|
 ORDER GAME PHOTOS
We are officially past the halfway point of the fall sports regular season and it has me asking myself, "How is that possible?!"
The 2023 season/school year is seemingly flying by already, and each week we have been stunned by unbelievable performances and unlikely outcomes.
Last week's action included a last-second Hail Mary, a shocking SIC upset, a back-and-forth Black and Blue Bowl and much, much more.
This weekend we get the 59th annual Emotion Bowl, conference rivalry games in both football and soccer and one of the biggest volleyball tournaments of the season in the Treasure Valley.
Get caught up on all that has gone down and all that is going on today and tomorrow in this week's Weekend Preview.
And as always, if I missed a big game I should have covered, botched a spelling or maybe even wrote something you appreciated, please let me know. My email is crweaner@liberty.edu and my X (Twitter) handle is @christianweaner. I always appreciate your feedback!
FOOTBALL
5A
Meridian @ Highland (Poc.)
7 p.m. Friday
Watch Live
Last fall, a 2-2 Highland squad that had lost its first two games before winning two in a row traveled to the Treasure Valley for a showdown with an undefeated and dominant-looking Meridian team. In a weird twist of fate, the roles of exactly reversed this season, as the Warriors (2-2) will head to Pocatello on Friday for a game against the 4-0 Rams.
Meridian has looked shockingly shaky so far this year after making a run to the 5A State Championship game a season ago. The Warriors lost a pair of heartbreakers to Eagle and Mountain View in the first two weeks of the year, ground out a 23-20 win over Middleton in Week 3 and then messed around with a Timberline team that has not won since October 2021 before pulling away late for a 35-20 victory last Thursday.
But, with an extra day of rest and a lot left to prove, the Rams would be foolish to overlook the deep and talented Warriors team.
Highland enters Friday as the No. 2-ranked team in 5A, and for good reason. The Rams have battered their way to four straight victories, including a pair of marquee wins over Skyline in Week 2 and Pocatello last Friday. In last week's Black and Blue Bowl, Highland held leads of 17-0 and 24-7, and the Rams ultimately held off a late Thunder comeback effort to win 24-17.
As potentially the game of the week in 5A football this week, Friday night's showdown should be must-watch football on IdahoSports.com.
Thunder Ridge @ Middleton
7 p.m. Friday
Watch Live
It's Homecoming weekend at Middleton as the Vikings (2-2) will host the winless Thunder Ridge Titans (0-5) on Friday night.
So far this season, Middleton has posted wins over Nampa and Skyview, while losing narrowly in a pair of road games at Rocky Mountain and Meridian. Coming off their bye last week, the Vikings should be fired up and ready to defend their home turf against the Titans from East Idaho.
If Middleton can take care of business, they should be set up for success the rest of the way with a favorable schedule for the remainder of the regular season.
Thunder Ridge, meanwhile, is looking to pick up its first win of the season in what has been a frustrating and forgettable year thus far. The Titans have played tough, losing three of their five games by two touchdowns or less yet they have found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard each time.
Second-year Thunder Ridge Head Coach Michael Berger will have his team ready to go Friday night, and the Vikings will not be able to sleepwalk through this one if they want to come out with a win.
Borah @ Owyhee
7 p.m. Friday
Borah and Owyhee were both on the losing end of big games last week against two of the SIC's best, and now they will meet in a game ripe with playoff implications.
The Lions (4-1, 2-1 SIC River) started the season 4-0 before falling 42-21 to No. 3 Mountain View last Friday in a game that was tied 14-14 at halftime. Despite the stinging loss, Borah has the makings of a playoff team, and it has a chance to prove it Friday in its toughest road contest to date.
The Storm (3-2, 1-2), meanwhile, has similarly shown glimpses of greatness in 2023, most notably in their landmark 24-17 win at Mountain View two weeks ago. But, Owyhee has also gotten bit by the SIC parity bug, losing to Boise and Eagle by a combined seven points, and the Storm now find themselves sitting at 1-2 in the SIC River Division.
Borah and Owyhee were two of the teams on the cut line of the 5A playoffs a season ago, with each finishing with identical 4-5 records. Owyhee snuck in via its higher MaxPreps ranking, while Borah was left at home. If either of these squads wants to avoid the late-season uncertainty they faced in 2022, then a big win on Friday night will be necessary.
Lewiston @ Sandpoint
7 p.m. Friday
Sandpoint has seemingly found itself on our Weekend Preview every week so far, and for good reason.
