Prep football roundup: Playoff spots, positions clinched in regular-season finale
Nampa extended its season another week by defeating Emmett 35-12 on Friday night in the 4A Southern Idaho Conference regular-season finale for both teams in Nampa.
Quarterback Donavon Estrada scored the Bulldogs’ first three touchdowns on runs of 83, 3 and 5 yards, and Zafeir Reyes rushed for a 40-yard score to give Nampa a 28-0 lead with 10:23 to go in the third quarter.
With the victory, Nampa (6-3, 5-3) grabbed the 4A SIC’s fifth and final playoff spot. The Bulldogs will face Century (6-3) in the first round of the 4A playoffs next week at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
Estrada finished with 98 yards passing and 173 yards on the ground. Cade Smith also scored for Nampa.
Emmett (3-6, 3-5) was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
Eagle 35, Capital 14
Eagle earned the right to host Capital again next week in the first round of the state playoffs with Friday’s victory.
The Mustangs (6-3) finish as the No. 4 seed in the 5A SIC, while Capital (5-4) checks in at No. 5. The predetermined state pairings pit the league’s No. 4 and No. 5 teams against each other in the first round of the 5A playoffs next week.
Quarterback Mason McHugh spearheaded Eagle’s win, completing 17-of-33 passes for 293 yards and three TDs, two of which went to Cam Churchill. McHugh also scored on the ground, while Jackson Stampfli rushed for 103 yards.
Quarterback Carson Bohning and receiver Jackson Reed connected for both of Capital’s TDs.
Rocky Mountain 58, Skyview 21
Five different players reached the end zone for undefeated Rocky Mountain, which had already secured the league’s No. 1 seed in the state playoffs last week.
The Grizzlies (9-0) totaled a season-high 290 yards on the ground, including 125 rushing yards and one touchdown from Bronson Staley and 89 yards and three total TDs from Jordan Erickson. Kaden Birch caught a pair of touchdown passes, and Landon Albert returned a fumble 30 yards for a score.
Rocky Mountain will host the winner of a first-round matchup between Timberline and Post Falls in the quarterfinals.
Clayton Franssen had a hand in all three of Skyview’s touchdowns. The Hawks (1-8) did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Mountain View 35, Meridian 21
Kayden Chan caught two touchdown passes and ran for another TD for Mountain View, which finished third in the 5A SIC. The Mavericks (7-2) will host Lake City (4-5) in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Jake Farris and Colby Peugh had one passing and one rushing TD apiece for Mountain View. K.J. Lynch and Bronx Barrus each grabbed an interception for the Mavs’ defense.
Meridian (3-6) lost the tiebreaker for the final at-large berth, which went to Lake City, to miss the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Timberline 59, Boise 12
The Wolves (5-4) wrapped up the first at-large spot in the 5A state playoffs, earning them a trip to Post Falls (6-3) in the first round next week.
Andy Peters completed 11-of-18 passes for 251 yards and three TDs, and he ran for two more scores. Garrett Lavin caught all three TDs from Peters, finishing with four catches for 142 yards. And Taylor Marcum added 102 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
Boise finished the season 0-9.
Borah 62, Centennial 21
Borah wrapped up the 5A SIC’s No. 2 seed in the state playoffs and a first-round bye with a victory over Centennial on Thursday night.
The Lions (7-2) led 55-0 at halftime thanks to another monster effort from senior Austin Bolt. Bolt ran for three touchdowns, passed for three touchdowns and hauled in one TD pass and did not play in the second half. He totaled 101 rushing yards, 188 passing yards and 33 receiving yards before halftime.
Cameron Pruitt caught two of Bolt’s TD passes and returned a fumble 75 yards for a score. Borah will host the winner of Highland at Madison in the state quarterfinals.
Centennial (2-7), which had already been eliminated from playoff contention, was led by Michael Shulikov’s two receiving touchdowns.
Kuna 41, Caldwell 0
No. 1-ranked Kuna (9-0, 8-0) wrapped up an undefeated regular season with its first shutout of the year. The Kavemen forced six turnovers and held Caldwell (0-9, 0-8) to 20 total yards in the rout.
