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 ORDER GAME PHOTOS
And then there were four.
The quarterfinal round featured some heart-pounding games that came down to the wire, as well as a few decisive victories by the state's best teams. Last week, the great teams distinguished themselves from the good teams, but this weekend is when the elite teams separate themselves from the great teams.
The Final Four in each classification has a lot of familiar faces — including four defending champions still attempting to defend their respective crowns — but also a few newcomers that are in the semis for the first time in a few years (or in the case of Logos, the first time ever).
So the question remains: will the stalwarts of each classification continue forward to championship weekend, or will we see a few upsets even our most-seasoned prognosticators did not see coming?
Learn more about each team and matchup below as we prepare for the semifinal round.
And as always, if I missed a big game I should have covered, botched a spelling or maybe even wrote something you appreciated, please let me know. My email is crweaner@liberty.edu and my X (Twitter) handle is @christianweaner. I always appreciate your feedback!
FOOTBALL
5A
West #1B Meridian vs. East #1 Highland @ Holt Arena
8:15 p.m. Friday
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A mere 49 days after Meridian handed Highland its only loss of the 2023 season thus far — a 21-14 win at Highland High School on Sept. 22 — the Warriors will travel back to East Idaho for a rematch with the District 5-6 champion Rams.
This time, however, the game will be played at Holt Arena. And this time the stakes are much, much higher.
Only a year removed from a perfect regular season and a run to the 5A title game, Meridian (7-3) is no stranger to playing on this stage. Despite losing their first two games of the season and dropping a one-point game in the SIC Championship a few weeks ago, the Warriors showed a lot of toughness in a 24-23 victory over Mountain View last week.
In the quarterfinal victory, Meridian quarterback Zeke Martinez did it all and then some. Martinez was 21-of-25 for 241 yards and two touchdowns through the air and he also ran in the game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion in the fourth-quarter comeback victory. He's a special player, and the Warriors are going to need another big night on Friday from Martinez if they hope to survive and advance.
Highland (9-1) overcame its playoff demons last Friday, notching a dominating 28-10 win over Owyhee to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2021 when the Rams made it to the state championship.
Jackson Riddle was a huge difference-maker for the Rams last week, as he logged a pair of touchdown runs. The often-overlooked Highland defense also came up huge, pitching a second-half shutout of the Storm and improving its average to 14.6 points per game allowed (second-best in 5A).
Defensively, the Rams played well enough to win in their first matchup against the Warriors, but a few costly mistakes made the difference as they let a 14-14 halftime tally turn into a 21-14 loss.
The good news for both squads is that both Highland and Meridian seem to be playing their best football of the season at the right time. Friday night's showdown in Pocatello will be fun to watch, and the winner will move on to play either Coeur d'Alene or Eagle in the 5A title game next weekend.
North #1 Coeur d'Alene @ West #1A Eagle
7 p.m. Friday (Mountain Time)
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Coeur d'Alene exacted revenge on SIC heavyweight Rocky Mountain last week while undefeated Eagle outlasted defending champion Rigby to earn a semifinal berth.
The last time Coeur d'Alene and Eagle met was on Nov. 5, 2021, in the 5A quarterfinals. The Mustangs won 23-14 on their home field before falling by two against Highland in the semifinals the next week.
On Friday night the Vikings and Mustangs will clash in Eagle once against, this time with a spot in the 5A championship on the line.
Last year, Coeur d'Alene (8-2) shockingly missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Sitting at home last November was all the motivation the Vikings needed to put together an impressive run thus far in 2023.
The Vikings' only losses this season have been to Rocky Mountain — which they avenged last Friday in a 24-8 quarterfinal win — and Woodinville (WA). Eagle might be undefeated and ranked No. 1, but Coeur d'Alene will not come in afraid.
One key note for the Vikings is that they are without star running back Carson Speelman, who went down with a season-ending injury in the regular season finale against Lewiston.
But Coeur d'Alene looked just fine last week as senior Owen Harris stepped up and ran for 158 yards and a score on 38 carries. Sophomore quarterback Caden Symons also looked unfazed by the moment, completing 20 of 25 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. All of that is not to mention the Vikings vaunted defense, which leads 5A at just 11.9 points per game allowed.
With a few key additions this season, Eagle (10-0) was a popular pick to be a championship-caliber team this fall, and the Mustangs have fully lived up to that billing thus far. While it has been a little too close for comfort a few times, Eagle has managed to come out on top every time this season.