The Bulldogs have consistently challenged themselves against some of the top competition not only in North Idaho but the entire state (and Canada). The bad news for the Bulldogs is that sometimes when you schedule tough, you take tough losses.
Sandpoint (1-3) will look to avoid another one of those tough losses Friday, as they host a 5A Inland Empire League (IEL) opponent for the third time this season. The Bulldogs' gauntlet, which has included Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Raymond (Alberta) and Homedale will continue as they host a Lewiston squad that finally seems to be hitting its stride this season.
The Bengals (2-2) spent approximately 1,500 miles (round trip) on the road in the first two weeks of the season and returned with a 0-2 start after losing to Woods Cross (UT) in the Rocky Mountain Rumble and falling at Capital the following week.
But, Lewiston has looked good over its past two games, posting a big 42-26 win over Clarkston in the Battle of the Bridge and popping Pendleton (OR) 39-12 last Friday.
Regardless of who wins, fans should be in for a thrilling Friday night as the growing Lewiston-Sandpoint rivalry (which will take new form next year when Lewiston joins Sandpoint in the new 5A IEL thanks to the updated classification system) continues.
In 2021, the Bulldogs won 42-41 in overtime, but the Bengals got revenge 40-38 at home last fall.
4A
Hillcrest @ Pocatello
7 p.m. Friday
Watch Live
After annihilating their first three opponents this season, the Hillcrest Knights (4-0) pulled out one of the most miraculous wins you will ever see last week, beating Skyline 36-35 on a Hail Mary caught by 6-foot-8-inch BYU basketball commit Isaac Davis in the only completed pass of the game for Hillcrest.
Next up, Davis and the Knights will meet Boise State basketball commit Julian Bowie and the Pocatello Thunder (2-1) in a battle between the No. 2 and 3 ranked teams in 4A, respectively.
Pocatello is coming off a tight 24-17 loss to Highland in the Black and Blue Bowl a week ago in which the Thunder's late comeback was thwarted inside the Ram's 10-yard line. Despite the loss, the Thunder, which has been aided by the game-breaking speed of Bowie at wide receiver, looks the part of a 4A contender through three games this year.
Do not be surprised if Friday's showdown at Lookout Credit Union Field is only a preview of another matchup between these talented squads in early November.
Minico @ Burley
7 p.m. Friday
Watch Live
As mentioned before, 2023 is shaping up to be a wide-open race in the 4A Great Basin League, and the Friday matchup between the improving Minico Spartans and high-powered Burley Bobcats will go a long way in affecting how the standing ultimately shakes out.
Under first-year Head Coach Sherm Blaser, Minico (3-2, 1-0 GBL) has taken a couple of lumps but still appears to be a team capable of winning the league for what would be a third straight time. Despite losing a pair of games to Desert Hills (UT) and Mountain Crest (UT), the Spartans are yet to lose to a team from Idaho and they are averaging north of 36 points per game.
Burley (2-2, 1-0), meanwhile, has again looked like one of the most unstoppable offenses in the state, lighting up the scoreboard with games of 78, 65 and 51 points scored. The only problem: the defense has been a liability for the Bobcats, who are allowing an astonishing 37.5 points per contest.
Last season Minico was able to slow down Burley for a 42-28 home win, but the Bobcats will look to return the favor Friday when the Spartans and Bobcats go head to head with the BGL top spot on the line.
Skyline @ Idaho Falls
7 p.m. Friday
Watch Live
The 2023 season has not quite gotten off the start neither Skyline nor Idaho Falls were hoping for, but both the Grizzlies and Tigers will have a chance to right the ship Friday as they prepare for the 59th annual Emotion Bowl.
Skyline (2-2, 0-1 HCC) picked up its second loss of the season last week at Hillcrest when they let a late 35-28 lead slip away, giving up a go-ahead Hail Mary to the Knights on the final play of the game. The Grizzlies, which have won the past three 4A state titles, fell from No. 2 to No. 4 in this week's state media poll, and they now have work to do after dropping their conference opener.
Like Skyline, Idaho Falls (1-3, 0-1) is also in search of its first High Country Conference (HCC) win of the year after it fell to Bonneville 22-19 last week. The Tigers opened the season with a riveting 34-28 overtime win against Thunder Ridge, but they have dropped three straight since then, all against 2022 playoff teams, and things will not get any easier this week.
