ORDER GAME PHOTOS

Written by: Christian Weaner

FOOTBALL

Vallivue @ Burley

7 p.m. Friday

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Friday’s non-conference contest between Burley and Vallivue will be an important early-season test for each squad. The Bobcats traveled to Mountain Home last week and won in a shootout 62-39. The Falcons battled Twin Falls at home in Week 1, falling by a score of 42-31. Vallivue was a 4A state playoff team in 2021, while Burley missed the cut. A win Friday would be a big step toward playoff contention this season for the Falcons or Bobcats.

Butte County @ Carey

7 p.m. Friday

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Last season, Carey — a perennial 1AD2 powerhouse — went undefeated up until the state championship game, falling 30-24 to Kendrick. This season, 22-year head coach Lane Kirkland and his Panthers squad face their biggest challenge yet, as Carey moved up to the 1AD1 level this season. The Panthers lost a defensive battle 7-0 to Grace last week, and now they face another High Desert Conference foe Butte County — a 1AD1 state semifinalist from a season ago. The Pirates will look to stay hot to start the season following their 62-12 rout of Valley last week, while the Panthers hope to notch their first win in their new classification.

Rocky Mountain @ Mountain View

7 p.m. Friday

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Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) fans will want to tune in Friday night for this matchup between rivals Rocky Mountain and Mountain View. The Grizzlies have dominated their first two games of the year, winning 21-7 over Meridian and 30-7 last week against Coeur d’Alene. The Mavericks, led by first-year head coach Brian Compton, dropped a tightly contested game at Meridian 13-7 in their season opener. These two teams do not need much extra motivation when they face off, but with both teams coming off early exits in the 2021 5A playoffs, the Grizzlies and Mavericks each have a lot to prove this season. So far, Rocky Mountain — the consensus No. 1 team in 5A — looks like the team to beat, but football fans know that rivalry games like this one can always go either way.

Sugar-Salem @ Shelley

7 p.m. Friday

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Sugar-Salem was a two-point conversion from a 3A state championship four-peat, falling 34-33 to Weiser in double overtime last season. The Diggers returned a solid core of players from their 2021 runner-up squad, and they look the part of a state title contender so far this season. Sugar-Salem has gone on the road in both of their first two games, defeating Soda Sprigs 48-16 and demolishing Filer last week 69-0. This week will be the Diggers toughest test yet, however, as they travel to take on 4A Shelley, a team they lost to at home last year. Led by fourth-year coach Josh Wells, the Russets are coming off an impressive 7-4 season that included a playoff victory. So far this year, Shelley is 0-1 after losing to Wyoming’s Star Valley High School in a close game last week. Both the Russets and Diggers hope to make deep playoff runs this season, and Friday’s game will be a good test early in the year for each team.

Timberline @ Post Falls

7 p.m. Friday

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It has been a tough start to the 2022 season for the Timberline Wolves. They are yet to score this season, losing to Boise in Week 0 and Borah last Friday. This week, Timberline makes the long trek up north to take on Post Falls, who is also seeking its first win of the young season. The Trojans went toe-to-toe with a talented Skyline (Utah) team last week in a game played at Middleton High School. The Trojans loss was closer than the 35-17 score indicates, however, as Post Falls tallied over 400 yards of offense but fell victim to several crucial mistakes, including a fumble inside the Skyline five-yard line. This week, the Trojans look to bounce back against the reeling Wolves.  

Capital @ Lewiston

7 p.m. Friday

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Capital travels up to Lewiston Friday in a rematch of a 2021 5A state playoff contest that the Eagles dominated 44-13. Capital has not looked so dominant in 2022, however, as the Eagles have posted lopsided losses to Borah and Bishop Kelly in their first two games and have only scored six points so far this season. Likewise, the Bengals have got off to a rocky — no pun intended — start this season, losing their season opener 41-28 to Utah’s Layton High School in the Rocky Mountain Rumble. Lewiston trailed 41-6 in the third quarter against Layton, before clawing back to make it a two-score game. Both the Eagles and Bengals are hungry for their first win, making Friday night’s matchup pivotal for both schools.

Oakley vs. Kendrick

7 p.m. Friday

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Last week was the Idaho 8-Man Classic, but this matchup could be the 8-man football game of the year, as the defending 1AD1 and 1AD2 champions face off in Cambridge, Idaho. Oakley dominated Prairie 56-0 last Saturday, while Kendrick shut out Notus 36-0. The Tigers only lost one player from their 2021 squad that went 9-2 en route to the 1AD2 championship. One of those two losses was a 52-0 defeat to Oakley. The Hornets went 11-1 last year, winning the 1AD1 title for the second year in a row. Both Kendrick and Oakley are heavy favorites to repeat this season in each team’s respective classification, making Friday’s showdown a must-see game for 8-man football fans across the state.

