ORDER GAME PHOTOS

As we head into Labor Day weekend, several teams shockingly remain winless, while others are off to surprising starts.

Over the past two weeks, defending state champions have lost close games, conference rivals have battled down to the final seconds and teams have notched wins in their return to varsity competition for the first time in several years.

This week the action will only get better as fans across the state are treated to compelling matchups between some of the best teams in every sport.

Three exciting games will take place on the blue turf at Boise State's Albertson Stadium Friday afternoon and evening to highlight a solid slate of Week 2 football action, several crossover soccer games should provide plenty of intrigue and the top volleyball teams in the state will go head-to-head in what should be a great weekend of sports action.

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

Skyline @ Highland (Poc.)

7 p.m. Thursday

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After a 52-7 blowout win over Skyline in las week's season opener at the Rocky Mountain Rumble (RMR), Highland (1-0) returns home this week to play…Skyline? Last week was the struggling Skyline Eagles from Utah, but this week the Rams take on the three-time defending Idaho 4A champion Skyline Grizzlies (1-0). The Rams rolled last week behind a Kai Callen pick-six, two Jackson Riddle touchdowns and a solid performance from quarterback Drew Hymas, who threw for 137 yards and a score. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, notched a quality 27-20 victory over a talented Layton (UT) squad at the RMR last Friday. Sophomore running back led the charge for Skyline in that game with 216 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Last season, the Griz got the best of the Rams, winning 29-21 at Ravsten Stadium, but it will be Skyline making the trek down to Pocatello Thursday evening for a riveting 4A-5A crossover game at Lookout Credit Union Field.

Eagle @ Kuna

7 p.m. Thursday

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Eagle (1-0), the No. 1 ranked team in 5A and Kuna (2-0) are both to strong starts to the 2022 season, and they will battle Thursday evening in an important 5A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) River division contest. The Mustangs, led by senior quarterback Davis Harsin and running back Noah Burnham, took down SIC power Meridian 36-33 at home in Week 0, while the Kavemen shutout Centennial 20-0 and handled Skyview 34-14 in consecutive weeks to open the year. Kavemen Austin Lattimer and Luke Selto look like a star duo in the backfield for Kuna, as they combined for 225 yards and three touchdowns in last week's victory. Kuna was picked fifth in the preseason SIC rankings, and they have a chance to pick up a statement win at home Thursday evening when Eagle comes to town.

Skyview @ Middleton

7 p.m. Thursday

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Speaking of Skyview, the Hawks (1-1) will travel to Middleton Thursday evening for an intriguing 5A-4A SIC crossover matchup. After losing a hard-fought contest at Rocky Mountain in Week 0, the Vikings (1-1) responded nicely last week, upending Nampa 31-7 at home. The Middleton defense looked like a brick wall last week, completely thwarting the Nampa offense for most of the night. Skyview, meanwhile, picked up a gutsy 29-26 win over Elko (NV) in Week 0 before getting thumped by Kuna last week. Led by quarterback Cache Beus, the Hawks will look to bounce back quickly Thursday as they face another formidable 5A SIC foe.

Kendrick vs. Oakley — Battle in Boise

3 p.m. (Mountain Time) Friday

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Possibly the game of the week will go down Friday afternoon inside Boise State's Albertsons Stadium as the defending 1AD1 and 1AD2 champions do battle in a rematch of last season's thrilling matchup. Coming off a second straight 1AD2 championship, and possibly the most dominant season in Idaho 8-man football history, Kendrick (1-0) returns a ton of talent in 2023 and appears poised to defend its state title. The Tigers opened the season with a 66-14 home drubbing of Council last week thanks to senior quarterback Ty Koepp's efficient passing, as he went 8-of-10 for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Oakley (1-0), which picked up a third consecutive 1AD1 title in 2022, meanwhile, dispatched St. Joseph (UT) 66-6 in its season opener last week. The Hornets are without last season's 8-Man Player of the Year in Porter Pickett, but Head Coach Brennan Jones' squad remains loaded with senior talent. Last season, Oakley and Kendrick met in Cambridge for what was both team's closest game of the season. The Tigers pulled out the win 52-48 in an instant classic. The sequel should be a quite the spectacle Friday, as the Hornets and Tigers face off on the blue turf in the 8-man game of the year.