Skyline avenged a 2021 Emotion Bowl loss by trampling the Tigers 46-7 last season, and the Grizzlies lead the all-time series 35-23.
Shelley @ Bonneville
7 p.m. Friday
A pair of 2022 playoff teams and conference rivals will face off Friday night at Thunder Stadium as Bonneville hosts Shelley.
The Bees (3-1, 1-0 HCC) enter Friday's Homecoming game after picking up a big 22-19 victory at Idaho Falls last week. After losing star running back Tim Williams to a gruesome season-ending injury two weeks ago during the game against Rigby, Bonneville showed a lot of poise and toughness as the Bees held off Idaho Falls' late comeback last week.
Shelley (2-2, 1-0) is also off to a 1-0 start to conference play, and the Russets have looked sharp the past two weeks after starting the season 0-2. The Russets shut down Burley's high-powered attack in a 47-14 nonconference win in Week 3 and dominated Blackfoot 35-7 last week.
Bonneville was shut out by Shelley last season 28-0, but the Bees will look to bounce back this year and continue their strong start to the year.
Twin Falls @ Emmett
7 p.m. Friday
Twin Falls and Emmett both enter Friday's contest at 3-1 and both squads appear to be solid 4A contenders this season, making Friday's nonconference tilt a big opportunity for the Bruins and Huskies.
After losing to Pocatello two weeks ago in a game they could only muster seven points, the Bruins had a get-right game last week in a 62-0 blowout of Jerome. In its three wins this season, Twin Falls is averaging more than 61 points per game while allowing only 17 points per contest.
The Huskies, meanwhile, started the season 3-0 before dropping a shocker 35-7 last week at 4A SIC rival Skyview. Despite the loss, the Huskies, who earned 4A's No. 6 seed last year, have a great opportunity to rebound at home this week against a quality Twin Falls team.
Both Emmett and Twin Falls have spent time in the top five of the statewide media poll before recent losses dropped them both to the "also receiving votes" section, but a big win Friday would likely catapult the Bruins or Huskies back into the rankings.
3A
Teton @ American Falls
7 p.m. Friday
The Teton Timberwolves will take their high-powered offense down to American Falls Friday evening for a nonconference matchup against the Beavers, who have won three straight.
There are six remaining undefeated teams in 3A football this season, and Teton (3-0) is one of them. The Timberwolves, ranked No. 5 currently, have beaten Jackson Hole (WY), Marsh Valley and West Jefferson, scoring an average of 46 points per contest while allowing only 14 per game. Teton has yet to play a close game this year, and the Timberwolves look like true 3A contenders.
After a winless 2022 campaign, American Falls (3-2) fans were likely worried when the Beavers got off to a 0-2 start this fall. But, to their credit, Head Coach Tim Hoppe's group fought hard in both of those games, and the Beavers' efforts paid off with a 20-14 win over West Jefferson. American Falls followed that up with a pair of resounding wins in each of the last two weeks over Filer and Ririe, and suddenly the Beavers look like playoff material this season.
American Falls will get a good test Friday against a talented and experienced Timberwolves squad.
St. Maries @ Timberlake
7 p.m. Friday
It was with great sadness that the entire St. Maries community said goodbye to former Lumberjacks football and baseball coach Craig Tefft, who passed away on Tuesday after a 10-month battle with colon cancer. Tefft was a stalwart at St. Maries, who led the Lumberjacks to the 2016 2A State Championship and was beloved by his players.
Friday night, St. Maries (1-3) will have the chance to honor its former coach as the Lumberjacks travel to Spirit Lake to take on 3A Timberlake. After starting 0-3 against a brutal nonconference schedule, the Lumberjacks picked up a huge 30-18 win over Kellogg last week and seem to have things headed in the right direction.
Timberlake (3-2), meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak with a big win at 4A Moscow last Friday. The Tigers outscored the Bears 16-6 in the fourth quarter last week to pick up the 38-28 win, and they will look to keep that momentum going Friday in another tough nonleague matchup.
With a huge home date against 3A powerhouse Sugar-Salem coming up next week, Timberlake cannot overlook this scrappy St. Maries bunch, which has a lot to play for this week.
2A
Bear Lake @ West Side
7 p.m. Friday
There are few rivalries throughout the state quite as fierce as Bear Lake-West Side football. The Bears and Pirates have been two of the best 2A squads in the state over the past several years, and their two matchups last season were decided by a combined 28-27.