The Mustangs just have something special about them, and they know how to perform in crunch time and win their close games. Last week was a perfect example.
Eagle led 10-0 at halftime against defending 5A champion Rigby (who punked the Mustangs 37-6 in the 2022 quarterfinals, no less) before allowing the Trojans to climb back in the game in the third quarter and take the lead.
But Eagle never panicked, and methodically moved the ball down the field in the fourth quarter, scoring from a yard out on a plunge from running back Noah Burnham. The Mustangs picked off Montana commit Luke Flowers on the ensuing Rigby possession and ran the clock out for another nail-biting win.
Eagle is going to get another push on Friday night from a Coeur d'Alene squad that is as hungry and capable as they are. If this one turns into a defensive shootout, will the Mustangs muster one more narrow win, or will the underdog Vikings retake their claim as a true 5A power?
Whoever gets it done Friday in Eagle will advance to play either Highland or Meridian next week in the 5A State Championship Game.
4A
#5 Skyline @ #1 Hillcrest
7 p.m. Friday
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This just seems like a fitting 4A semifinal showdown.
The top-ranked undefeated Hillcrest Knights — who have maintained a 0 in the loss column thanks in large part to a Hail Mary on the final play of the game in their 36-35 home win over three-time defending champion Skyline on Sept. 15 — will yet again play host to their High Country Conference (HCC) rivals with a spot in the state title game on the line.
Amazingly, this has been the third straight season that Skyline (8-3) has lost at least three regular season games. Yet, the unphased Grizzlies and their legendary head coach find themselves just two wins away from the unprecedented: a 4A four-peat. After razing through Idaho Falls in the opening round, Skyline went to Twin Falls and toppled the Bruins 44-20.
Just a sophomore, Skyline running back Amani Morel has emerged as one of the best rushers in the classification — and potentially the entire state — this postseason, as he ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns last Friday. Morel's wheels combined with the dual-threat ability of junior quarterback CarMyne Garcia (228 total yards, 3 TDs last week) have the Skyline offense rolling heading into the semifinals.
Hillcrest (11-0) has had a season for the ages in 2023, but all of that success and acclaim will only add to the pressure on Friday as the Knights host the Grizzlies. But then again, that pressure has been there every week since they beat Skyline the first time and Hillcrest has answered the call every time.
After shutting out Canyon Ridge two weeks ago, the Knights continued their dominance last week by blowing out Skyview 50-14. Hillcrest had five different players score rushing touchdowns in the victory, including quarterback Peyton King (230 total yards, 2 total TDs) and Trason Keller (113 yards, 2 TDs). The Knights also continue to bolster the second-best scoring defense in 4A at 10.9 points per game allowed (narrowly behind Bishop Kelly).
The Knights-Grizzlies regular season stunner will always be remembered, but whoever wins Friday night at Thunder Stadium will claim the overall bragging rights and earn a spot in the 4A State Championship Game against either Bishop Kelly or Pocatello.
#3 Pocatello @ #2 Bishop Kelly
7 p.m. Friday
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While conference rivals duke it out on the top part of the 4A bracket, the bottom half features an equally felicitous matchup between budding nonconference rivals Pocatello and Bishop Kelly. This semifinal showdown will mark the fourth consecutive season that the Thunder and Knights have played in the postseason.
Bishop Kelly has won two of the last three meetings, including a 28-7 drubbing in the 2022 quarterfinals and a 35-0 route in the 2020 opening round. The Thunder defeated the Knights 28-17 in 2021 to claim a spot in the semifinals that year.
This season, Pocatello (7-2) has been a somewhat enigmatic 4A team, making the Thunder something of a dark horse in this bracket.
Due to a few key injuries and a weird start to the season, the Thunder struggled a bit to put points on the board early in the year, scoring 20 or fewer points in each of their first five games. But over the last month, Pocatello has come alive on offense, scoring above 40 in four straight games, including last week's 44-23 throttling of Sandpoint.
Quarterback Dre Contreras threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the quarterfinal win and running back Ryken EchoHawk continued his dominant playoff performance with 129 yards and a score of his own. When Contreras and EchoHawk get rolling, the Thunder are a dangerous bunch, and they will need all the help they can get against a stout Knights team that allows less than 10 points per game.
Bishop Kelly (11-0) looked dominant once again last Friday, dominating district rival Emmett 28-7 in a game that was not as close as the score might indicate. After playing a tight game against the Huskies in the regular season, the Knights came out focused and looked sharp despite the foggy conditions in Boise last weekend.