Fruitland vs. Emmett — Battle in Boise

5:30 p.m.

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The Battle in Boise will continue Friday night at Albertsons Stadium as the Fruitland Grizzles (0-1) take on the Emmett Huskies (1-0) in a battle of playoff teams from a year ago. Fruitland dropped its home opener last weekend to Columbia 41-14, while the Emmett picked up a huge 33-30 road win at Blackfoot to open the season. Led by second year Head Coach Jordan Gross, the Grizzlies lost several key pieces from last season's squad that pulled off an impressive upset over Snake River in the opening round of the 3A playoffs. Fruitland will likely look to lean heavily on senior running back Josh Proctor in this game if they want to compete with a talented Huskies team. Proctor found the endzone twice last week and is force on both sides of the ball. Emmett enters Friday's contest riding high after knocking off 4A power Blackfoot in a back-and-forth affair last week. The Huskies were powered by running back Isaac Brennan, who set a school record with 315 rushing yards last Friday and Tyler Welling kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal as time expired to give Emmett the thrilling win. After earning a No. 6 seed last fall and getting bounced in the first round, the Huskies look to prove that they have what it takes to compete for a state title this season.

Burley @ Vallivue — Battle in Boise

8 p.m. Friday

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A future Bronco will get to test out his future home stadium in the Battle in Boise nightcap on Friday as Burley (1-0) and four-star Boise State commit Gatlin Bair travel to the Treasure Valley to take on Vallivue (0-1). Bair scored in four touchdowns in three different ways last Friday in his team's 78-20 annihilation of Mountain Home. The six-foot-two-inch wide receiver caught two touchdowns, returned a punt for a score and scored a rushing TD from the wildcat quarterback position in his team's blowout win. With the huge win and the excitement surrounding Bair, the Bobcats currently find themselves ranked No. 4 in the 4A media poll. The Falcons, on the other hand, struggled out of the gate last Friday, falling 67-19 at Twin Falls and committing five turnovers along the way. Vallivue's Isaac Moore was the lone bright spot for the Falcons, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another. The Falcons will need all of that production and more (pun intended) if they want to keep up with the prolific Burley offense Friday night inside Albertsons Stadium.

Twin Falls @ Idaho Falls

7 p.m. Friday

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Twin Falls (1-0) and Idaho Falls (1-0) both have high aspirations for the 2023 season, and both squads picked up big wins in Week 1. Now, the Bruins and Tigers will duke it out Friday night with a 2-0 start to the season on the line. After a slow start last week against Vallivue at home, Twin Falls quickly rebounded for a resounding 67-19 win. The Bruins made it to the 4A State Quarterfinals a season ago, and with a lot of talent back this season, they hope to compete for a Great Basin League (GBL) title. Idaho Falls, meanwhile, narrowly missed the 2022 state playoffs by virtue of their lackluster MaxPreps ranking. In last week's season opener, the Tigers won what might be one of the games of the year against 5A Thunder Ridge. The Tigers and Titans had to switch venues midway through the game due to inclement weather, moving from Thunder Ridge's home field to Ravsten Stadium. Then, the back-and-forth game went into overtime, spilling over into the early morning hours on Saturday before Idaho Falls finally finished off its 34-28 victory. The Tigers will look to ride the momentum from that thrilling win as they aim to avenge last year's 34-22 loss to the Bruins and begin building a 2023 playoff resume.

Ridgevue @ Pocatello

7:30 p.m. Friday

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After getting blanked 42-0 by 5A Boise last Thursday at Dona Larson Park, Ridgevue (1-0) will now make the trip east Friday night to play the Pocatello Thunder (1-0). The Warhawks won just one game last season and will have their hands full Friday with a Thunder team coming off a solid Week 1 road victory. Pocatello grinded out a 16-9 win over Utah's Mountain Crest last Friday in a game played at Utah State's Maverik Stadium. Quarterback Dre Contreras with more than 300 combined rushing and passing yards and running back Ryan EchoHawk added 158 yards on the ground to pace the Thunder attack. After a 4A State Quarterfinal appearance last year, Pocatello will look to keep things rolling this fall as they host the struggling Warhawks.

