Some of the best matchups and games that I have ever seen in any sport have come before the championship rounds. I wouldn't expect anything less this Friday and Saturday at Holt Arena as teams from 5A, 4A, 2A, and 1AD1 battle for a chance to play in their classifications' state championship game. And if you're in East Idaho, you really are in for a great weekend of football.
With six games over two days, it's a football fanatics paradise! Both Paul Kingsbury and I will be at Holt Arena bringing you the action LIVE!
It all starts on Friday at 3:00 p.m. MST, as Raft River takes on conference opponent Butte County. The Pirates from Arco are fresh off of their 44-14 upset victory over Hagerman and are looking to make a statement to the rest of the schools in 1AD1 that they are, and will continue to be, a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Raft River, however, has different plans as the Trojans are starting to catch fire. They dominated Challis last weekend at Holt Arena and have been rolling their past few games. Butte County holds the edge over Raft River, as they won the regular season matchup 44-8 back on Oct. 12. The winner gets the privilege of travelling to Moscow to play in the State Championship game at the Kibbie Dome next weekend against either Troy or Kamiah.
To watch Butte County vs. Raft River on IdahoSports.com GameStreams, click this link:
http://www.idahosports.com/gamestreams/player/default.aspx?webcastid=3868
Game 2 on Friday features another rematch, this time between two high-powered 5A schools. It's the Highland Rams and the Coeur d'Alene Vikings in a game that many people around the state have been talking about. The Rams beat the Vikings 45-26 in Coeur d'Alene in Week 4 of the season. Since that time, however, the Vikings have reeled off five straight wins, including outscoring their last two opponents 125-34. Highland, meanwhile, completed the come-from-behind 41-34 victory on the road at Borah last weekend and they now return back to Pocatello to play on their home turf. The Rams have got what it takes to add more hardware to their glowing football history. But Coeur d'Alene is looking to make their own history by achieving what no one has ever done before in the 5A classification: win three consecutive state championships. I have a feeling that we could be in for a "barnburner" of a game.
To watch Highland vs. Coeur d'Alene on IdahoSports.com GameStreams, click this link:
http://www.idahosports.com/gamestreams/player/default.aspx?webcastid=3869
Friday's final game features the lone unbeaten team in the 5A ranks, as the Madison Bobcats make the short trip to Holt Arena to face the Lake City Timberwolves. Madison's offense has been garnering the most attention this season, however the defense needs to get much credit as well. The Bobcats defense pressured Capital quarterback and University of Montana-bound Makena Simis all night long into bad throws that resulted in four interceptions and a number of sacks during their 28-14 victory last week. Lake City, meanwhile, pulled the upset special on Eagle last week by surprising the Mustangs 24-10. Lake City lost by a touchdown to Eagle in Week Zero, but they made the necessary adjustments to not fall a second time. Lake City has the tools to pull another upset this week against the #1 ranked team in the state.
To watch Madison vs. Lake City on IdahoSports.com GameStreams, click this link:
http://www.idahosports.com/gamestreams/player/default.aspx?webcastid=3871
Day 2 of the Semi-Final Showdown from Holt Arena kicks off at 2:30 p.m. This time it's the 2A version as the undefeated and #1 ranked Firth Cougars take on the West Side Pirates. The Cougars have not had a close game all season long outside of their 26-20 victory over conference opponent Salmon. In fact, in the past three games Firth has outscored their opponents 195-26. The Cougars are on a tear right now and don't look like they plan on slowing down any time soon. However, if there was a team built that could possibly stop Firth and the Orme cousins, it might be West Side. The Pirates are on an 8-game winning streak and have been shutting down offenses all season long. They held New Plymouth's high-powered offense to just 13 points last week along with 237 total yards of offense. Another factor in Saturday's early game is that both of these teams have already played each other this season, with Firth collecting the 44-18 victory in Week Zero. We could have a classic in the making on Saturday afternoon.
To watch Firth vs. West Side on IdahoSports.com GameStreams, click this link:
http://www.idahosports.com/gamestreams/player/default.aspx?webcastid=3872
The other semi-final matchup in the 2A ranks follows immediately after the Firth/West Side game: The Declo Hornets squaring off against the Marsing Huskies. Declo is fresh off of their 18-17 victory over defending 2A State Champion Grangeville and they are primed for a run at the State Title. The Hornets haven't had a close game all season long outside of their last game in Grangeville. However, despite their perfect 10-0 record, questions about the strength of their schedule have followed them wherever they've gone. Regardless of that argument, they are in the state semi-finals and up against the surprise team in the 2A classification, the Marsing Huskies. After rolling to a WIC conference title and also pulling out the 20-14 victory over Salmon last week, the Huskies are pumped and ready to make some more noise in the brackets.
To watch Declo vs. Marsing on IdahoSports.com GameStreams, click this link:
http://www.idahosports.com/gamestreams/player/default.aspx?webcastid=3873
The final game on Saturday night features a 4A tilt between the Blackfoot Broncos and the Skyview Hawks. Blackfoot is the reigning 4A State Champions and would like nothing more than to repeat that feat this season. However, they might have to do it without star quarterback Alonzo Ramos, who has a deep bone bruise under his kneecap. He left last week's 30-20 win over Bishop Kelly at halftime and didn't return. Skyview started out the season banged up, losing a lot of players in their thrilling game against Coeur d'Alene in Week Zero. They are relatively healthy now and are looking to take advantage of Blackfoot's injury issues. Could they knock off the Broncos in a place where Blackfoot has dominated the competition the past five seasons?
To watch Blackfoot vs. Skyview on IdahoSports.com GameStreams, click this link:
http://www.idahosports.com/gamestreams/player/default.aspx?webcastid=3874
There is a lot of good football to be seen this weekend. I have only mentioned the games at Holt Arena, but there are plenty of other great games to be played around the state. If you can, please attend these games. It means so much to the players to have the stands packed for these important games which they will remember forever. However, if you can't go to a game this weekend, join us here on IdahoSports.com for all the action.
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