Highland (Pocatello) vs. Skyline

7 p.m. Friday

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To the surprise of many Idaho high school football fans, after one week of action, Highland — last season’s 5A runner-up — and Skyline — 2021 4A state champions — are both 0-1. Granted, the Rams lost to last season’s Utah 5A state champion Lehi High School (albeit by a score of 42-7) and the Grizzlies fell 68-42 in a shootout to Stansbury (Utah), a 5A state semifinalist last season, but Highland and Skyline are two of the perennial powers in Idaho 4A and 5A ranks. That is why Friday’s game at Ravsten Stadium is so important for both schools. No one wants to start 0-2, especially not Skyline. The Grizzlies opened last season 1-3 before bouncing back to make a state title run, but head coach Scott Berger and his crew are hoping to get off to a better start in 2022. For Highland, first-year head coach Nick Sorrell is looking for his first win with the Rams.

Jerome @ Kimberly

7 p.m. Friday

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Jerome and Kimberly had very different results in Week 1. The Tigers got beat up at home, losing 26-7 to Gooding, while the Bulldogs breezed past Snake River 34-14. Kimberly’s performance last week landed them a top-five ranking in both the media and coaches polls this week. A win over the 4A Tiger could give the Bulldogs a huge boost in their MaxPreps rankings, providing an added incentive for Friday’s game. Jerome will have something to say about that, however, as Sid Gambles’ team vies for its first win of the 2022 season.

Melba @ North Fremont

2 p.m. Saturday

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After an exciting slate of Friday night games, Idaho football fans can settle in Saturday afternoon and watch two of 2A’s top-five teams, as the Melba Mustangs make the four-hour road trip to Ashton to take on the North Fremont Huskies. Both teams are coming off big Week 1 victories. Melba defeated Elko (Nevada) 38-26 at home, while North Fremont pulled out a 24-22 win over Bear Lake. The Mustangs and Huskies met last season in a thrilling 2A state quarterfinal match, won by North Fremont 44-38. Melba will look for revenge this season as they look to start the year 2-0.

Clark Fork @ Mullan-St. Regis

3:30 p.m. Friday

Clark Fork will travel to Mullan Friday afternoon to take on the Tigers in an important 1AD2 North Star League showdown. The Wampus Cats looked dominant in their season opener, defeating Lakeside 46-0. Clark Fork running back Nate Shelton led the way, rushing for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Mullan, meanwhile, lost 50-32 in a hard-fought battle with Montana’s Superior High School. The Tigers won the North Star League in 2021 and are hoping to repeat this season, but the Wampus Cats have other plans in mind.

Camas County @ North Gem

4 p.m. Friday

Camus County will make the three-hour trek to Bancroft to face North Gem in a matchup of 1-0 teams. The Mushers got a big 54-26 home win over Rockland last week, while the Cowboys won 22-0 against Malad’s junior varsity team. Friday’s game will be a rematch of last season’s 1AD2 state tournament opening round, a back-and-forth contest that Camas County won 42-36.

Declo @ Aberdeen

7 p.m. Friday

Declo and Aberdeen square off Friday night in a matchup of 2021 2A state playoff qualifiers. Both teams sit at 1-0, as the Hornets picked up a 39-7 road win over Nampa Christian last week and the Tigers traveled to American Falls, annihilating the Beavers 48-3. Both Aberdeen and Declo have state playoff hopes once again this season, making Friday’s contest a good litmus test for each team.

Raft River @ Kamiah

7 p.m. Friday

Originally, Raft River was scheduled to take on Lapwai last weekend in the Idaho 8-Man Classic, but after some re-arranging, Kamiah slotted in against Lapwai in an all-important 1AD1 Whitepine League matchup, which they won 34-28. Raft River got a bye last week as a result, but this Friday they have the chance to take on the 1-0 Kubs. The Trojans are coming off a runner-up finish at the 1AD1 level last season and are hungry to take the next step in 2022. Their road back to the state playoffs starts with a good matchup with run-dominant Kamiah. If the Kubs can control the clock with their run game, they could hang tough with a talented Raft River team Friday night.

Gooding @ Homedale

7 p.m. Friday

A pair of 2021 3A state semifinalists will class Friday night when Gooding travels to take on Homedale Friday night. After winning at Jerome last week, this game will be another tough road test for the Senators. Homedale flexed its muscles last week in a 46-14 home win over Laguna Beach High School out of California, and the Trojans are currently ranked as No. 1 3A team in the Football Media Poll. Gooding and Homedale last met in the 2018 state quarterfinals, a game in which the Trojans prevailed 41-21.

Sandpoint @ Coeur d’Alene

7 p.m. Friday

This will be a crucial game for both Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, as the Vikings and Bulldogs each are seeking their first win of the season. Coeur d’Alene’s schedule has done head coach Shawn Amos’ young team no favors, as CDA lost 24-0 to the defending 5A state champions Rigby and fell 30-7 on the road last week against the No. 1-ranked Rocky Mountain Grizzlies. The Vikings will return home this Friday, but the competition will not get any easier with 4A’s fourth ranked team visits Viking Stadium. Sandpoint lost its season opener 16-15 to Utah’s Alta High School in the Rocky Mountain Rumble last Saturday. The Bulldogs will be hungry to avenge last season’s narrow 24-22 home loss to Coeur d’Alene.

