The state football playoffs are finally here. These are the teams moving on, going home

Nothing beats a rivalry game — except a rivalry game in the state playoffs.

Capital (6-3) and Borah (5-4) square off for the second time this year in the first round of the 5A playoffs Friday. Capital throttled the Lions 39-7 a month ago, but that means little now as teams throughout the Treasure Valley battle for their postseason lives.

I broke down every 5A and 4A playoff matchup, starting with the week’s top game, below.

[Related: 5A to 1A football playoff brackets]

Borah at Capital, 7 p.m. Friday

The numbers all line up in Capital’s favor.

Capital has won 17 of the past 18 games over its supposed rival. Borah hasn’t won a playoff game since 1995. And the Lions limped into the postseason, losing four of their last five games and three straight after quarterback Jake Standlee broke his wrist.

But Capital coach Todd Simis doesn’t want to hear any of it. He knows how hard it is to beat a team twice, as the Eagles are just 6-4 in rematches under Simis. And he points to last week, when a depleted Borah squad gave undefeated and No. 1-ranked Rocky Mountain all it could handle on the road before falling 27-21.

“They certainly don’t look like a team that’s given up,” Simis said. “They don’t look, effort-wise, like a team that’s gone 1-4 in their last five games.

“My mindset is not to look at them as a 1-4 team and licking my chops. It’s kind of the opposite. They’ve gotten better, they’re playing competitive football, and we’re going to have play well to win.”

Borah has transformed itself from an air raid team under Standlee, a three-year starter, into a jet sweep-option team with star receiver Ellis Magnuson taking the snaps. That’s taken time, but the Lions enter the playoffs gaining confidence and with one of the state’s most dangerous playmakers touching the ball on every play.

“They are going to have to change some things because it was different,” Borah coach Jason Burton said of the previous matchup. “With Jake, we were going to throw the ball 60 times. Now we’re going to run the ball 60 times.”

But Borah also has to adjust. Capital ate the Lions alive with the deep ball in September as quarterback Ryan Hibbs finished 13-of-16 for 264 yards and three TDs. He ran for 83 yards and another score in a breakout game.

He hasn’t slowed down since as Capital recovered from a 1-2 start to finish the season winning five of six. The Eagles are just a broken-up, fourth-down TD pass away from six straight wins. And dynamic receiver Alec Bindner has returned to the lineup after a knee injury.

“We’re hitting our stride,” Simis said, “and I’m excited about that.”

The Lions have fought valiantly. But their run ends Friday.

Capital 28, Borah 23

Lewiston at Eagle, 7 p.m. Friday

Undefeated Rocky Mountain and Coeur d’Alene have deservedly drawn the headlines all season. But Eagle stands as the most dangerous team entering the playoffs, the one I’d want to avoid at all costs.

No matter the mounting injuries, deficits or seemingly insurmountable odds, the No. 5-ranked Mustangs (6-3) have won five of their past six games.

“I know we’re in a great psychological state,” Eagle coach Paul Peterson said. “We’re playing with some confidence right now. And I personally believe that confidence is genuine and not plastic and fabricated, that it was hard earned.”

[Related: 5A, 4A football stat leaders]

Sophomore quarterback Ben Ford is lightning waiting to strike with the ball in his hands. And the 5A classification’s top rushing offense (291 yards per game) only gets better with its top running back, Nelson Russell, returning from a high-ankle sprain.

Eagle draws one of the tougher first-round matchups in Lewiston (6-3). The Bengals field one of the state’s stingiest defenses (17.9 ppg, fourth in 5A) and a dynamic dual-threat quarterback.

Tyson Wallace has thrown for 2,069 yards and 22 TDs this fall, and he leads Lewiston in rushing with 575 yards and six more scores. Peterson said the Mustangs will have to walk a fine line of splitting resources between coverage and the pass rush to knock him off his spot.

But with the magic on Eagle’s sideline this season, it will find a way.

Eagle 31, Lewiston 28

Skyview at Post Falls, 8 p.m. MT Friday

The dreaded long bus trip often spells doom for 5A SIC teams. Because Boise-area teams never need to travel to get a game, they’ve struggled on the road in the playoffs, posting a 6-12 record outside the Treasure Valley since the 5A playoffs expanded to 12 teams four years ago.

But Skyview (5-4) doesn’t carry that baggage. While the Hawks haven’t left the Valley this season, they’ve played at least one true road game the previous six years as a 4A power, including a trip to Post Falls (4-4) three years ago.

Should Skyview run into any trouble in the Pacific Time Zone, it can always turn to senior running back/linebacker Tyler Crowe, who racked up 606 all-purpose yards and seven TDs in a playoff-clinching win last week.

