Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. This year shows how the current football bracketing system in Idaho can sometimes fail to put the best two teams in the championship game. Four out of the six brackets are stacked on one end or the other with #1 and #2 (and sometimes even #3) teams all playing each other before getting to the big dance in two weeks.

Here is an overview of the current brackets and how I think things are going to shake out this weekend. I’ll write another one next week where I’ll update my opinions based on who wins this weekend. Hopefully I won’t be eating too much crow…. Please feel free to leave a comment or two.

5A
Capital and CDA are arguably the best two teams in 5A football. While Rocky Mt is certainly a contender, the 12-point beating they took at the hands of the Vikings on October 1st puts them in a very secure third spot.  Looking at the 5A bracket though, Capital and CDA are destined to meet next Friday night in yet another semi final matchup that should be taking place in two weeks for all the marbles.

You certainly can’t count out anyone sitting in the bottom half of the bracket though. Highland, Centennial, Rocky Mt and defending champion Eagle all have a legitimate shot at holding the blue trophy in two weeks.

Capital over Vallivue 34-17 (web cast)
CDA over Lake City 18-14 (web cast)
Centennial over Highland 26-14
Rocky Mt over Eagle 35-24 (web cast)

4A
While some might argue that the 4A championship is happening tonight at Bishop Kelly (vs Pocatello), besides that, the 4A bracket is really spread out pretty nicely. Great teams on both ends of the bracket. The 4A championship game will be a classic, regardless of which two teams make it in.  

Preston over Blackfoot 35-28 (web cast)
Skyview over Sandpoint 35-17
Bishop Kelly over Pocatello 45-36 (web cast)
Shelley over Middleton 30-20 (web cast)

3A
I like the 3A bracket. A lot. Both of the top ranked teams (Fruitland and Sugar-Salem) have to get past tough opponents in the quarters to get to the semi finals next week. Assuming they get there, they will have some solid teams waiting for them.

Weiser is aching to prove their 35-7 loss to Fruitland was a fluke, based on the rest of their season’s success. They just might get their chance if the two SRV power-houses meet in the semi finals next week. They will both have an easier time getting out of the quarters than their counter parts in the bottom half of the bracket, making for an explosive rematch next week in Fruitland.

Weiser over Timberlake 38-17
Fruitland over Bonners Ferry 48-12 (web cast)
Sugar-Salem over Snake River - 21-17 (web cast)
Kimberly over South Fremont – 28-21

2A
Your Honor, allow me to enter in to evidence Exhibit 3. The 2A bracket. #1 Malad, #2 New Plymouth and arguably #3 Kamiah are all in the north side of the bracket. The south side has some meat with West Side and Nampa Christian, but both of them got beat like red-headed step kids by their respective conference champions, Malad and New Plymouth. No one can argue that if the chips fall where they should, the two top teams in the 2A division will be playing “King of the Semi-Finals” next week.

New Plymouth over Kamiah - 26-14
Malad over Butte County – 52-21 (web cast)
Nampa Christian over Declo – 42-38
West Side over Aberdeen – 24-16 (web cast)

1AD1
No Oakley on the bracket? Who is Prairie supposed to play for the championship if Oakley isn’t playing? Oakley has played in the last three championship games and won two of them. The fact that Oakley will be at home watching the 1AD1 state championship game on IdahoSports.com can’t make Prairie feel too much better though when, from where they are sitting on the bracket, they are looking up at an undefeated Notus in the top bracket, playing an undefeated Wallace Saturday and, assuming they get past the Miners, they will probably be meeting an undefeated Troy in the semi finals.
 (deep breath)
Whoever makes it out of the bottom half of the bracket should be given a special trophy just for surviving. Unfortunately, when reality kicks in, that trophy is going to (probably) be a well-armed crew of Notus Pirates staring down their scurvy-hides for the 1AD1 state Championship. 

Hagerman over Rimrock - 50-30
Notus over Grace – 60-14
Prairie over Wallace – 50-48
Troy over Potlatch – 55-12

1AD2
This is another bracket that worked out well. Mainly because there are so many good teams in the 1AD2 division this year. The top half has Carey and Castleford and the bottom half has Salmon River and Garden Valley. Perennial power-house, and defending state champion, Salmon River’s only loss came to the #1 D1 team in the state, Notus, during Zero Week. Since then their record has been flawless. But Castleford’s has been flawless the entire season. The Wolves are the only team in the D2 ranks with a zero in the loss column and it won’t be easy for any team to put one there in the next two weeks.

Carey over Rockland 48-38
Castleford over Dietrich 60-21
Garden Valley over Kootenai  - 46-28
Salmon River over Mackay – 58-8