The 4A SIC went 5-0 to open the state football playoffs. Can it keep rolling into the semis?

The 4A Southern Idaho Conference took a step back last season, failing to put at least one team in the state championship game for the first time since 2009.

But the SIC has returned with a vengeance this fall, going 5-0 in the first round of the state playoffs. Don’t call it a surprise though. Only fifth-place Columbia’s one-point road win over District 4-5 champ Century can count as a surprise.

So let’s give credit where it’s due and start with the 4As this week, including a historic quarterfinal matchup.

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

Columbia at Nampa, 7 p.m. Friday

The Nampa School District rivals have met 13 times, with Nampa holding a 9-4 series advantage. But the two never have faced each other in the playoffs, making Friday another first in a season full of them for both of the long-struggling programs.

Columbia (6-4) won its first playoff game since the program started in 2006 last week. And Nampa (8-2) won its first playoff game since 2007, creating a buzz at both Nampa schools.

“It’s a new adventure for the school and the football team,” first-year Columbia coach Jon Helmandollar said in a phone interview. “The environment is just amazing right now.”

Both limped through their four years at the 5A level without the resources of the conference’s blue bloods. But both turned a corner last season, and the move down to 4A has only accelerated their rebuilds.

“They’ve always known they are little bit of an underdog and they have a past of struggling,” Nampa coach Dan Holtry said about his team in a phone interview. “But they’ve done a great job of changing that.

“... Nampa has always had a blue-collar mentality for 30, 40 years. You go back to the ‘60s and ‘70s when my dad was a Nampa Bulldog, and they were always about that blue-collar mentality. That’s not new.”

Nampa won the first meeting this season at Columbia 49-21. The two teams remained even throughout the night with Columbia out gaining the Bulldogs 448-406. But as Columbia drove to pull within one score before halftime, Nampa’s Jace Mann nabbed one of his state-leading nine interceptions and ripped off a long return to set up another Bulldog score, extending the lead to 35-14 at halftime.

Columbia never could recover from that 14-point swing and lost possession. Helmandollar said Columbia will have to protect the ball against a defense that leads the state with 31 forced turnovers and stay wary of Mann.

“We’re coming at them and we are going to attack, but we’ve got to know where he’s at,” Helmandollar said. “He’s a ballhawk and he makes plays.”

Nampa has its own force of nature to contend with in Columbia running back Allamar Alexander. He’s carried the Wildcats all season, running for 1,922 yards and 31 TDs, including 210 yards and three scores against Nampa’s defense five weeks ago.

Helmandollar said he’s running the best he has all season now.

“He’s just a big, powerful back,” Holtry said. “Obviously, he’s got top-end speed, but he’s also got size. His feet just don’t quit.”

Nampa already survived one big Alexander game. And with the bounty of weapons on their sideline — from Carrillo to Mann to Donnie Estrada to Braden Minor — the Bulldogs won’t fear a shootout.

Nampa 43, Columbia 37

[Related: Idaho’s 5A, 4A football stat leaders]

Skyline at Bishop Kelly, 7 p.m. Friday

With 206 career victories, Bishop Kelly coach Tim Brennan has conquered a lot of opponents. But one team he’s never beaten comes to town Friday.

No. 3 Skyline (8-2) dropped to the 4A level three years ago, and the Grizzlies topped No. 2 BK (8-1) in the playoffs each of the past two years en route to back-to-back state titles. But expect the Knights to turn the tables Friday.

Bishop Kelly’s trademark defense has returned to its stout, physical and relentless roots. The Knights have shut out four opponents this year, using a long and strong defensive line to dominate opponents.

Skyline has the weapons on the edge to give BK fits, most notably do-it-all running back Chris Taylor. But playoff games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage, and the Knights have the advantage there.

Bishop Kelly 28, Skyline 20

Idaho Falls at Vallivue, 7 p.m. Friday

Buckle in for a battle on the ground as two of the state’s top playmakers square off.

In one corner is Vallivue quarterback Lan Larison, who has run for 1,888 yards and 21 TDs this fall.

In the other is Idaho Falls running back Cameron Conrad, who has 2,034 rushing yards and 18 TDs to his name.

Both ran for more than 300 yards last week. Both can rip off a big play at any time. And both can single-handedly carry a team on their back.

But Vallivue doesn’t have to rely solely on Larison’s legs. He’s also thrown for 1,305 yards and 15 TDs. And the Falcons lead the 4A classification with 365 rushing yards per game thanks to other weapons like Carson Child (982 rushing yards, 11 TDs) and Jayden Moran (1,159 total yards, 13 TDs).