“We’re looking at relying on him as much we need to,” Skyview coach David Young said. “Honestly, we’re hoping it’s 50-50. We’re hoping we can run a balanced attack and throw it and run it evenly.”

That would be lip service for most teams. But with three-year starting quarterback Wyatt Storer (2,335 yards, 24 TDs), Skyview truly can hurt teams both ways. That pays off in the playoffs.

Skyview 42, Post Falls 30

Meridian at Madison, 7 p.m. Friday

The Warriors (3-6) travel to Rexburg for a first-round playoff game for the third straight year. Madison (6-3) waxed Meridian the previous two meetings, winning 50-12 last year and 31-8 two years ago.

Expect Meridian to give the Bobcats a scare with its multifaceted running game. But the Warriors have yet to prove they can stop anybody, giving up 39.1 points per game.

Madison 45, Meridian 33

Blackfoot at Middleton, 7 p.m. Friday

No. 4-ranked Middleton (7-2) finds itself reeling a bit having lost two of the last three games. Only an overtime win over Vallivue prevented a three-game losing streak.

The Vikings’ air raid offense continues to shred defenses behind quarterback Dallas Hagler (2,058 yards, 28 TDs) and 4A leading receiver Carson Smith (65 catches, 1,107 yards, 16 TDs). But the defense has surrendered 35, 35 and 36 points the last three weeks after giving up 13.5 points a game during a 6-0 start.

A home game against Blackfoot (4-5), the last team in the playoffs, gives Middleton a chance to correct any flaws before No. 1 Hillcrest looms in a potential quarterfinal.

Middleton 42, Blackfoot 20

Preston at Bishop Kelly, 7 p.m. Friday

Somehow a perennial state power and the state’s No. 2-ranked team has flown under the radar. Only Middleton’s epic comeback, when it scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns, separates Bishop Kelly (7-1) from an undefeated season.

The Knights remain as unsexy and foreboding as ever behind a powerful run game (273.1 yards per game) and stout defense (15.9 ppg). Their smashmouth, I-formation offense makes them the oddball in today’s football, one that’s next to impossible to mimic and prepare for.

Bishop Kelly 41, Preston 6

Mountain Home at Nampa, 7 p.m. Friday

A week ago, Nampa (7-2) was ranked fifth in the state thanks to a seven-game winning streak. The Bulldogs had clinched their first playoff berth since 2009, eyed their first playoff win since 2007 and could dream of a deep run.

Then Vallivue thumped Nampa 56-26. Instead of dominating the turnover category like the Bulldogs have all year, they committed three themselves to lose control of the game.

Mountain Home (4-5) fields a potent aerial threat in its first playoff appearance since 2008. The Tigers rank fourth in the 4A classification with 234 passing yards per game behind quarterback Mykal Castillo and the receiving duo of Nehemiah Parker (782 yards, 10 TDs) and Klay Proffit (954 yards, 6 TDs).

But with a wakeup call delivered, expect Nampa and the state’s top ball-hawking defense (27 turnovers) to bounce back.

Nampa 42, Mountain Home 14

Vallivue at Moscow, 8 p.m. MT Friday

Meet the sleeper team in the 4A state tournament. Vallivue (6-3) finished fourth in the SIC, but after a seven-year playoff drought, the Falcons are peaking at the right time and lighting up the scoreboard.

Vallivue stands as 4A’s top-scoring offense (43.9 ppg) and has scored 49 or more points five times, largely behind the arm and legs of junior quarterback Lan Larison. He’s racked up 2,832 total yards and 32 touchdowns this fall and can change the course of any game in the blink of the eye, including on defense, where he’s made three interceptions and averages 6.7 tackles.

The bracket sets up in Vallivue’s favor. After one of the easier first-round matchups, provided they can survive the bus trip, the Falcons would get either Twin Falls (7-2) or Idaho Falls (6-3) in the quarterfinals.

Don’t be surprised to see Vallivue in the semifinals two weeks from now.

Vallivue 46, Moscow 22

Columbia at Century, 8:15 p.m. Friday

Columbia (5-4) qualified for the playoffs for the second time in program history and heads to Pocatello searching for its first postseason win.

Senior running back Allamar Alexander, the 4A leading rusher (1,731 yards, 28 TDs), can keep the Wildcats in any game. But the only teams to knock off Century (7-2) this year are 5A power Highland and Utah juggernaut Orem.

Columbia has made massive strides under first-year coach Jon Helmandollar. But the Diamondbacks will defend their home turf.

Century 31, Columbia 23

Can’t see the predictions for every football game on your mobile device? See the full version here.

This story was originally published October 24, 2018 at 11:12 PM.