Who are Idaho’s top football powers? We’ll have a clearer picture after these 5 key games
Three weeks of a high school football season normally provides plenty of clarity and sets the storylines for the rest of the year.
Not this season. There might be more questions than answers at this point.
Will Mountain View run away with the 5A SIC title? How legit is Capital? Where does Meridian fit into the 5A power structure? And what’s exactly going on in the jumbled 4A SIC?
We may not get a definitive answer to any of those questions. But these five games this week will provide some clues.
MERIDIAN VS. CAPITAL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday
Location: Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com (audio only)
A rare marquee Thursday night game won’t count in the division standings as Meridian (2-1) plays in the 5A SIC’s Foothills Division while Capital (3-0) plays in the River Division. But it provides a test for two teams looking to prove they belong among the state’s top programs.
Capital has rolled through three weeks against a soft schedule. Quarterback Max Clark is threatening the school record books, racking up 1,041 passing yards and 14 TDs so far. But Capital’s defense has also flexed its muscles, holding opponents to 17.7 points per game and tallying 20 sacks.
Meanwhile, Meridian has lost 10 in a row to Capital and is still searching for respect among the 5A SIC’s blue bloods.
The Warriors field 5A’s toughest defense, holding opponents to just seven points and 132 yards per game. That unit has served as a security blanket for the Warriors as freshman Zeke Martinez fills in at quarterback for senior Malakai Martinez, his brother. The combo led the Warriors to a 41-0 win against Centennial and 52-7 rout of Timberline.
Prediction: Capital 21, Meridian 14
EAGLE AT MOUNTAIN VIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
Another cross-division game in the 5A SIC takes the spotlight on Friday and provides another measuring stick for the two divisions.
No. 2-ranked Mountain View (3-0) looks to solidify its spot as the clear favorite for the league title. The Mavericks snapped Rocky Mountain’s 29-game conference winning streak two weeks ago. But they haven’t exactly dominated their top challengers, edging Meridian 14-13 before topping the Grizzlies 26-20 on the road.
Eagle crushed the Mavericks last year, 45-6. A stout Mountain View defense led by Brayden Garrison (16.3 tackles per game) and a powerful run game led by Quintez Evans (361 yards, four TDs) and Dallas Slocum (131 yards, two TDs) will seek to even the score.
Eagle (2-1) enters fresh off a 48-28 rivalry loss to Rocky Mountain. The Mustangs fell into a 28-7 hole and could never recover, struggling to run the ball at just 2.3 yards per carry.
Eagle still found enough explosive plays to remain in the game. That ability always makes the Mustangs a threat for an upset.
Prediction: Mountain View 42, Eagle 28
VALLIVUE AT MIDDLETON
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
A temporary leg up in the 4A SIC race is on the line as the Falcons (2-1, 1-0 4A SIC) travel to Middleton (2-1, 1-0 4A SIC).
Middleton owns the 4A’s most explosive offense after three weeks at 41 points per game. Much of that has come on the arm of quarterback Ky McClure, who leads 4A with 637 passing yards even after spending much of last week handing off in a rout of Caldwell.
Meanwhile, Vallivue enters with questions under center. Casey Cope missed last week’s game against Columbia. Junior Hayden Farner stepped in and led the Falcons to a 42-20 win, running for 114 yards and two TDs, while throwing for another 113 yards and a score.
Prediction: Middleton 40, Vallivue 29
NAMPA AT BISHOP KELLY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network
Bishop Kelly (1-2, 0-1 4A SIC) returns home seeking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since 2015.
The Knights were flying high a week ago, averaging 39 points per game. But then the 4A SIC’s preseason favorites were shut out 21-0 at Emmett. Perhaps most concerning was the 299 rushing yards BK surrendered.
That spells trouble with Nampa (1-2, 1-0) bringing a potent ground game to Boise. Behind Ryan Schuler, Dante Avjian and Daniel Carrillo, the Bulldogs are running for 209 yards a game.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 28, Nampa 21
COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN AT WEST SIDE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com
No. 5-ranked Cole Valley Christian (3-0) gets a chance to prove itself as a bona fide contender with a road trip to West Side (3-0). The Pirates enter as the state’s unanimous No. 1-ranked team in 2A; the two-time defending state champ is riding a 24-game winning streak.
West Side throttled Cole Valley a year ago, 50-0. But the Chargers already pulled off one upset last week, knocking off 3A power Fruitland by a 26-21 score.
Prediction: West Side 34, Cole Valley Christian 12
This story was originally published September 15, 2021 at 6:13 PM.