Owyhee vs. Boise

7 p.m. Friday

Two of the SIC River Division’s best up-and-coming teams will face off Friday evening at Dona Larsen Park. Despite a 1-8 record last season, Owyhee — only in its second year of existence — is showing a lot of promise thus far in 2022. The Storm has posted wins over Madison and Centennial to open the year, and they hope to continue those winning ways this week against the 2-0 Brave. Boise shut out Timberline (Boise) in Week 0, before edging Ridgevue 17-14 last Saturday. The Storm and Brave are both young teams with high hopes this season, and a 3-0 start would mean a lot to either school.

BOYS SOCCER

Sugar-Salem @ Marsh Valley

6 p.m. Friday

Sugar-Salem is coming off a 3A state championship last season and the Diggers look to have a strong team again in 2022. Sugar-Salem has posted wins over Preston and American Falls, with the team’s lone loss coming last weekend against 4A Shelley. Marsh Valley is 2-3 to start the season with wins over South Fremont and Aberdeen. The Eagles hope to give the Diggers a good match on Saturday as they host the defending state champs.

Preston @ Thunder Ridge

11 a.m. Saturday

Preston travels up to Idaho Falls Saturday to take on Thunder Ridge in a clash of state tournament qualifiers from last season. The Indians are 2-2 to start the year, with impressive wins over Shelley and 5A Highland. The Titans look like a playoff team again this year, as they are 4-0-1 to begin the season. Saturday’s matchup will be important for each team as they get tuned up and ready for conference play.

Orofino @ Bonners Ferry

Saturday 3 p.m.

Bonners Ferry has looked one of the top teams in the Intermountain League (IML) so far this season, while Orofino has showed some promise to start the year. The Badgers are currently 4-0-1 on the season and have posted shutouts in all four of their victories. The Maniacs — who are a co-ed team because they do not have the numbers to field a boys and girls soccer team — played to a 1-1 draw with 2021 IML champions Coeur d’Alene Charter in their season opener and picked up a nice win over Priest River before falling to Timberlake on Thursday.

GIRLS SOCCER

Sugar-Salem @ Marsh Valley

4 p.m. Friday

Sugar-Salem @ Snake River

11 a.m. Saturday

Sugar-Salem finished third at the 3A state tournament last season, and the Diggers are off to a roaring start to the 2022 season with a 3-0 record thus far. Sugar-Salem will put its perfect record on the line this weekend when the Diggers play on the road against two of the best teams in the South East Idaho Conference (SEIC) — Marsh Valley and Snake River. Friday’s match between the Diggers and Eagles will be a rematch of the teams’ epic opening round state playoff game from last season that Sugar-Salem won 2-1 in overtime. Marsh Valley has shown some promise this season, posting a 2-2-1 record to this point, and the Eagles will look to defend their home turf. The Panthers, meanwhile, are 3-0-1 and have outscored their opponents 31-4 so far this year. Needless to say, the No. 4-ranked Diggers will have their hands full this weekend.

Moscow @ Lewiston

4:30 p.m. Friday

Moscow will make the short trip down to Lewiston Friday afternoon for an important 4A/5A Combined Inland Empire League (IEL) match. The Bears are 2-2 on the season, while the Bengals sit at 2-1-1. Last season, Lewiston swept the regular season series with Moscow, so the Bears will look to exact some revenge this weekend.

Thunder Ridge @ Pocatello

1 p.m. Saturday

The 5-0-1 Thunder Ridge Titans will play on the road at the 4-0-1 Pocatello Thunder Saturday afternoon. Both Thunder Ridge and Pocatello were state qualifiers in the 5A and 4A classifications, respectively, last year, and the teams appear to be state contenders once again in 2022. This matchup of unbeatens will be a good test for the Titans and Thunder.

VOLLEYBALL

Peg Peterson Invitational

While there are few head-to-head volleyball matchups this weekend, some of the best teams in the state are all heading to Pocatello for Highland High School’s annual Peg Peterson Invitational. This year, the tournament will feature 5A teams Highland, Centennial and Middleton; 4A squads Ridgevue, Shelley, Skyline, Canyon Ridge, Minico, Wood River, Pocatello, Preston and Jerome; 3A’s Marsh Valley, Snake River, Filer, Gooding, Kimberly, Fruitland, Parma, Sugar-Salem and American Falls; and 2A Malad and Bear Lake.

Rockland @ Grace Lutheran

11 a.m. Saturday

Despite a 3-2 loss against 1AD2 Murtaugh on Tuesday, the Rockland Bulldogs currently hold 1AD2’s  No. 1 ranking in this week’s Volleyball Coaches Poll. On Saturday, Rockland will square off in a Rocky Mountain Conference match on the road against Grace Lutheran. The Royals are 2-0 to start the season — winning both matches in straight sets — and hope to give the Bulldogs a run for their money on Saturday.