Senior running back Peter Minnaert, who will surely be a candidate for 4A Player of the Year, had another stellar performance with touchdown runs of 12 and 60 yards, totaling 175 yards on just 22 carries in the victory. The Knights' dominating defense held the Huskies in check all night, only allowing a score with 36 seconds left in the game.
Bishop Kelly was equally as dominant last season before coming up short in the 4A State Championship Game against Skyline. The Knights are hungry, and they can get back to the title game with a home win Friday against the Thunder.
But do not discount Poky, they have the athletes to make this an intriguing game on Friday evening in Boise.
3A
#5 Weiser vs. #1 Sugar-Salem @ Holt Arena
5:30 p.m. Friday
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If you do not have a horse in the race and are just a football fan looking for a game to watch this weekend, this showdown between Weiser and Sugar-Salem — a rematch of the 2021 3A State Championship Game that the Wolverines won 34-33 in overtime — might be the most exciting one.
If you are a Weiser or Sugar-Salem fan, buckle up, because if this semifinal clash is anything like that 2021 title game, which was ironically also played at Holt Arena and came down to the final play of the game, then you are in for nailbiter.
Despite losing The Game to Homedale in the regular season, Weiser (10-1) has looked like a true 3A contender from the opening kickoff of the season. The Wolverines set the tone early, dominating Buhl 42-21 to open the year and rattling off win after win, most of which came in blowout fashion.
Weiser also had arguably the most challenging quarterfinal draw, having to go on the road to play an undefeated Kimberly team. Thanks to big days from running backs Kaleb Grove (103 yards, 2 TDs) and Jayden Walker (155 yards, 1 TD) and a couple of critical special teams plays, the Wolverines clawed their way to a 35-32 win over the Bulldogs.
It will take a near-perfect effort to take down the Diggers, but Weiser is playing in the 3A semifinals for the third consecutive year, and the Wolverines have already shown that they are not afraid of Sugar-Salem. Do not be surprised if Weiser gives the defending champions everything they can handle on Friday night at Holt Arena.
Sugar-Salem (9-0) gave Timberlake a little bit of hope early in the game last week, throwing a pick-six that allowed the Tigers to pull within 13-7 in the first quarter. But, as elite teams do, the Diggers quickly righted the ship and took a 34-7 lead into halftime, ultimately winning 48-21 to advance to their sixth straight 3A semifinal.
Quarterback James Chase put together a solid stat line in Sugar-Salem's quarterfinal win, completing 15-of-18 passes for 260 yards and three scores. Running backs Carson Harris and Tate Cutler each ran in a pair of touchdowns, and the Diggers defense came up with two interceptions.
Sometimes winning like Sugar-Salem has can become monotonous, leading to a mental lapse, but give credit to head coach Tyler Richins and his staff for getting his team ready to play every week. The Diggers are one failed two-point conversion from a five-peat of state titles, and they have a chance to avenge that blemish on Friday against Weiser.
Either the Diggers or Wolverines will move on to play the Teton-Homedale winner next week in the 3A State Championship Game.
#3 Teton @ #2 Homedale
1 p.m. Saturday
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Teton has not made the state finals since 1999. Homedale has made four of the last five 3A title games.
The Timberwolves have the second-highest scoring offense (44.8 points per game) in the classification, and the state's leading passer and receiver in quarterback Jack Nelson (2,713 yards, 26 TDs) and wideout Thomas Heuseveldt (78 catches, 1,430 yards, 14 TDs). The Trojans have the best scoring defense (9 points allowed per game) in 3A and multiple defenders with at least three interceptions this season (Dillon Fine and Luke Henry).
You get the picture. This is a matchup full of intriguing storylines.
Teton (9-1) has won this season with a prolific offense that has scored at least 40 points in every game except for one — the Timberwolves' 41-14 loss against conference rival and 3A stalwart Sugar-Salem. The Timberwolves passing prowess has been on display so far this postseason, as they pounded Fruitland 47-14 before besting Buhl 41-28 last week in a game Teton led 29-7 at halftime.
The Timberwolves' Nelson-to-Heuseveldt connection has been nearly unstoppable this season, and the duo will need another huge performance Friday when they play a Homedale squad that has allowed more than 14 points on only one occasion. Teton was on the precipice last season, and it has another shot at making history this weekend as they vie for a spot in the 3A title game.