Clearwater Valley @ Logos

7 p.m. Friday

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IdahoSports.com will feature live coverage of a big 1AD1 Whitepine League (WPL) contest Friday evening as Clearwater Valley (0-1) plays at Logos (1-0). The Rams showed some resilience last week, but ultimately fell 72-54 to Notus in their home opener. Carson Schilling led the Clearwater Valley charge with four rushing touchdowns and should be a player to look out for Friday night in Moscow. After getting bit hard by the injury bug last fall, the Knights pounded Lakeside 56-0 last Friday to start the 2023 campaign strong. Senior quarterback Jack Driskill is the real deal for Logos, and he showed why last week, passing for 201 yards and score and adding 125 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in the shutout win. The Knights will need that kind of performance again Friday if they want to hold off a talented Rams team and move to 2-0.

Garden Valley @ Camas County

4 p.m. Friday

Garden Valley (1-0) picked up a statement win last Friday, defeating last season's 1AD2 runner-up Dietrich 37-14 to open the season. Tacoma Kelly did everything in the win for the Wolverines, racking up over 300 yards of offense and scoring six touchdowns on the game. Camas County (1-0) similar picked up a solid victory over District 5-6 favorite Rockland, pounding the Bulldogs 62-12. With both the Mushers and Wolverines jumping out to hot starts, Friday afternoon's game in Fairfield should be a great game and potential 1AD2 playoff preview.

Mountain View @ Rocky Mountain

7 p.m. Friday

Friday night's Battle of the Mountains will feature the No. 4-ranked Mountain View Mavericks (1-0) taking on the No. 3 Rocky Mountain Grizzlies in what should be an epic SIC slugfest. After defeating Middleton in Week 0, the Grizzlies made the trek to North Idaho last Friday, shutting down a strong Coeur d'Alene team in a decisive 16-0 victory. Mountain View, meanwhile, took down Meridian 31-26 last Friday to open its season, proving its place atop the loaded 5A SIC standings. With bragging rights and playoff positioning on the line Friday evening, this showdown between undefeated 5A powerhouses should be a ton of fun.

Coeur d'Alene @ Sandpoint

7 p.m. Friday

Last Friday did not go as planned for Coeur d'Alene (1-1) or Sandpoint (0-1). Now the Vikings and Bulldogs will face off Friday night in Sandpoint as they both look for a solid bounce-back victory. The Bulldogs hung tough against the defending 5A IEL champion Post Falls for three quarters last week, but Trojans running back Tevin Burns ultimately proved too much, gashing Sandpoint for three second half touchdowns and accumulating 253 yards on the ground. The Vikings, coming off a huge upset win over Rigby in Week 0, laid an egg at home against Rocky Mountain last Friday, falling 16-0 and never getting much going on offense. Coeur d'Alene-Sandpoint games have been dogfights the last several seasons, with the Vikings winning 24-22 in 2021 at Sandpoint and 27-15 at home last fall. This is a big game for both squads as they look to refocus and move forward after disappointing outcomes a week ago.

BOYS SOCCER

Coeur d'Alene @ Sandpoint

4:30 p.m. Thursday

Two of North Idaho's best squads face off Thursday afternoon in Sandpoint when the Coeur d'Alene Vikings (2-1) head north to face the 2-0 Bulldogs. Sandpoint has yet to allow a goal this season, defeating Lewiston 6-0 and shutting out 4A IEL foe Moscow 4-0 in its two matches so far. Coeur d'Alene, meanwhile, beat Lakeland 3-1 in its opener and pounded Lewiston 8-0 before falling 1-0 to Lake City last Saturday. Both the Vikings and Bulldogs were playoff teams a season ago and they both are poised to be contenders once again in 2023, making Thursday's match an important early-season test for both teams.

Thunder Ridge @ Wood River

4:30 p.m. Thursday

Neither Thunder Ridge (5-0) nor Wood River (4-0-1) has lost a match yet this season, and both teams look like legitimate state title contenders in their respective classifications. After defeating nearly the entire 4A High Country Conference (HCC) already this season, the Titans will have their toughest test yet when they travel to Hailey Thursday afternoon. Wood River took down the defending 4A champion Caldwell 4-2 in its home opener, and it picked up another big win over Mountain Home last week. The Wolverines only blemish this season was a 1-1 draw against Hillcrest in its second game of the season.

