Written by: Brandon Baney

It can be tough to be the last place team in your conference standings. But when your league is one of the toughest in the state, it makes the pill a little easier to swallow.

That’s the position Idaho Falls found itself in a year ago, taking sixth place in the uber-loaded High Country Conference. How loaded was the HCC? Well, the five teams ahead of the Tigers all made the Class 4A playoffs.

And honestly, if we’re splitting hairs, Idaho Falls technically finished fifth, as they and Bonneville had identical 1-4 HCC records. The Tigers won the head-to-head matchup with the Bees by a 22-21 score in overtime, but Bonneville had the last laugh. A slightly better MaxPreps ranking gave Bonneville the final 4A at-large playoff spot, and kept Idaho Falls at home.

So the goal for Idaho Falls in 2023 is to obviously finish higher in the league standings. But Skyline, Hillcrest, Shelley and Bonneville all have their sights on returning to the playoffs again, and even though Blackfoot is much younger, they have a good coaching staff in place.

So perhaps the goal then it to perform well enough in non-conference play. That way Idaho Falls is safely and securely in the postseason field. In 2022, Idaho Falls went 1-3 out of league, defeating Century while falling to 5A foes Madison and Thunder Ridge, as well as Twin Falls from District 4.

All of the same opponents are on the docket in 2023, so Idaho Falls will have to find a way to break through. Their home matchup with Twin Falls on September 1st will be absolutely critical, as the Bruins are favored to win District 4 this year. A win over the Bruins would go a long way towards Idaho Falls’ playoff hopes.

Other highlights include the annual Emotion Bowl with Skyline on September 22nd, and the season finale with Hillcrest at Ravsten Stadium on October 20th.