A year removed from their first-ever 2A title run, Bear Lake (2-2) has looked mortal in 2023. The Bears opened the year 0-2 but have since won two straight nailbiters over Firth and 3A Wendell. After lighting up defenses with 31 points per game last season, the Bears have averaged just 13.5 points per contest so far this year.
West Side (2-1), meanwhile, is the No. 2 ranked team in 2A right now, and for good reason. Aside from a 54-44 loss at Layton Christian (UT), the Pirates have two blowout wins over Firth and 3A Marsh Valley already under their belts, and they look poised to ascend back to the top of 2A football after relinquishing their crown last fall.
Following a pair of stinging 28-27 losses to Bear Lake last fall, West Side will be hungry for a big payback win Friday night as they host the defending champion Bears in both team's 2A South East Idaho Conference (SEIC) opener.
Nampa Christian @ Cole Valley Christian
7 p.m. Friday
The 2A Western Idaho Conference (WIC) does not have a team with a losing record at the moment, and with Melba picking up a marquee win over 2A power North Fremont last Friday, Nampa Christian and Coley Valley Christian both have some work to do if they want to compete for a WIC title and a playoff spot this fall.
Nampa Christian (2-2) started the season 0-2 with losses to Declo, who is currently ranked No. 1 in 2A and McCall-Donnelly, a 3-0 3A squad. Since then, the Trojans have looked impressive in wins over Parma and Fruitland. Nampa Christian narrowly missed out on the playoffs a season ago, and a big win Friday at Cole Valley would go a long way in ensuring they avoid that same fate this time around.
Cole Valley Christian (2-2), meanwhile, has played four games against 3A opponents, defeating Parma and Payette but losing to Wendell and Weiser. The Chargers were a playoff team in 2022, and Head Coach Mark Moreno's squad hopes to be back in the 2A bracket again this season.
Last season, Cole Valley Christian won 35-21 at Nampa Christian en route to a second-place finish in the WIC.
New Plymouth @ Marsing
7 p.m. Friday
Another exciting WIC tilt is on tap Friday as New Plymouth (3-1) travels to Marsing (3-1).
New Plymouth's lone loss this season came at Vale (OR), but aside from that game, the Pilgrims have looked like a solid 2A contender. The Pilgrims beat 3A Payette 40-14 in their season, shut out Nyssa (OR) 50-0 and picked up a big-time 52-49 win over Grangeville last Friday.
Led by second-year Head Coach Shea McClellin, a former Marsing star who went on to play at Boise State and become a first-round NFL draft pick, the Huskies are off to a ferocious start to the season. Marsing pounded Orofino in its season opener and also posted wins over Payette and Parma.
With both teams coming in at 3-1, the conference and overall playoff implications of Friday's game cannot be understated.
1AD1
Lapwai @ Logos
7 p.m. Friday
Watch Live
Despite being pegged as the No. 3 and 7 teams in the 1AD1 Whitepine League (WPL) in the preseason coaches poll, both Logos and Lapwai have proven themselves to be legitimate contenders for the top spot in the league standings. Friday they will do battle in Moscow in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Lapwai (2-1, 1-1 WPL) opened the season with a runaway win against Timberline (Weippe) before falling in a tough game at Kamiah the following week. But the Wildcats bounced back a week ago for a nice 42-18 win over Clearwater Valley, and now they will get their shot against the WPL's top team so far this year.
Logos (4-0, 3-0) picked up a huge 40-14 win over the defending WPL champion Kamiah Kubs two weeks ago, asserting themselves as the team to beat in 2023. The Knights have been getting it done on both sides of the balling, averaging 48.5 points per game while allowing just less than nine points per contest.
A Logos win would set up a potentially massive showdown with Potlatch next week, which also is yet to lose in 2023, whereas a Wildcat upset would solidify Lapwai's position as a top-tier WPL squad and potential playoff-caliber team.
Council vs. Butte County
7 p.m. Saturday
Watch Live
The Council Lumberjacks' brutal nonconference continues Saturday evening as they meet undefeated Butte County, which looks like a legitimate state title contender at the 1AD1 level.
All four of Council's (2-2) games this season have come against 2022 playoff teams. The Lumberjacks posted wins over Lewis County and Horseshoe Bend but lost to Kendrick in their season opener and got pounded by 1AD1 Kamiah last week.
