Vallivue's offensive juggernaut gets rolling again

The Vallivue High football team led the 5A Southern Idaho Conference last season with an average of 421 yards per game.

Judging by the Falcons' performance Friday night, another year of offensive dominance could be on the way.

The Falcons scored four touchdowns in the first half alone and racked up more than 500 yards on their way to a 49-7 victory over 4A Skyview at Vallivue High.

It was the nonconference season opener for both teams.

"Right now they're where we want to be," said Vallivue coach Layne Coffin, whose team advanced to the 5A state playoffs last season, "but obviously we are going to have to get better."

The Falcons' offense was able to pick up where it left off with the help of three-year starting quarterback J.J. Hyde and a skilled group of returning receivers.

Hyde had his hand in four of the Falcons' six touchdowns and finished with 275 yards through the air after completing 15-of-27 passes. He also had six carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Senior receivers Devan Telken and Aaron Kener combined for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

"Our offense is based around run first and then pass later and we really set it up tonight," Kener said. "Our O-linemen did a great job and just made it easy for J.J. out there."

Vallivue's defense dominated at the line of scrimmage, limiting the Hawks to just six rushing yards. The Falcons' backfield also picked off four interceptions.

"We are definitely young and I think that showed," Skyview coach David Young said. "Part of inexperience in a football game is when things go your way you can roll and when they don't sometimes you panic or you just play outside yourself."

Skyview struggled to find its rhythm Friday night. Senior quarterback Sam Cook started the game, but junior Hunter Hyde also saw playing time at signal caller as early as the second quarter. The pair completed 20-of-27 passes for 271 yards.

"We just came out excited and pumped up," said Vallivue senior cornerback Brandon Montoya, who sparked the Falcons' defense by snagging an interception with less than 7 minutes to go in the first quarter. "We did our jobs and came out and dominated."

Skyview scored its lone touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter when Hunter Hyde connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tanner Robison.

Vallivue senior running back Jacob Betancourt added two touchdowns spanning the third and fourth quarters and finished with 61 yards on eight carries.

Both teams continue nonconference play next week. Vallivue travels to Rocky Mountain, while Skyview hosts Timberline. Both games kickoff at 7 p.m.