Big rivalries top Idaho’s Week 2 high school football schedule. Here’s what to watch for
Can you call it “Rivalry Week” in only the second week of the season?
This week’s Treasure Valley high school football schedule makes a strong case for that title. The week’s lineup includes the Battle of the Mountains, the Battle of the Canal and a possible Nampa city championship on the line Friday night.
But those aren’t the only big games on tap. Here’s what to keep an eye on this weekend.
MOUNTAIN VIEW AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSnetwork.com
A Mountain View (1-0) booster created the 50-pound trophy for the Battle of the Mountains rivalry, complete with a detachable 3-foot ax the winner gets to hoist in the air. But the Mavericks have yet to bring the trophy home as Rocky Mountain (1-0) has won three straight in the series.
This game has implications far beyond the West Ada School District rivalry, though. No. 2-ranked Rocky Mountain enters as the undefeated and reigning 5A state champ. But No. 3 Mountain View was the clear favorite in a 5A SIC preseason coaches’ poll.
The Mavericks and Grizzlies remain in separate divisions in the 5A SIC. So they could easily meet again later this fall for the conference title. And possibly again in the state playoffs.
Consider this Round 1.
Prediction: Mountain View 22, Rocky Mountain 15
BORAH AT BISHOP KELLY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSnetwork.com
Separated by less than a mile along the Farmers Lateral canal, the Battle of the Canal resumes after a three-year hiatus and with Bishop Kelly holding a 7-1 lead in the all-time series.
Bishop Kelly (0-1) fell a last-second field goal short of knocking off 5A power Eagle a week ago in a shootout and instant classic. Senior running back Seth Knothe turned in a jaw-dropping performance in his first outing, running for 307 yards and five TDs while adding 57 more yards receiving.
Borah (0-1) dropped its first game under new head coach JQ Kenyon. The Lions failed to protect quarterback Korbin McCarney, allowing seven sacks in a 48-29 loss to Timberline. And their defense was gashed for big play after big play.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 42, Borah 13
NAMPA AT SKYVIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSnetwork.com
Skyview (1-0) hadn’t faced its city rivals — Columbia and Nampa (0-1) — since 2013 due to a series of scheduling hurdles. But the Nampa city crown returns this fall, and the Hawks can claim the title Friday.
Skyview opened the season with a 41-6 rout of Columbia last week, riding a defense that made three interceptions and the legs of quarterback Max Cutforth and running back Atonio Fifta to the blowout win.
But Nampa will pose a tougher challenge. The Bulldogs put 5A traditional power Capital on the ropes last week, only falling 31-25 thanks to a series of special teams snafus in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Skyview 28, Nampa 21
CALDWELL AT BOISE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSnetwork.com
Two long-struggling programs meet for the first time since 2009. Caldwell (0-1) hasn’t posted a winning record since 2005 and enters on a 17-game losing streak. Boise has one season above .500 in the past 28 years.
Friday provides a golden opportunity for both to snap those streaks. Caldwell flashed signs of progress last week, hanging with 3A power Homedale in a 36-24 loss. Boise, meanwhile, was steamrolled by Emmett 42-7.
Prediction: Boise 34, Caldwell 27
EMMETT AT WEISER
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Friday provides a statement opportunity for both Emmett (1-0) and Weiser (1-0), as well as a matchup of two of the Treasure Valley’s top quarterbacks.
Emmett returns with limited preseason expectations again after making a run to the 4A state championship last fall. Graduation left just three returning starters. But one of them is quarterback Caden Young, the reigning 4A All-Idaho Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Weiser stands poised for a breakout season, holding the No. 3 ranking in 3A. Quarterback Brett Spencer teams with running backs Jack Burke and Willy Shirts to form an explosive ground game, one that could end the Homedale and Sugar-Salem stranglehold on 3A.
Idaho has extended scholarship offers to Spencer and Young.
Prediction: Emmett 33, Weiser 27
NORTH FREMONT AT MELBA
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday
Broadcast: NFHSnetwork.com
No. 5-ranked Melba (0-1) wants to prove it belongs among the 2A classification’s heavyweights. What better opportunity than a home game against No. 3 North Fremont (1-0).
Melba fell a late interception at the 5-yard line away from knocking off Fruitland last week, ultimately falling 20-16. Fourth-quarter execution will remain key if the Mustangs are to knock off North Fremont, a state semifinalist three years in a row.
Prediction: North Fremont 22, Melba 18
SALMON RIVER AT MEADOWS VALLEY
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Friday
Football laid dormant at Meadows Valley for the past decade. But high interest allows the Mountaineers to field a team for the first time since 2010.
No one on the team has played a down of varsity football before, and the Mountaineers have cobbled together an independent schedule to ease back into the sport. But Meadows Valley gets a relatively soft landing for its first contest in Salmon River (0-1), which fell 52-0 at home to Wilder last week and finished last in the 1A Division II Long Pin preseason coaches’ poll.
Prediction: Salmon River 33, Meadows Valley 22
This story was originally published September 1, 2021 at 6:29 PM.