Vallivue 42, Idaho Falls 33

Middleton at Hillcrest, 7 p.m. Friday

No. 4 Middleton (8-2) hits the road to No. 1 Hillcrest (9-1) on shaky legs. The Vikings are just 2-2 in their last four games and have given up either 35 or 36 points in each of them. That won’t cut it against the state’s top defense in points (11.7) and yards allowed (205) per game.

The Knights pound the ball down opponents’ throats with a triple-option, I-formation offense. Oakley Hussey (839 yards, 9 TDs) leads the way after stepping in for Jordan Neuerburg, who was in contention for the state rushing lead until a season-ending knee injury six weeks ago.

But Hillcrest hasn’t missed a beat without him, entering Friday on an eight-game winning streak. Its only loss came by one point on the road at Madison, a 5A playoff team.

Middleton’s aerial offense will keep it in the game. But the Vikings don’t have the weapons on defense for the upset.

Hillcrest 42, Middleton 30

Borah at Coeur d’Alene, 8 p.m. MT Friday

The phrase “Why not us?” is bouncing around the halls of Borah.

The Lions (6-4) knocked off Capital last week to win their first playoff game since 1995 as quarterback Jake Standlee returned from a broken wrist to throw for 281 yards and three touchdowns in the second half alone.

“I feel like we can do anything,” Standlee told reporters after the win. “We can come together and beat any team, to be honest.”

He’s right. With him and receiver Chase Nett, both three-year starters, back on the field, Borah should scare everyone in the state. But winning at No. 2-ranked Coeur d’Alene (8-0) remains a monumental task for 5A SIC teams.

No Treasure Valley team has won on the Vikings’ home field since Eagle in the 2009 semifinals. Since then, Coeur d’Alene is 39-7 at home against all opponents, including 8-1 in the playoffs.

The one-way, 400-mile bus trip poses one obstacle. Dual-threat quarterback Kale Edwards (2,486 total yards, 33 TDs) poses an even larger one. He’s received scholarship offers from Idaho and Montana, making him the latest in a long line of Division I quarterback prospects from Coeur d’Alene.

Coeur d’Alene 37, Borah 29

Eagle at Highland, 5:30 p.m. Friday

No. 3 Highland (8-1) has built its own mystique on Holt Arena’s turf. The defending state champs are 59-13 in the mini dome the past 10 years, including 10-3 in the postseason.

But that mystique has started to crack in recent years. No. 5-ranked Eagle (7-3) forced five turnovers and beat Highland 19-7 in Pocatello last year, the Rams’ only loss last season en route to a state title. Mountain View also notched a road playoff win in Holt Arena two years ago.

Dominant running games travel well in the playoffs. Eagle leads the 5A classification at 277 yards per game, and the Mustangs keep improving each week. Sophomore quarterback Ben Ford (2,634 total yards, 28 TDs) is putting it all together and can keep Eagle in any game with his home-run ability. The Mustangs’ top running back, Nelson Russell, also returned from a high ankle sprain last week.

I said it three weeks ago when Eagle knocked off Capital, and I’m not backing down now: The Mustangs are the state’s most dangerous team.

Eagle 28, Highland 22

Post Falls at Mountain View, 7 p.m. Friday

Post Falls (5-4) rallied for its first playoff win as a 5A program last week, knocking off Skyview on Josiah Shields’ sliding, game-winning TD catch with 6.2 seconds left. The Trojans covered 57 yards in less than 30 seconds for a 42-37 win, but they’ll find tougher sledding against the Mountain View (7-2) defense.

After a 2-2 start, the Mavericks look like they’ve found their stride, averaging 49 points during their five-game winning streak.

Mountain View 48, Post Falls 22

Madison at Rocky Mountain, 7 p.m. Friday

After starting the season on fire and looking unbeatable, No. 1-ranked and undefeated Rocky Mountain (9-0) has started to show cracks.

The Grizzlies had to fight their way to their last three wins after getting the backups loads of playing time to start the season. But Rocky Mountain keeps finding ways to win, and no one can fault it for that.

A bye gave the Grizzlies a chance to heal and patch any of those cracks. Now they get to turn their ball-hawking defense (27 turnovers, the most in 5A) against turnover-prone Madison (20 giveaways).

Rocky Mountain 42, Madison 14

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This story was originally published October 31, 2018 at 5:42 PM.