Rigby @ Pocatello

5 p.m. Thursday

Two of East Idaho's finest teams will take the pitch Thursday night when Rigby (4-0) visits Lookout Credit Union Field to take on Pocatello (2-1-1). The Trojans are undefeated so far this season, sweeping through the HCC with wins over Skyline, Bonneville, Idaho Falls and Blackfoot. Rigby has allowed just two goals in its four games on the year. The Thunder, meanwhile, have beaten Twin Falls and Skyline. Pocatello lost its home opener 2-0 to 5A Highland and tied Hillcrest 1-1 as well.

Columbia @ Bishop Kelly

6 p.m. Thursday

Columbia @ McCall-Donnelly

5:30 p.m. Friday

Although Columbia's record (1-2-1) does not look fantastic to start the year, the Wildcats have shown a lot of promise against some formidable opponents. Columbia picked up a win over Emmett in game No. 1 before losing a heartbreaker 4-3 against defending 4A champion Caldwell and falling 2-0 to a talented Canyon Ridge team. On Monday, the Wildcats drew against 5A Mountain View 2-2, and they will hit the road Thursday and Friday to challenge themselves against more of District 3's top teams. Bishop Kelly (3-1-1), the 4A state runner-up last year, has looked like a top team once again in its 2023 action. The Knights tied defending 5A champion Timberline in its opener before dropping a tight 2-1 match to defending Caldwell last week. Bishop Kelly also has three shutout victories over Owyhee, Emmett and Vallivue so far this year. McCall-Donnelly (2-0-1) was the 2022 3A State Consolation champion and the Vandals have looked good to start the 2023 season. The Vandals played well in a trip to north Idaho last week, tying Coeur d'Alene Charter 1-1 and pounding Timberlake 5-0. McCall also has a 4-0 win over 5A Lewiston under its belt this season.

GIRLS SOCCER

Marsh Valley @ American Falls

4 p.m. Thursday

The top two teams in the 3A South East Idaho Conference (SEIC) face off Thursday afternoon when Marsh Valley (4-0) travels to American Falls (3-1). The Eagles, who missed out on the 3A playoffs last fall, have looked dominant in their four games so far this year. Aside from a 2-1 win over Teton in its opener, Marsh Valley has won its other three contests by a combined score of 30-1. The Beavers have been similarly prolific, outscoring opponents 31-9 in their three victories on the year. American Falls did lose to Teton 2-0 in Driggs last weekend, but the Beavers are coming off a 3A third place finish last season and hope to continue their recent success with a big home win over their conference rival on Thursday.

Sandpoint @ Coeur d'Alene

4:30 p.m. Thursday

Just like on the boys side, the Sandpoint-Coeur d'Alene match will be one to watch Thursday afternoon as both squads have the talent and depth to compete at the state level. Both the Bulldogs and Vikings are currently 2-1 on the season. Sandpoint defeated Lake City 1-0 in its opener and blew out Stillwater Christian (MT) before losing 3-2 against Lewiston last weekend. Coeur d'Alene, meanwhile, beat Lakeland 5-1 and Lewiston 2-1 but got popped by Lake City 4-1 most recently. With both teams looking to keep pace in the combined 4A-5A IEL standings, Thursday's match should be a good opportunity for either the Bulldogs or Vikings to pick up a confidence-building win.

Pocatello @ Rigby

4:30 p.m. Thursday

Another important match in East Idaho will take place Thursday afternoon when the Pocatello Thunder (3-0) head to Rigby to the take on the 4-1 Trojans. Pocatello already has a pair of quality wins this season, having beaten 5A Highland 1-0 and Twin Falls 2-1. Rigby, meanwhile, has wins over Skyline, Bonneville, Preston and Blackfoot, and the Trojans only loss came in a 2-1 match against Idaho Falls. Both teams will look to continue their strong play Thursday afternoon as they go head-to-head.

Owyhee @ Middleton

6:30 p.m. Thursday

Thursday evening's slate will also feature an intriguing matchup between two up-and-coming teams in the 5A SIC, as the Owyhee Storm (4-0) look to continue their hot start to the season when they play at Middleton (2-1). The Storm have looked very impressive so far this year, allowing just one goal in four total matches. Owyhee has wins over Lewiston, defending 4A champion Bishop Kelly, Kuna and Meridian already under its belt, and it will look for another quality win Thursday. The Vikings notched a pair of solid wins over Eagle and Vallivue to open the season before falling 5-2 to SIC power Mountain View last Thursday. Head Coach Melinda Stevens and her squad will look to get back on track Thursday against a talented Owyhee team.

