FRIDAY'S FIRST-PLACE SHOWDOWNS
Rocky Mountain at Eagle
Despite suffering its first loss of the season last week against Borah, Eagle is still in strong playoff position and could shake up the standings by knocking off unbeaten Rocky Mountain. Running back Dakota Weindel leads Rocky Mountain in rushing with 457 yards and five touchdowns. Eagle quarterback J.T. Williams continues to lead the passing race with 1,609 yards and 12 TDs.
Middleton at Bishop Kelly
Neither of these teams have lost in conference play, and the winner assumes sole possession of first place in the 4A Southern Idaho Conference with two games remaining in the regular season. Senior Max Foote and the Vikings won last year’s meeting 31-24. In league play, Bishop Kelly has won its five games by a combined score of 211-36, while Middleton has won 193-75.
Weiser at Fruitland
This 3A Snake River Valley rivalry game will help determine the league’s regular-season champion and the district’s No. 1 seed in the state playoffs — a perk that comes with homefield advantage for the first two games of the postseason. This is the final game of the regular season for senior quarterback Joe Martarano and unbeaten Fruitland, while Weiser wraps up play next week at Parma.
FRIDAY'S OTHER GAMES
Capital at Boise
Capital currently owns the fourth and final state playoff berth in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference, but the Eagles need to keep winning to hold onto their position. Boise is not out of the playoff picture, but would likely need to win out and hope for help. This is a must-win game for both teams.
Centennial at Mountain View
With both teams tied for fifth in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference at 3-3, this game will likely determine which team has a chance at moving into the playoff picture. Centennial has yet to face two of the top four teams (Rocky Mountain, Capital), while Mountain View only has one top team (Eagle) left on its schedule.
Timberline at Meridian
With three potential wins still on the table for Timberline, the Wolves are outside contenders for a postseason spot. Their best chance to move into postseason contention is to win out and get help. Meridian has been eliminated from the postseason but will still be gunning hard for its first win of the season.
Caldwell at Kuna
Caldwell has three games remaining on its schedule and Kuna has two, but both teams have lost to all of the current top three teams. Kuna’s playoff hopes have not been extinguished, but the Kavemen need to win out and hope for losses by the teams above them in the standings.
Columbia at Emmett
Columbia has the potential to wreak the most havoc on the postseason picture with remaining games against Bishop Kelly and Skyview. That playoff push starts here. Emmett has not been eliminated, but must win out and hope the teams above them in the standings lose.
Nampa at Skyview
Nampa’s slim playoff chances can be kept alive with a win against Skyview. Meanwhile, the Hawks currently hold the third and final playoff spot and need to keep winning to fend off Columbia and Kuna, which sit right behind the Hawks with three conference wins apiece.
Homedale at Gooding
Homedale has its hands full with this road trip. Gooding is 7-0 and currently ranked third in the state media poll. The Senators have outscored their opponents 291-59.
Parma at Payette
Parma and Payette are both winless in 3A Snake River Valley play. The winner of this game moves into the league’s fourth and final playoff spot with one game remaining in the regular season.
McCall-Donnelly at Cole Valley
At Rocky Mountain High, with four teams tied at 2-1 in league play about them, these teams both need this victory to remain in the playoff hunt.
Marsing at Nampa Christian
The winner of this game holds onto its share of first place in the 2A Western Idaho Conference, while the loser drops into a tie for third alongside the loser of the New Plymouth-Melba game.
New Plymouth at Melba
Four state playoff spots are up for grabs in the 2A WIC, and both of these teams sit in a four-way tie for first place. The winner moves into a two-way tie for first place.
Greenleaf at Rimrock
Both of these teams lost their conference openers last week. The top three of the four teams in the league advance to state play-in games, while fourth place stays home. The winner of this game likely wraps up one of those playoff berths.
Idaho City at Notus
After this week, there is only one game remaining in the regular season for both of these teams. The winner of this game takes over sole possession of first place in the conference and sits in the driver’s seat for the league’s top playoff spot.
Tri-Valley at Cascade
The bright spot for these winless teams is that one of them will walk away from this game with its first victory of the season. Tri-Valley has scored a combined 80 points in six games compared to Cascade’s 72 in four games.
Wilder at Garden Valley
Garden Valley and Dietrich are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the 1A Division II classification. The Wolverines are currently ranked third in the state media poll. Wilder — whose lone loss is to Salmon River — could shake up the league standings with a win.
Council at Salmon River
Salmon River is tied for first in the conference with Garden Valley and needs a victory against Council to set up a first-place showdown with the Wolverines on Oct. 19. Council has just one loss in conference play and could cause a logjam at the top with a victory.
Rachel Roberts: 377-6422