Luke Heinze ran for 102 yards and a TD on six carries, and Ty Cobb added 43 yards and two TDs on three carries. Kuna clinched the 4A SIC title two weeks ago and will host Pocatello (5-4) in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Vallivue 41, Middleton 26
Vallivue will be the 4A SIC’s No. 3 seed in the state playoffs thanks to its win over Middleton.
Quarterback Lan Larison rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more to lead the Falcons (7-2, 6-2), which will play at Skyline (6-3) in the first round of the playoffs next week. Carson Child racked up 126 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, and Casey Cope and Braxton Bailey each caught TDs for Vallivue.
Middleton (6-3, 5-3) will be the league’s No. 4 seed and travel to face North Idaho champ Moscow (5-3) next week.
Ridgevue 42, Columbia 30
Issas Albor threw for 331 yards and four TDs as the Warhawks (2-7, 2-6) ended the season on a positive note.
Connor Lewis turned five catches into 250 yards and three of those touchdowns for Ridgevue, which racked up 540 yards of offense. Columbia quarterback Austin Collett finished 13-of-22 for 214 yards and three TDs as the two teams combined for 582 yards through the air.
Columbia closed the season at 1-8 and 1-7 in the 4A SIC.
Homedale 34, Weiser 14
Homedale led Weiser from start to finish in a battle of unbeatens that determined the 3A SRV regular-season title.
Quarterback Daniel Uranga guided a Trojans offense that totaled 444 yards compared to Weiser’s 174. Uranga completed 10-of-21 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, and he also rushed for 40 yards and another TD. Karsen Freelove and Hayden Kincheloe had one rushing TD apiece to assure Homedale (9-0, 4-0) the league’s No. 1 seed for the second year in a row and a first-round bye.
Weiser (7-1, 3-1), which got touchdown runs from Brett Spencer and Willy Shirts, will be the league’s No. 2 seed and travel to face at Marsh Valley (4-4) next week.
Fruitland 68, Payette 0
Fruitland (4-5, 2-2) will be the 3A SRV’s No. 3 seed in the state playoffs after a shutout of Payette (1-8, 0-4). The Grizzlies will open the playoffs next week at Kimberly (5-4). No details from Friday’s game were reported.
New Plymouth 20, Nampa Christian 14
New Plymouth (4-4, 3-2) snagged the league’s No. 3 seed in the playoffs by edging Nampa Christian in the 2A WIC regular-season finale.
Kobe Roberts scored on a 19-yard run with 6:54 left in the game to seal the win for New Plymouth (4-4, 3-2). Roberts also threw a 35-yard TD pass to Derek Hampton in the second quarter.
Nampa Christian (4-4, 2-3), which tied the game at 14-14 in the third quarter, also qualifies for the playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
The IHSAA will announce 2A state playoff pairings this weekend.
McCall-Donnelly 29, Cole Valley Christian 6
McCall-Donnelly preserved its perfect record with a win over Cole Valley Christian.
The Vandals (8-0, 5-0) had already locked up the WIC’s No. 1 seed in the 2A state playoffs before the game. Quarterback Peter Knudson ran for two touchdowns and passed for another in the win.
Cole Valley Christian (4-4, 1-4) is eligible for a possible at-large playoff berth.
Melba 68, Marsing 0
Senior Scotty Martinez ran for 156 yards and five touchdowns as Melba routed Marsing (1-7, 0-5) on the road.
Senior Easton Bunnell added 139 rushing yards and three TDs for Melba (6-2, 4-1), which will be the the 2A WIC’s No. 2 seed in the state playoffs.
The IHSAA will announce 2A state playoff pairings this weekend.
Horseshoe Bend 48, Garden Valley 33
Horseshoe Bend earned the 1A D-II Long Pin championship, a first-round playoff bye and took home the Timber Ax Classic trophy with its victory against Garden Valley.
Austin Fry racked up 287 rushing yards and one touchdown, and Colton Meyer threw four TD passes to pace the Mustangs (7-1, 4-0). Hunter Howerton grabbed two interceptions, and Ben Howerton aided the Mustangs’ defensive effort with six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one pick-six.
Garden Valley (5-3, 3-1) also qualifies for state as the Long Pin’s second seed, traveling to face Lewis County (2-4) in the first round.
This story was originally published October 25, 2019 at 10:57 PM.