Idaho Falls @ Shelley

6:30 p.m. Thursday

The 4A HCC is shaping up to be a competitive league again this fall, and so far Idaho Falls (2-1) and Shelley (3-1) are standing out above the rest. The Tigers and Russets will settle things on the pitch Thursday evening in Shelley. Idaho Falls started the season strong with a pair of 2-1 wins over 5A foes Thunder Ridge and Rigby before falling 2-0 against Madison last week. Shelley, meanwhile, has won three games by shutout over Preston, Burley and Century. The Russets lone loss was a tight 2-1 defeat at the hands of 3A power Sugar-Salem. Thursday's match should go a long way in helping clarify the HCC standings as these two team open league play.

Marsh Valley @ Sugar-Salem

11 a.m. Saturday

After traveling to American Falls on Thursday, the Eagles will again challenge themselves with a tough road game at Sugar-Salem on Saturday morning. Both squads currently sit at 4-0, and the Diggers have looked especially impressive, outscoring opponents 25-3 in their four games, including a 10-1 shellacking of defending 3A champion Sun Valley Community School. Sugar-Salem is on a revenge tour of sorts in 2023 after starting 17-0 last season but falling to Teton in the district title game and missing out on a state playoff berth. Last year, the Diggers defeated the Eagles 4-1 and 3-0 in the two games they played against one another.

VOLLEYBALL

Melba @ Horseshoe Bend

6 p.m. Thursday

It will be the battle of the Mustangs Thursday evening when defending 2A champion Melba travels to two-time defending 1AD2 champion Horseshoe Bend for a showdown between two of Idaho's premiere volleyball programs. Last season, Melba defeated Horseshoe Bend 3-1 at home, marking the only loss of the year for the 1AD2 Mustangs. In fact, those were the only three sets that Horseshoe Bend lost all of last season, defeating all the rest of their opponents 3-0 en route to a 22-1 record and a second state title in as many season. The amazing part for Horseshoe Bend Head Coach Sharsti Moore, her Mustangs did not lose a single player to graduation, bringing back 2022 all-state nominees Abby Howerton, Olivia Bauer, Aliyah Meyer, and Torey Tschida, as well as 1AD2 Player of the Year Annelie Wilson. The Melba Mustangs, meanwhile, enter the 2023 season after capturing the program's first state championship last fall, knocking off two-time defending 2A champion West Side in the finals. But Head Coach Curtis Johnson will be without a pair of key players in Keylee Wilson and three-sport star Kendall Clark this year. Nevertheless, the Mustangs remain poised to defend their 2A title.

Century vs. Madison

6 p.m. Thursday

Both Century and Madison had seasons to remember in 2022. The Diamondbacks finished 12-9 and made a Cinderella run through the 4A State Tournament as the No. 7 seed, ultimately finishing third. Century also were academic state champions and took home the sportsmanship award as well. But the Diamondbacks now find themselves in somewhat of a rebuilding mode, returning only three starters from that squad but also adding a talented transfer from Pocatello in Matejah Mangum. Madison stole the show in 5A volleyball last fall, finishing 19-1 overall and claiming the state championship with a dominating performance at state where the Bobcats lost just one set the entire tournament. However, like Century, Madison returns few contributors from last season's team. With a lot of new faces playing significant roles for both teams, Thursdays match between Century and Madison as part of a tri-match with Shelley should be fun to watch.

Eagle @ Owyhee

6:30 p.m. Thursday

Both Eagle and Owyhee looked poised to not only battle for the 5A SIC title in 2023 but to compete for the state title as well. The Mustangs return four starters from a squad that went 19-2 last season and earned the No. 5 seed at state. Eagle's most notable returnee is 2022 all-state nominee Delany Bub, and the Mustangs also bring back Teagan Scott, who Head Coach Collin Hartman believes will be a key piece for Eagle's attack this fall. Owyhee, meanwhile, has six starters coming back, including three all-SIC honorees from a season ago. The Storm hope to build upon a solid season in which they finished third in the SIC but went two-and-out at the 5A State Tournament. With high expectations for both teams this season, Thursday evenings showdown at Owyhee should be a ton of fun.