State football championship game capsules

5A: Capital vs. Eagle

The two winningest 5A teams in the Treasure Valley over the past two seasons will finally face off.

The teams haven't met since 2007, when Capital won 20-16 in a regular-season meeting. In 15 meetings since Eagle opened in 1995, Eagle (10-1) has eight wins and Capital (11-1) has seven. This will be the third postseason showdown - Eagle beat Capital in the 2001 semifinals and Capital beat Eagle in the 2004 quarterfinals. The last four games have been settled by four points or less with each team winning twice.

Eagle coach Paul Peterson,who played quarterback at Idaho State (1982-83), was Capital coach Todd Simis' quarterback coach at the school in 1986. Simis transferred to Willamette University (Ore.) the following year and Peterson moved to Boise, where he served two years as Capital's offensive coordinator in 1987-88. Peterson also coached nine years at Borah - five as head coach - and is in his fifth season at Eagle. Simis, who is in his sixth season at Capital, led Gooding to back-to-back 2A state titles in 1984 and 1985 at quarterback.

4A: Sandpoint vs. Blackfoot

Neither team advanced this far last season, but both played the defending 4A state champion this season - Sandpoint beat Hillcrest in the semifinals 20-8 and Blackfoot's only regular-season loss was against Hillcrest 26-24.

Sandpoint (9-2), which won its only title in 1997, is perfect against 4A competition this season. Blackfoot (10-1) won its only title in 2007.

3A: Fruitland vs. Shelley

These teams last played in 2007, when Shelley beat Fruitland 19-13 on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter to break a 13-13 tie and claim the 3A state championship.

Fruitland (8-3) lost 37-26 to Salmon in last year's title game and enters this game eager to change its fortune.

The Grizzlies are comprised of mostly first-year varsity players, but are on a four-game winning streak and have outscored opponents 171-19 in that stretch. Unbeaten Shelley (11-0) beat District Three Weiser 19-7 in last week's semifinals. Fruitland defeated Weiser 28-7 on Oct. 23.

2A: Parma vs. Declo

Parma beat Declo 29-28 in overtime on a point-after try by Devin Erickson to win last year's 2A state championship game at Bronco Stadium.

Erickson and the Panthers are back to defend their title and are riding the momentum of a defense that limits opponents to an average of 3.8 points per game. Parma (10-0) has five shutouts.

Declo (11-0) also enters this championship rematch at Holt Arena with a perfect record and will no doubt be fueled by last year's loss. The Hornets are averaging 46.7 points per game and allowing 9.0.

"We don't want to make any mistakes," Parma senior fullback/linebacker Israel Urrabazo said. "Everybody needs to do their job and not worry about other things."

1A D-I: Prairie vs. Oakley

This contest features two unbeaten teams playing against each other in the championship game for the second consecutive season.

Prairie (11-0) beat Oakley (11-0) 32-22 in last year's title game. Both teams average about 51 points per game.

1A D-II: Salmon River vs. Mackay

Salmon River will suit up 11 players to take on Mackay, which nearly lost its team over the summer because of budget shortfalls (see story on A1).

Salmon River (7-3) won the 1A Division II championship in 2007 and Mackay won in 2005. The Miners also won six consecutive 1A 11-man state titles from 1996 to 2001.

Jesse Zentz and Rachel Roberts