one of the most shocking upsets in recent memory when they took down 3A favorite and Intermountain League (IML) rival Coeur d'Alene Charter in the opening round. The Tigers return a lot of talent from a season ago and should be contenders in the IML once again this year. Timberlake is off to a 1-0 start to the season, and they will have an intriguing challenge when Grangeville comes to Spirit Lake Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs are 1-0 on the season, annihilating St. Maries 13-0 in their season opener. Grangeville is hoping to be a dark horse team in the IML this season, and they have a chance to make a statement Saturday against one of the best teams in the league.
VOLLEYBALL
Serving Up Sky View Tournament
Blackfoot and South Fremont will each get the season going this weekend in Smithfield, Utah, at the Serving Up Sky View Tournament.
New Plymouth Invitational
McCall Donnelly, Caldwell and Homedale are among the teams that will travel to New Plymouth Saturday for the Pilgrims annual tournament.
Kuna Kavemen Klassic
Teams from all classifications and parts of the state will converge in the Treasure Valley this weekend for the Kavemen Klassic hosted by Kuna. This year's competitors include Nampa, Rocky Mountain, Nampa Christian, Vallivue, Post Falls, Salmon, Boise, and more.
Judy Fong Memorial Tournament
The best volleyball squads in North Idaho will be in Lewiston over the weekend for the annual Judy Fong Memorial Tournament hosted at Lewis-Clark State College. The 2022 field includes St. Maries, Genesee, Orofino, Troy, Moscow, Sandpoint, Kellogg, Coeur d'Alene, Kendrick and Lewiston, among others.
Peg Peterson Invitational
The largest tournament of the weekend will be hosted in Pocatello by Highland. This season's Peg Peterson Invitational will feature Wood River, Fruitland, Kimberly, Marsh Valley, American Falls, Buhl, Capital, Bishop Kelly, Middleton, Pocatello, Ridgeview, Filer, Shelley, Burley, Weiser, Snake River, Skyline, Sugar-Salem and Jerome and a host of other teams.
Cokeville Invitational
Preston, Bear Lake, Grace and West Side will all be in Wyoming this weekend at the Cokeville Invitational.
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