I'm going to write some words you don't want to hear.
Football's regular season ends in two weeks.
I'm sorry.
Of course, if your team is destined for the playoffs, those words come with much anticipation and exuberance. But, believe it or not, the end is drawing nigh.
While there is plenty of playoff football ahead of us, we ought to relish in the final weeks of what is sure to be a fun conclusion to the 2014 regular season.
Week Six gives you a few rivalry matchups and a lot of important football to be played. This is the time of the year where a team that may be slightly overconfident can fall into the deep pit of the loss column, especially when most games this time of the season are of the conference variety.
Here are the five games (plus a bonus!) that have made it into the 'Hurricane Harris Hot 5' Games to Watch this week:
1. 'The Civil War': Bonneville (1-4) at Hillcrest (4-1), Friday at 7:00 p.m., Thunder Stadium
Most any time you pit two rivals against one another, ANYTHING can happen. The Bees have struggled this year with their only win coming at home against 3A Shelley. Hillcrest is off to a much better start at 4-1 under second year head coach Jeff Marshall. The Knights have been powered by strong offensive line play and running back Morgan Pyper's stellar playmaking abilities. The Bees will need a solid outing from QB Brad Smith, much like the one we saw vs. Shelley. It is the Civil War, however... so ANYTHING can happen. The all-time series is knotted up at 11 wins apiece. What color will we see on the goalposts after Friday's game?
2. Pocatello (3-3) at Rigby (2-3), Friday at 7:00 p.m., Rigby HS
This game is HUGE for playoff positioning in the 4A District 5-6 Conference. Whichever team picks up the 'W' will more than likely make the playoffs. The Trojans are on a three-game losing steak, coming off of a loss to archrival Madison, and have looked out of sorts on offense... the consistency just isn't there right now. As for Pocatello, the Indians loss to Century was the Diamondbacks first of the year, which certainly had to be disheartening to lose to a cross-town rival that was down-and-out on their luck. Pocatello has allowed a lot of points this year. They'll have to keep that number down below 20 vs. Rigby to be in good position to win.
3. South Fremont (5-1) at Shelley (3-2), Friday at 7:00 p.m., Russet Field
Recent history does not favor the Cougars in this one. In the last two seasons (since Shelley's drop down back to 3A), the Russets have beaten South Fremont by an average of 48.5 to 0. This game will be a real test for the kids from St. Anthony. The majority of their competition this year have been 2A squads, while Shelley has played 4A/5A teams on a pretty consistent basis. The Russets have a two-game losing streak for the first time since 2011, so a 'regrouping' of sorts is in order for Shelley. We will find out where both of these teams stand after Friday night's game. Can't make it to Shelley for the contest? You can watch online on IdahoSports.com.
4. Malad (4-2) at West Side (6-0), Friday at 7:00 p.m., West Side HS
Another rivalry to be played out again this weekend. Malad has surprised a few people with the good start they've had. Their improvement on defense has really helped their team in picking up W's this year. West Side looks very strong once again... maybe stronger than they have been the past few years. They have multiple weapons on their team and will use all of them to get the victory. This will be probably the biggest test of the year for Malad's defense. A West Side win puts them back in the playoffs.
5. Firth (3-2) at West Jefferson (2-3), Friday at 7:00 p.m., West Jefferson HS
The Cougars are off to a slower start than we've been accustomed to seeing the past few years. Granted, the combined record of their opponents in those two losses is 11-1, but for whatever reason this team feels different from previous years. This could be a game where some heads are turned though. West Jefferson's double wing offense could cause troubles for Firth this week. Why? Defending the double-wing requires good line play, an arguable weak point for the Cougars this year. But, who knows? The game could go either way. Can the Panthers overcome the mental aspect of going up against the kings of the Nuke? Friday ought to be interesting in Terreton.
BONUS! The 'Almost in East Idaho' Game to Watch
Oakley (4-1) at Raft River (5-0), Friday at 7:00 p.m., Raft River HS
An old-school rivalry is renewed in Malta on Friday. After a two-year hiatus, the Hornets and Trojans are set to rumble once again... and there is a lot on the line. If Raft River wins, they have the inside track to claiming the Snake River Conference championship. If Oakley wins, it forces a 3-way tie atop the standings along with Valley, creating a melee for playoff seeding. This is where the math portion in the minds of many sportswriters gets tested the most... tiebreaking scenarios. This will be a GREAT game on Friday.
DOUBLE BONUS! The 'Not even CLOSE to East Idaho' Game To Watch
Troy (6-0) at Prairie (5-0), Friday at 7:00 p.m., Prairie HS
Why not? These two teams certainly are in championship contention in a loaded 1AD1 classification. One side, unfortunately, will hit the loss column this week. The Pirates defense has given up less points so far this season on the defensive side, but both sides score at close to an equal rate. Watch out for Troy's Kellen Hoskins... the kid can flat out play football. This game is a rematch of last year's thrilling 1AD1 State Semi-Final game at the Kibbie Dome. If Troy wins, they take the Whitepine League crown. If Prairie wins, it makes their Oct. 24 matchup vs. Kamiah all the more intriguing.
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