Homedale (10-0), meanwhile, just keeps taking care of business, year after year, game after game. The Trojans looked sharp in a 28-0 route of Snake River last week, adding to their impressive home winning streak that dates to the 2021 3A semifinals.
The Trojans were paced by Fine, who threw for 117 yards and a score while also chipping in another 90 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Running back Andrew Martson added 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns to complete the scoring for Homedale.
Homedale's most impressive unit this season has been its defense, which has posted three shutouts and held another four opponents to seven points or less. However, it is likely safe to assume the Trojans have not seen a passing attack quite as proficient as Teton's, so this should be a good test for them.
If the Trojans want to get another shot at an elusive state title, they will need to be locked in against the dangerous Timberwolves. Whoever wins will advance to the championship round to play the Sugar-Salem-Weiser winner next weekend.
2A
#5 Melba @ #1 Declo
7 p.m. Friday
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After falling short in the quarterfinal round two consecutive years, both Declo and Melba put together strong performances last week to put themselves just one win away from the 2023 2A State Championship Game.
Melba and Declo have both had their share of playoff runs in recent history, but the Hornets have not played in a state title game since 2018 when they won their second of back-to-back crowns. For the Mustangs, this is their first semifinal appearance since 2019, and their 2002 state championship run was the last time they played in a title game.
One of those streaks is going to come to an end next week.
Melba (8-2) has had a lot of highs this season, but it has also overcome some hard lows as well. The Mustangs opened the year 3-0 and won a 34-28 thriller against 2A stalwart North Fremont (ironically played at Declo High School), earning them a top-five ranking in the statewide media poll. A week later they got pushed around by Vale (OR), losing 37-12.
Then, Melba opened conference play riding high with three straight wins. The Mustangs proceeded to lose 36-22 in the regular season finale to rival Nampa Christian in a game that clinched the conference title for the Trojans.
Despite the tough losses, the Mustangs rebounded for a 34-14 first-round win over Marsing, following that up with a 37-21 victory over Nampa Christian in the rematch. Running back Rylan Frank keyed the Mustangs' offense in the revenge win, running for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Declo (10-0) has surmounted every challenge it's faced this season, and it was no different last week when the Hornets held off a relentless Grangeville effort to best the Bulldogs 37-14. Declo has played arguably the most challenging schedule of any 2A team this season and yet it remains unscathed.
The Hornets posted wins over four different 3A teams — two of which were playoff teams this season (Buhl and Marsh Valley) — as well as victories against 2A playoff squads Nampa Christian, Aberdeen, Firth, and Wendell. Declo has done it with offense at times, scoring at least 37 points in seven of its ten games, while also grinding out defensive struggles at times.
Declo won four state titles in seven years from 2012-2017, but it has been a while since the Hornets have fielded this dominant of a team.
Either the Mustangs or Hornets will advance to play for the state championship next week against either West Side or North Fremont.
#3 West Side @ #2 North Fremont
6 p.m. Friday
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West Side and North Fremont are no strangers to mid-November football.
The Pirates are playing in the 2A State Semifinals for the seventh straight year. The Huskies are in the semis for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Surprisingly, however, this is the first time West Side and North Fremont have met since the 2017 first round when the Pirates pounded the Huskies 37-6 at Holt Arena. Friday's showdown in Pocatello between these two stalwart programs should be much more tightly contested.
After winning three consecutive state titles from 2019-2021, West Side (7-2) was denied last season by conference rival Bear Lake, and that stinging feeling of being so close to a four-peat has given the Pirates all the motivation they need in 2023.
The Pirates showed their playoff pedigree last week in a 34-8 beatdown of Aberdeen. West Side led 27-0 at halftime and never looked back. Running backs Parker Moser and Crew Sage combined for 136 rushing yards and three touchdowns last week, while quarterback Eli Brown needed only four completions to rack up 104 yards and another score. Moser, Sage and Brown will all need to produce this week against a talented Huskies defense.
North Fremont (8-1) lost a talented group of seniors to graduation after last year, yet the Huskies retooled and have remained true 2A contenders in 2023.
The Huskies have been downright dominant this entire season aside from their lone loss to Melba on Sept. 16 in a game that could have gone either way. Aside from that narrow 34-28 defeat, North Fremont has not played a game closer than a 22-point margin, and that was against the defending 2A champion Bear Lake, whom the Huskies dominated 54-6 last Thursday at Holt Arena.
