(IdahoSports.com will live stream the game starting at 6:50 p.m. Click here to watch.)

The regular season Sawtooth Conference title could be on the line this Friday night when the Carey Panthers visit the Dietrich Blue Devils on the IdahoSports.com Gem State Game of the Week.

The IdahoSports.com Gem State Game of the Week features Idaho’s best broadcasters, multiple camera angles, and enhanced graphics, and is reserved for the top matchup in the state of Idaho each week.

After a two-year sojourn at the 2A (previously 1AD1) level, Carey has returned to its old stomping grounds at Class 1A.  The Panthers have won seven state championships at this level, and are 5-1 this season (3-0 in Sawtooth Conference play).  Their lone loss is to defending 2A state champion Butte County.

Dietrich, meanwhile, is a perfect 6-0 overall (4-0 Sawtooth Conference).

Carey is averaging 59.3 points per game, while Dietrich lags slightly behind at 55.7.  The Devils have the better defense, though, allowing just 14 points per game.  Carey is allowing 15.3.

In other words, this is about as evenly matched as you can get.

Because of Carey's recent move up, the last time these rivals actually played one another was on November 13th, 2021, inside Pocatello's Holt Arena in the 1AD2 state semifinals.  Carey won that matchup, 54-20, before falling to Kendrick a week later in the state championship game.  The Panthers also won the regular season matchup in 2021, by a tight 24-22 margin.

The last time Dietrich scored a win over Carey was on November 21st, 2020, at Twin Falls High School.  The 34-28 victory gave Dietrich its first (and only) football championship in school history.

Both teams have changed coaches since those epic battles in 2020 and 2021, as well. 

Dietrich coach Rick Astle suffered a stroke and diabetes ketoacidosis in 2022, and ceded head coaching duties to his nephew, Brody Astle, for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.  Rick tragically passed away this past April at the age of 54, while Brody moved to Stevensvillle, Montana, to be closer to family.  Brody's cousin (and Rick's son) Garrett Astle is now in his first season as Blue Devils' head coach.

Carey, meanwhile, saw longtime coach Lane Kirkland retire at the conclusion of the 2022 season.  Former assistant John Saili took the reins in 2023, and is now in his second season of leading the Panthers.

On the field, each team is led by their dynamic quarterback.  Seniors Preston Wood of Carey and Connor Perkins of Dietrich are dual-threat athletes, and exceptional defensive backs, as well.

Joining Wood in the Panthers backfield is senior running back Eddie Gamino.  Senior tight ends AJ Black and Matthew Young are athletic pass-catchers, and junior Stockton Sears can play all over.  Senior Luke Aquistapace leads the offensive line at center.

On defense, Black might be the best defensive end in the conference, Young is an excellent linebacker, and Sears is a turnover machine at defensive back.  Junior linebacker Will Parke, meanwhile, is Carey's leading tackler.

For Dietrich, Perkins is joined by a slew of skilled running backs/receivers: senior Isaac Ward, and juniors Chase Norman and Wyett Sneddon are all capable of taking a routine play to the end zone for a long touchdown on any given play.  Senior Brody Torgerson lines up at tight end, and can slide inside to offensive guard in a pinch, as well.  Junior Jason Hollibaugh is another key guard on the offensive line.

The Dietrich defense is led by Hollibaugh and senior Angel Alvarado up front, Torgerson and Sneddon at linebacker, and Perkins and Norman in the secondary.