The Pirates (4-0), meanwhile, have been blowing the doors off opponents so far this season. Butte County is averaging 55 points per game while allowing less than 20 on average. The Pirates sit at the No. 5 spot in 1AD1 currently, and they will get another good test on Friday against a top-notch 1AD2 team in Council.
Council and Butte County, which are five hours away from one another, will play at a more central location on Saturday in Homedale.
1AD2
Dietrich @ Hagerman
7 p.m. Friday
Hagerman's Homecoming game on Friday night will feature a matchup between the Pirates and Sawtooth Conference rival Dietrich, last season's 1AD2 runner-up.
Returning 20 players from their 2022 roster, the Pirates (3-1) have looked strong to start the season and are off to a 3-1 start for the second straight year. The Pirates are putting up 35 points per game and have looked dominant in their three victories. Hagerman's lone loss came at Rockland, the perennial Rocky Mountain Conference power.
The only issue for Hagerman: the Sawtooth Conference is one of the fiercest in all of Idaho 8-man football. Over the next three weeks, the Pirates will play the No. 5 (Dietrich) and No. 2 (Camas County) teams in 1AD2 as well as Castleford, a 2022 state semifinalist.
For the Blue Devils, 2023 got off to a patchy start as they lost a big nonconference home game against Garden Valley. Dietrich bounced back for a thrilling 56-50 overtime win over Rockland a week later, and the Blue Devils took care of business against Mackay in Week 3. Dietrich enters Friday's matchup coming off a bye week, and the Blue Devils seem poised to push for another Sawtooth Conference crown this year.
With so much talent in one conference, Hagerman is going to need an upset victory in one of the next three weeks if they hope to sneak into the playoffs this season.
Challis @ Mackay
7 p.m. Friday
With low numbers in both programs last season, Challis and Mackay came together for a co-op team that allowed student-athletes from both rural schools to take the field together.
But this fall, the Vikings and Miners are back to fielding their own independent teams, making Friday night's matchup in Mackay an intriguing battle between former teammates.
Challis (1-2) lost a blowout to Murtaugh in the season opener, but the Vikings bounced back nicely, beating Watersprings 22-12 and losing a close game against North Gem. With the Vikings competing in the stacked 1AD1 High Desert Conference alongside Grace and Butte County this season, Friday's game at 1AD2 Mackay is an important opportunity to gain some momentum before conference play gets going next week.
Mackay (2-1), meanwhile, got off to an incredible start to its 2023 season, blanking Richfield and Clark County in consecutive weeks by a combined score of 118-0. The Miners did come back to earth in their third game, however, losing 46-8 at 2022 1AD2 runner-up Dietrich before having a bye last week.
In their last meeting as independent teams in 2021, the Vikings beat the Miners 44-8 in Challis.
BOYS SOCCER
5A
Timberline (Boise) @ Rocky Mountain
5:30 p.m. Friday
The 5A classification's No. 2 and 3-ranked teams will go head to head Friday night as Timberline travels to Rocky Mountain for a huge 5A SIC showdown.
Despite being ranked one spot below Boise in the state media poll, Timberline (12-0-1, 9-0 SIC) currently sits atop the 5A SIC standings with a perfect 9-0 record in conference play. The Wolves played to a 1-1 draw with Bishop Kelly in their season opener, but they have run the table since that point, winning 12 straight matches. The two-time defending 5A champs last lost on Oct. 13, 2021, and they play every match expecting to win.
Rocky Mountain (7-2, 7-2) started the season in the worst possible way, losing 2-0 to Centennial and Boise in back-to-back games. But since that point, the Grizzlies have looked like a top-tier team, as they went on a six-game shutout streak and have won their past seven matches in a row overall.
The next couple of matches will be critical for both Timberline and Rocky Mountain, as both squads have dates with No. 1 Boise coming up early next week.
Highland (Poc.) @ Madison
11 a.m. Saturday
With Thunder Ridge, Highland and Madison locked in a three-way tie atop the District 5-6 standings, the conference championship is anyone's for the taking, making Saturday's match in Rexburg critical for both the Rams and Bobcats.
Both Highland (5-4-2, 1-0-2 District 5-6) and Madison (5-2-2, 1-0-2) enter Saturday with identical 1-0-2 conference records by virtues of victories over Rigby, draws against Thunder. The Rams and Bobcats played to a 0-0 draw themselves back on Sept. 6.