The Huskies' strong defense — which leads 2A at 11.1 points per game allowed — completely controlled the game last week, forcing four turnovers and nearly holding the Bears scoreless in the quarterfinal blowout. North Fremont also leads the classification in scoring at 42.4 points per game, and that prolific attack was on display last week as well. Running back Jacob Hill rushed for three scores and Andrew Martin also tallied 156 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
West Side is likely the toughest competition that North Fremont has played all season, so it will be interesting to see how well the Huskies' statistical dominance can hold up against the Pirates' championship pedigree. The winner of this showdown will move on to play either Melba or Declo next week in the 2A title game.
1AD1
#5 Grace @ #1 Oakley
6 p.m. Thursday
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The 1AD1 semifinals will feature a 2022 title game rematch as three-time defending champion Oakley hosts last season's runner-up Grace on Thursday evening.
Both the Grizzlies and Hornets put together dominating performances in their respective semifinal wins last week but in opposite ways. Oakley with unstoppable offense and Grace with an unbreakable defense.
Grace (7-3) had a bit of an up-and-down regular season by its standards, going 5-3 and finishing second in the High Desert Conference to Butte County. But the Grizzlies have played like a championship-caliber team so far this postseason, crushing Carey 28-6 and shutting out Kamiah (who had been averaging more than 40 points per game) in a 20-0 quarterfinal win.
Running back Braden Kimbell totaled 114 yards of offense, quarterback Gavin Draper went 10-of-14 for 144 yards and a score, and the Grizzlies' defense played its best game of the season. Grace showed that it could compete on this stage last season, and the Grizzlies will get another shot at taking down the mighty Hornets on Thursday evening.
Oakley (8-1) just seems to keep getting stronger and stronger each season, and the Hornets are not showing any signs of slowing down. For the second straight year, the Hornets' lone regular season loss came at the hands of 8-man juggernaut Kendrick. Aside from that 44-22 defeat on Sept. 1 at Albertson's Stadium, the Hornets have not played a close game all year.
Running back Bry Severe took the opening snap of the game to the house for an 85-yard touchdown and scored two more times in Oakley's 70-6 manhandling of Notus. Quarterback Kyler Robinson also threw four touchdowns, two of which went to Isaac Cranney, to lead the high-powered Hornets offense. Oakley has the highest-scoring offense in 1AD1 at 60 points per game, and they are going to need to play well against a talented and capable Grace defense.
Whoever wins this championship rematch will move on to the 2023 title game to play the Logos-Butte County winner next week.
#3 Logos @ #2 Butte County
6 p.m. Friday (Mountain Time)
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One of the most intriguing matchups of the weekend will go down in Arco on Friday night as the upstart Logos Knights look to keep their undefeated season alive against a talented and experienced Butte County squad.
This game will pit veteran Pirates' head coach Sam Thorngren, who is in his eighteenth season at the helm for Butte County, against Logos Head Coach Nick Holloway and his Knights who are playing just their third season of football in school history.
Logos (9-0) battled injuries in both of its first two seasons of football, going 3-6 each of the last two years, but the Knights made some clear strides along the way. Still, few could have predicted the success that they have had in 2023.
One of the biggest reasons for the Knights' success has been senior quarterback Jack Driskill. Driskill put up eye-popping numbers all season for Logos, which is just behind Oakley at 59.3 points per game, but he may have had no bigger performance than last week's quarterfinal showcase against Murtaugh.
In the 60-26 victory, Driskill went 23-of-34 for a whopping 530 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for 107 yards and two scores. He threw touchdowns to five different receivers in the record-breaking performance and helped the Knights notch a playoff win in their first-ever playoff appearance. Now Driskill has another shot to continue cementing his legacy as Logos takes on its toughest opponent yet in the state semifinals.
Over the past decade-plus, Butte County (9-1) has become a constant fixture in the playoff picture, making the postseason in ten of the last twelve years and appearing twice in the state title game during that span. However, Thorngren and his Pirates are still in search of the school's first state title, and they may have no greater opportunity than this year.
Butte County has been as impressive as any team in 1AD1 football this season. The Pirates' only defeat came in a neutral site game against (guess who) Kendrick, although the 50-28 margin tied for the closest game the Tigers played all season. Aside from that loss, Butte County took care of business and posted quality wins against Camas County (a 1AD2 semifinalist) and conference rival Grace, whom the Pirates pounded 44-14 in the regular season finale.
Last week, the Pirates upended Valley 52-20 thanks to a big day from quarterback Keaton Archibald, who threw a touchdown and ran for 154 yards and four scores as well. Defensively, Braxton Garnett showed his game-wrecking ability with 15 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in the blowout win.
