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1. David Kludt (Kamiah)
Kludt struck for eight total touchdowns - six passing and two rushing - and had an interception on defense Saturday afternoon to help Kamiah pull away from a pesky Glenns Ferry team and advance in the 2A state playoffs.
2. Stuart Derrick (Cascade)
The senior rushed for 128 yards and three scores while passing for 105 yards and another score in the Ramblers' 28-22 1A playoff win at Deary. He also posted 13 tackles and two interceptions on defense for Cascade in its first postseason victory since 2003.
3. Wyatt Mavencamp (Hagerman)
The junior passed for 282 yards and five scores while adding four tackles and an interception on defense for the Pirates in their 2A playoff win Friday night over Raft River.
Honorable Mention
Jacen Farr (Challis)
TJ Beyer (Deary)
Connor Perkins (Dietrich)
Bryce Sterling (Glenns Ferry)
Braden Kimball (Grace)
Ralli Roetcisoender (Kendrick)
Craig Yost (North Gem)
Levi McElroy (Prairie)
Brenton Breeze (Potlatch)
Kai Ward (Raft River)
Jayden Wallace (Shoshone)
Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley)
West-Heavy
With wins from Tri-Valley, Garden Valley, and Cascade on Friday, the 1A state playoffs will feel very west-heavy in the quarterfinals. That's because half of the quarterfinal teams (district champion Council had an opening round bye) come from the Long Pin Conference from District 3. Something similar happened in 2021, where District 4 had four (Carey, Dietrich, Camas County, and Castleford) and 2019 (Lighthouse Christian, Carey, Dietrich, and Murtaugh). However, due to pre-determined bracketing that the 1A/1A Division 2 classification used prior to this season, District 3's Long Pin has never had more than two teams in the quarterfinals. Idaho's 8-man classification formally split into two divisions in 2004 and the Long Pin has won seven 1A Division 2 (now 1A) titles - Horseshoe Bend once (2004) and Salmon River six times (2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016).
Living the Dream
Late in the fourth quarter, a desperation fourth-down pass attempt by Glenns Ferry was tipped and intercepted by Kamiah defensive lineman Damian Ochoa. That's a big moment for any lineman but, for Ochoa, it was actually his second interception of the game. But let's go one step further. The two picks against the Pilots give Ochoa four interceptions on the season, good for second on the team. The sophomore also averages almost six tackles per game for the Kubs, who advanced in the 2A state playoffs with the win over Glenns Ferry.
The Next Wave
Few things are as important to a high school football program - especially at the 8-man level - as a good youth football program. Whether it's Grid Kids, Youth Optimist, or a community's middle school team, that's your future as the next wave of kids to pull on the high school uniforms. The Logos success of today comes from its youth program, kids who grew up playing together before the school even had a high school program and carrying that growth and development over to create that next level for the Knights. When legendary Carey coach Lane Kirkland stepped aside as the Panther head coach, he stepped in to help with the middle school program. Oakley's Kade Craner did the same thing with his community's youth teams. Rockland - tiny Rockland - has its own middle school football team for the first time. Competition, communication, and collaboration are vital to creaing a pipeline for small communities in Idaho in any sport, including football.
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