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To read Part II of "Week Five Observations", click HERE.

If your team hasn’t delved into its’ conference schedule yet, this week is the beginning of the madness. Many teams around Idaho that play in smaller 3-to-4 team conferences open up the important part of their football schedule. Or you could just call it the only three to four games that matter.

While some teams have already begun their conference slate, this is really where the intrigue comes from pre-season schedule: meaning how that portion of the schedule affects how prepared your team is for conference play (and possibly the state tournament).

Take Shelley for example. Last year, they played and beat several 4A and 5A teams prior to conference play in the Mountain Rivers Conference. They mopped the floor with teams in their league, and then did the same at the State Playoffs, beating Buhl, Snake River, Gooding, and finally Fruitland to capture another state title.

Was that Russet team one for the ages? You bet it was. They had an enormous crop of highly talented players. Could they have won in the way they did if they didn’t play so many teams from bigger classifications? It’s possible for sure, but I think that having the schedule they did played a big part in their success.

Look at Coeur d'Alene this year. They've played two nationally recognized programs from Washington and a good West Linn, OR team that pushed the Vikings to play their best. Will this experience help them in the 5A State Playoffs (should they qualify, of course)? Absolutely.

When state tournament time comes, look at the brackets and see who is in it. Then check that teams’ schedule and see who they played. I’d be willing to bet that much more often than not, most of the teams in that bracket played a tough non-conference schedule.

Here are your Week Five Observations:

Century 49, Burley 0: Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Bobcats in this one. Multiple interceptions leading to touchdowns, fumbled snaps resulting in turnovers, etc. The Diamondbacks found their way over the pass coverage of Burley and put a lot of points on the board in a hurry, leading 42-0 at halftime before the dogs were called off. Century needs to win out to gain a postseason berth. Burley is in third place in the Great Basin Conference and might come up just short again of the playoffs.

Bonneville 34, Blackfoot 28: It’s been that kind of a season for Stan Buck and the Broncos… one that we probably never expected to see from the two-time defending 4A state champions. Buck was ejected from the game after arguing a non-pass interference call. Then, quarterback Taylor Pearson was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Can the Broncos pick up the ‘W’ against a struggling Hillcrest team this week? Bonneville looked a little shaky in this one. That’s not necessarily a good sign heading into games against Rigby and Century in two weeks: the games you NEED to win to make the playoffs.

Highland 52, Hillcrest 0: Ouch. We call this a “Woodshed” game. That’s exactly what it was: a beating out behind the woodshed. Hillcrest just couldn’t get it going all game long and Highland took advantage. The Rams offense was about as efficient as you could get. Hillcrest mathematically isn’t out of it yet, but with a game still looming against the Idaho Falls Tigers, they need to put together a complete performance to keep their chances alive. Highland plays at Skyline next, which happens to be their first game OUTSIDE of Holt Arena this season. I wonder how they adjust to the temperatures and possible wet weather?

West Side 44, Bear Lake 27: The 2A Pirates beat up on the 3A Bears and proved that the system works. By the system, I mean the program that head coach Tyson Moser has instilled in Dayton. I talked to Moser at the beginning of the season and he said two things: that he had a young team and that it would be tough to repeat as champions of the South East Idaho Conference. If they keep putting on displays like they have the past few weeks, that conference championship could come easier than they originally thought. The SEIC isn’t a slouch conference either: Aberdeen knocked off 3A Snake River and 3A American Falls. Soda Springs beat American Falls and 3A Marsh Valley, while falling to Bear Lake. Malad beat Marsh Valley. Do you think if we switched the teams from the 2A SEIC into the 3A SEIC that anyone would notice? The 2A schools have dominated the 3A schools in non-conference play.

To read Part II of "Week Five Observations", click HERE.

If there is a game that I did not cover that you would like to express your thoughts on, post about it in the comments section below!