Friday's game should be electric as two of the most talented and fun-to-watch teams in 8-man football battle for a spot in the 1AD1 State Championship Game against either Oakley or Grace.
1AD2
2A Kendrick @ 4B Hagerman
2 p.m. Saturday (Mountain Time)
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Hagerman is in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, but the Pirates were once a force in Idaho 8-man football, winning back-to-back state titles in 1989 and '90 and notching perfect seasons in 2011 and 2013 en route to a pair of dominant state title runs in those seasons as well.
In essence, Hagerman of the late 1980s and early 2010s is comparable to Kendrick of the early 2020s. Intriguingly, the last time the Pirates and Tigers met was on Nov. 18, 2011, in the state title game that Hagerman won 31-20, fending off an inspiring playoff run by an upstart Kendrick team.
Paradoxically, when the undefeated and seemingly untouchable Tigers visit Hagerman on Saturday afternoon in the 2023 1AD2 semifinals, it will be the pesky Pirates looking to mount the upset bid while Kendrick aims to continue its championship drive.
Kendrick (8-0), who has won the last two 1AD2 titles and last lost on Oct. 22, 2021, is putting together another statistically inconceivable season. It's not just that the Tigers keep winning games, what makes it so remarkable is how they are winning each week.
In the Tigers' eight games this season, they have scored a classification-leading 68 points per game while allowing only 9.5 on average (also the best in 1AD2, and all 8-man football for that matter). Kendrick bolsters victories over three 1AD1 state semifinalists in Oakley, Butte County and Grace.
Oh yeah, and over their last two games, the Tigers have outscored opponents 202-6. No, you did not read that wrong. They beat Deary 112-6 in the regular season finale and demolished Dietrich 90-0 last week in the quarterfinals.
Hagerman (9-2) has not been nearly as dominant as Kendrick this season, but the Pirates have been an extremely fun team to watch all year long. They got out of the gate hot with victories over Horseshoe Bend and North Gem in consecutive weeks to open the season.
The Pirates have only lost twice this year, and both defeats came on the road at the hands of the other two 1AD2 semifinalists, Rockland and Camas County. A year removed from narrowly missing the postseason, Hagerman notched the second playoff bid from the deep and talented 1AD2 Sawtooth Conference. The Pirates have looked stellar in their two playoff games so far, mashing Mackay 70-0 in the opening round and throttling Mullan-St. Regis 54-12 last week.
Either the juggernaut Tigers or underdog Pirates will advance for a state title showdown against the Rockland-Camas County winner next weekend.
5-6A Rockland vs. 4A Camas County @ Gooding High School
7 p.m. Friday
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Camas County last won a state title back in 1977. Rockland has never won a championship in football.
Whoever wins on Friday night in Gooding will get a shot to change that next weekend. But first, the Mushers and Bulldogs will clash in a rematch of their 2023 season opener, which Camas County won 62-12.
Rockland (8-2) may have gotten popped in its season opener, but the Bulldogs are playing like a completely different team than who they were in August. After opening the season 0-2, Rockland has rattled off eight straight victories, and none of them have been particularly close.
The Bulldogs are led by senior quarterback Teague Matthews, who is looking to be the latest Idaho 8-man standout to become a Division I football player. Matthews is a 1A state high jump champion, 1AD2 Basketball Player of the Year and overall freak athlete at 6-foot-5-inches and 205 pounds. In Rockland's 70-12 quarterfinal win over Tri-Valley, Matthews ran for 251 yards and five scores while also throwing for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Camas County (8-1), meanwhile, returned a slew of talent from a 7-win team in 2022, and the Mushers have looked like legitimate state title contenders all season long. The Mushers dropped a hard-fought game against 1AD1 semifinalist Butte County on Sept. 8, but they have not played any other tight games this season.
Statistically, the Mushers are No. 2 in 1AD2 in both points scored (61.2) and allowed (13.7) per game to only Kendrick. Quarterback Tristen Smith has played well all season for the Mushers, and he posted a solid 6-of-10, 154 yards, 3 TD line in last week's 70-13 win over Garden Valley. Running back Tyson Tupper also ran for 101 yards and a score.
Camas County is making its first semifinal appearance since 2004 while Rockland is in this round for the first time in more than three decades. Whichever school makes history and advances will play either Kendrick or Hagerman next weekend for the 1AD2 state championship.
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