The Rams started the season 3-0 before dropping three straight games to Boise, Timberline and 4A Preston. Since then, Highland has gone 2-1-1 in its last four matches, highlighted by a 1-1 draw at Thunder Ridge and a tight 2-1 loss at Canyon Ridge last weekend. The Rams are allowing just one goal per contest, but they have had trouble finding the back of the net in a lot of games this season, leading to their four losses.
The Bobcats, meanwhile, also lost a pair of games early in the season to Boise and Timberline but they have gone 4-0-2 in their last six matches. Madison was a 5A state playoff squad a season ago, but they were the No. 8 seed and got bounced early by No. 1 Timberline. If the Bobcats hope to avoid that same fate in 2023, a huge home win over Highland would make a big difference.
4A
Mountain Home @ Wood River
1:30 p.m. Saturday
The 4A slate is pretty light this weekend, but one match to watch will be another GBL showdown in Hailey between Mountain Home and No. 4 Wood River.
The Tigers (6-3, 6-3 GBL) saw themselves as a dark horse team in the GBL this season, and so far they have lived up to that billing. Mountain Home's only losses this year have come to Wood River and No. 2-ranked Canyon Ridge, and two of the three matches were within one goal.
Wood River (9-1-2, 6-1-1), meanwhile, continues its run as a weekly fixture in the Weekend Preview, as they have challenged themselves with tough matches nearly every week. This past weekend, the Wolverines pounded the No. 2 team in 3A, Sun Valley Community School, 3-0.
One interesting note is that Wood River looked a bit susceptible on Tuesday in a 2-2 draw Monday against Burley. While Mountain Home is destined for the No. 3 seed in the district tournament regardless, a win Saturday for the Tigers could go a long way in building their confidence as they prepare for the postseason.
GIRLS SOCCER
5A
Pocatello @ Madison
1 p.m. Friday
The undefeated Pocatello Thunder will make the trip up to Rexburg Friday afternoon for a matchup with a volatile but dangerous Madison squad.
With big wins over Twin Falls and conference rival Preston this past week, Pocatello (11-0) has been able to protect its perfect record so far this season. The Thunder already have posted wins over 5A District 5-6 squads Highland and Rigby, and they will go for another Friday afternoon in a challenging road tilt.
Madison (4-3-2), meanwhile, has been a bit up and down so far this season. The Bobcats opened the season on a 3-1-2 stretch that included a draw against No. 3 Timberline and a close 3-2 loss to No. 5 Rocky Mountain, but they have struggled of late, going 1-2 in their last three matches including a 3-0 loss at Thunder Ridge on Tuesday.
Pocatello is the only remaining unbeaten team in 4A and they currently hold the top spot in the MaxPreps rankings, so a big win Friday would continue to bolster the Thunder's hopes of earning the No. 1 seed at state this year.
Madison @ Highland (Poc.)
4 p.m. Saturday
After Friday's battle with Pocatello, the Bobcats (4-3-2, 1-2 District 5-6) will turn around Saturday and head to Highland (7-3-1, 3-0) for a big nonconference matchup against District 5-6's current No. 1 team.
The Rams lost three of their first five matches of the season, but since that point, they are 5-0-1. Highland has gone 3-0 in conference play thus far and the Rams picked up a huge win against preseason favorite Thunder Ridge on Sept. 11, besting the typically high-scoring Titans 1-0.
Highland beat Madison 5-2 back on Sept. 6, and the Rams will look to continue their run of dominance Saturday afternoon on their home pitch.
Sandpoint @ Lewiston
Noon Saturday
Following Friday night's big football matchup between Sandpoint and Lewiston, the Bulldogs and Bengals will keep the action going Saturday afternoon with a big 4A/5A IEL showdown in Lewiston.
Sitting at 5-1-1 in IEL play, Lewiston has quietly emerged as the top 5A squad in North Idaho this fall. The Bengals challenged themselves with a season-opening road trip to take on Owyhee and Mountain View, and despite losing both games, they gained the confidence they needed, knowing they could hang with some of the best in the state. Lewiston has not lost a match since Aug. 24, and they are scoring nearly three goals per game this season.
Sandpoint has had a bit of an up-and-down season so far this year. All six of the Bulldogs wins have come via shutouts but they have allowed three goals in all three of their losses, including a 3-2 defeat against Lewiston on Aug. 26. Coming off a huge rivalry game against Moscow on Thursday and long bus ride down to Lewiston Saturday morning, Head Coach Conor Baranski is going to need to keep his team focused if the Bulldogs hope to pick up the revenge win over the Bengals.
