4A

Pocatello vs Middleton – @ Middleton Friday 7:00pm
Watch the game live!

Pocatello Indians
Record - 8-2
Power Ranking – 83.83

Middleton Vikings
Record – 9-2
Power Ranking – 90.33

Pocatello

The last time Pocatello won a 4A state football championship the year was 2006. Since then they have been solid playoff mainstays, but never serious championship contenders. Until this year.

The Indians began the year rolling out victory after victory over hapless opponents, including a 43-22 win over this week’s team de’ jour, Middleton. They hit a roadblock in week six when they, like everyone else before and after them, lost to Highland. They only lost by a single TD though, and came back the next week to defeat conference rival Preston by a score of 60-18. Gosh!

Now, here they are getting ready to face the Middleton Vikings for a second time this season. This time, though, it won’t be in the warm, windless, confines of Holt Arena. It will be on the beautiful, newly dedicated, outdoor facility at Middleton HS. Game time temps could be in the upper 30’s with an ever-so-slight chance of rain.

Middleton

New school. New facilities. New athletic director. Seems like everything is shiny and new in Middleton this year. Yet, here they are again, preparing to play for the chance to compete in the 2011 4A Milk Bowl championship game next weekend.

For the past three years (2008, 2009 and 2010) the Vikings have made it to the big dance, but lost in the quarter-finals. One year to Minico, the next to Sandpoint and then last year to Shelley. This year, they broke the quarter-final curse by beating Lakeland last week 42-20. The big question is how long with their luck hold out?

Pocatello over Middleton 26-18