Idaho high school football is back. Picking the top 5 games (and their winners) in Week 1
The Idaho high school football season may have officially kicked off last week with a limited schedule. The party truly starts this week with a full 6A and 5A slate across the state.
That includes another conference championship rematch in the SIC, a potential history-making battle at Dona Larsen Park and a cross-state showdown.
We broke down the Treasure Valley’s top Week 1 matchups and picked their winners.
EAGLE AT MERIDIAN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Stop me if this sounds familiar: Eagle and Meridian face off in a heavyweight battle to start the season, providing a rematch of the SIC championship game and a possible preview of this year’s title bout.
That served as the script the past two seasons, with Eagle sweeping two games against Meridian last year, and the Warriors taking two victories over the Mustangs in 2022. Rocky Mountain will have plenty to say about this year’s 6A SIC title, but Round 3 between Eagle and Meridian would surprise no one.
Eagle remains loaded, with 15 returning starters after falling 1 yard and one point short of making the state finals last year. Junior running back Noah Burnham remains one of the state’s most feared weapons after making the All-Idaho first team as a sophomore. And Eagle expects a big season out of junior quarterback Austin Ramsey now that the Mustangs are fully his.
Meridian isn’t far behind with 13 starters back, including four-year quarterback Zeke Martinez. And it gets the Mustangs at home this time.
Prediction: Eagle 30, Meridian 27
CAPITAL VS. BOISE
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Capital so thoroughly dominated Boise that it won 32 straight games against its crosstown rival and the two stopped playing. But Boise enters the year on the upswing after its best season in decades, while Capital is coming off back-to-back two-win campaigns, both a program low.
Boise won’t sneak up on anyone this fall, rising from dead last in the preseason coaches’ poll a year ago to seventh out of 12 teams this year. A magical fall in 2023 set all kinds of records at Boise. Snapping this losing streak would prove the Brave are here to stay.
Prediction: Boise 28, Capital 13
BORAH VS. TIMBERLINE
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Two programs trending in opposite directions open the 6A SIC schedule Thursday night.
Timberline ended last season on a strong note and returns a quarterback, Jack Brant, and wide receiver, Hudson Lewis, with Big Sky offers. Meanwhile, Borah enters on a six-game losing streak and lost the state’s sack leader and a 1,200-yard rusher to graduation.
But Borah still returns 14 starters, including the bulk of its offensive and defensive lines. And Timberline led the state in the most points allowed each of the past two seasons.
Prediction: Borah 34, Timberline 21
MOUNTAIN VIEW VS. WOODS CROSS (UTAH)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Friday at ICCU Dome, Pocatello
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
The Mavericks open the 17th Rocky Mountain Rumble at Idaho State by taking on Woods Cross, which went 7-5 last fall and reached the second round of the playoffs in Utah’s second-largest classification.
Mountain View starts the season with loads of offensive firepower. Eight starters return on that side of the ball, including junior quarterback Henry Nelson and running backs Valentine Gomez-Ricks and Dennis Williams.
But the Mavericks bring back just one starter on defense. That spells trouble against Woods Cross’ triple option, which ran for 290 yards per game a year ago. And the Mountain View schedule doesn’t get any easier, with Meridian and Rocky Mountain looming the next two weeks.
Prediction: Mountain View 30, Woods Cross 23
EMMETT AT FRUITLAND
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Both teams started the season early with eye-opening wins last weekend. Emmett crushed Canyon Ridge 34-6, racking up 487 yards of offense and falling a garbage-time touchdown short of a shutout. And Fruitland upset then-No. 3 Kimberly 32-28 on Saturday night as Kaden Mackenzie ran for 202 yards and three TDs.
Once-mighty Fruitland appears to have turned a corner in Jordan Gross’ third season at his alma mater. But Emmett looks primed to challenge for another SIC title with a brutally physical offensive line.
Prediction: Emmett 27, Fruitland 15
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