4A
Twin Falls @ Canyon Ridge
10 a.m. Saturday
For the third straight season, the margin for error in the 4A GBL is razor thin, and the conference title race is coming down to crosstown rivals Twin Falls and Canyon Ridge.
The Bruins (7-3-1, 7-0-1 GBL), the incumbent GBL champs for the past two years, have looked strong so far this season, but they know the Riverhawks (8-4-1, 6-2-1) are not far behind. Twin Falls took down Canyon Ridge 2-0 on its home field back on Aug. 30, but the Riverhawks will look for revenge this time as they host the Bruins.
Canyon Ridge is coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Mountain Home on Wednesday, and they will need to play their best Saturday morning if they hope to get back on track in the GBL standings.
3A
Sun Valley Community School @ Kimberly
5:45 p.m. Friday
In addition to all the huge football matchups, Friday night will feature a top-notch soccer showdown between High Desert Conference (HDC) foes Sun Valley Community School (SVCS) and Kimberly.
The defending 3A champion Cutthroats (9-2, 8-1 HDC) have lost only two matches all season, but they both were blowouts. SVCS lost 10-1 to Sugar-Salem in its season opener and fell 7-1 to Kimberly back on Sept. 5. The Cutthroats have given up just two goals in their last five matches since that loss to the Bulldogs, including a solid 4-1 win over 4A Wood River last weekend.
Kimberly (10-1, 9-0) looks to be a true state contender this season. The Bulldogs are scoring more than six goals per game while allowing less than a goal on average. Eight of their 10 victories have come via shutouts, and the Bulldogs' only defeat came in a tight 3-1 match against Sugar-Salem.
Marsh Valley @ Teton
11 a.m. Saturday
Both Marsh Valley (10-3) and Teton (7-1) have been stacking wins so far this season, and the Eagles and Timberwolves will each look to add to their win column Saturday morning in Driggs.
The Eagles and Timberwolves have very similar season statistics, with each averaging more than four goals per game while holding opponents under two per contest. These nonconference rivals have already met twice this season, splitting the series 1-1 thus far.
With the rubber match on tap Saturday morning, both squads will look to improve their 2023 resume and continue preparing for their upcoming playoff runs.
VOLLEYBALL
Grace Lutheran @ Mackay
2 p.m. Saturday
The two top squads in the 1AD2 Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) will square off Saturday in Mackay as part of a tri-match with Sho-Ban.
Grace Lutheran (9-0, 8-0 RMC) has yet to lose a match this season, and the Royals are hungry for a state playoff appearance this season after narrowly missing out a season ago. The Royals, who have only dropped four sets all season so far, picked up a huge 3-2 win over 2023 RMC champion Rockland on Thursday, and they will look to keep up the strong play on Saturday afternoon.
Mackay (12-1, 9-1) finished fourth at the 1AD2 state tournament in 2022, and the Miners look like potential state contenders once again this fall. The Miners have built up a strong resume to this point in the season, with their lone loss coming against Rockland last week.
With bragging rights and first place in the conference on the line, Saturday's action in Mackay should be fun to watch.
Rocky Mountain Invitational
Yet another marquee tournament will take place this weekend in the Treasure Valley as 5A's No. 4-ranked team Rocky Mountain hosts the annual Rocky Mountain Invitational.
Fellow 5A SIC foes Eagle (No. 1 in 5A), Timberline (No. 3), Kuna, Centennial, Capital, Borah and Middleton will all join the Grizzlies as well as Highland (Poc.), Columbia, Bishop Kelly, Lakeland, Weiser, Buhl and Melba. The high-powered field should make for some exciting matchups and great matches in one of the premier volleyball tournaments in the state this season.
Durango Fall Classic
Speaking of premiere volleyball tournaments, the Skyview Hawks will be heading out of state for the second straight season to compete in the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.
The Hawks are three-time defending state champions (two at the 5A level and last season in 4A), and they will have the opportunity to play against some of the best teams in the country this weekend in Vegas.
Linda Sheridan Volleyball Classic
Idaho's predominant 1AD1 volleyball program will head to Spokane this weekend to face a loaded field of primarily Washington schools at the 2023 Linda Sheridan Volleyball Classic.
The Troy Trojans (11-1) are off to another impressive start as they hunt for a third straight state title this season, and this weekend's competition should be a good test for Head Coach Deborah Blazzard's squad.
|