5A: MADISON 37, COEUR D’ALENE 30
POCATELLO — The Madison High football team’s defense stood tall yet again in the fourth quarter to preserve a win Friday over the two-time defending state champion Coeur d’Alene Vikings, completing a 12-0 season and taking home their first state football title since 1995.
“It’s amazing,” said senior running back Hayden Hastings, who ran in Madison’s final touchdown of the game. “This is what we worked for since Grid Kid.”
Madison coach Mitch Buck commended the Bobcats for their perfect season and for the efforts of the seniors who helped make it possible.
“It’s been awesome all year,” Buck said. “They’ve wanted it more than anybody. They’ve been that way for a very long time. We’re just glad for the moment.”
The elusive blue trophy was a result of passing one of the biggest tests the Bobcats faced all season. The Bobcats extended a 21-7 halftime lead to 27-7 within the first five minutes of the second half when Madison quarterback Logan Anderson found Sam Baldwin for a 61-yard touchdown, but the Vikings (9-3) didn’t leave quietly in a title game riddled with penalties and momentum shifts. Rather, Coeur d’Alene gave the Madison a barnburner similar to last week’s 45-38 semifinal win over Highland with a comeback rally that went down to the wire.
A shootout unfolded in the fourth quarter as a 30-20 Madison lead was cut to 30-23 when a field goal attempt by Parker Wilson that caused controversy on the field was ruled good with 5:33 remaining. Madison’s Hayden Hastings raced into open field for a 41-yard touchdown and Dan Jones’ extra point soared through the uprights to give the Bobcats a 37-23 cushion with 3:56 remaining.
Still, the Vikings chipped away as a Kolby Dehaas 7-yard touchdown reception and Wilson extra point put Coeur d’Alene behind 37-30 with 29 seconds left in regulation. Coeur d’Alene looked to threaten when it recovered its own onside kick in the final 20 seconds, but the Madison defense batted away a Hail Mary pass by Gunnar Amos as the final three seconds expired.
2A: DECLO 22, FIRTH 12
POCATELLO — The Declo Hornets won the first state football title in school history Friday night at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
Both teams entered the state title game at 11-0, and the teams were locked in a 6-6 stalemate through three quarters.
Declo quarterback Kai Garner scored twice on 1-yard runs in the fourth to break the tie and put the game out of reach. Garner finished with 76 rushing yards and 65 passing yards in the win.
Senior Mitch Orme led Firth with 103 yards on 13 carries.
1A DIVISION I: KAMIAH 30, BUTTE COUNTY 20
Michael Eades threw for two touchdowns in the first quarter as the Kubs jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter, then held off Butte County in the second half to claim the state title.
