Playoff picks: These 8 Treasure Valley football teams will make the state semifinals
Idaho kicked off its state football playoffs last week with a host of upsets. But the rubber truly meets the road this week as the heavyweights face off in the quarterfinals around the state.
Fourteen Treasure Valley teams head into the weekend with their state title dreams still alive. But the Boise-area clubs will have to fight uphill, because only four of those 14 have home-field advantage.
So who’s marching on and who’s getting ready for basketball and wrestling? Read on to find out.
MERIDIAN AT MOUNTAIN VIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
One of the season’s most dramatic games came when these two teams met in Week 1. Unanimously No. 1-ranked Mountain View (9-0) held on for a 14-13 victory when a sack pushed the Warriors (7-3) back into a 33-yard field goal, which they missed with 54 seconds left.
The game stands as a microcosm of both teams’ seasons. Mountain View pulled out several last-minute wins to go undefeated, while Meridian lost three games by a combined five points.
Mountain View appears to have found another gear late in the season, convincingly toppling Rocky Mountain 26-6 two weeks ago in the 5A SIC championship game. Running back Quintez Evans (1,019 yards, 15 TDs) continues to stir the Mavericks’ drink. But Mountain View’s defense has also become the state’s toughest (9.8 points per game), and quarterback Dawson Wahl has quickly emerged into a veteran signal caller.
Meanwhile, Meridian continues to put its ghosts to rest. The Warriors topped Madison 47-28 last week for their first playoff win since 2007, finally ending that storyline.
Meridian remains built around its defense, which fell to second in 5A at 11.1 points per game. But with quarterback Malakai Martinez and wide receiver Davis Thacker both back in the lineup, and a two-headed backfield of Kross Antonnacchi and Marco Del Rio, the Warriors have all the weapons to make a deep run.
Prediction: Mountain View 30, Meridian 28
HIGHLAND AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
If it seems like Rocky Mountain (7-2) and Highland (8-2) meet in the playoffs every year, it’s because they nearly do. Friday marks the seventh playoff battle in the past nine years between the Grizzlies and the Rams. (They’ve split the previous six.)
The perennial powers also opened the season against each other in August, with Rocky Mountain taking a 12-7 win in a defensive slugfest at Holt Arena. The Grizzlies scored two early touchdowns before relying on their defense. That set the stage for a season where both ranked in the top five in the state in defense.
Both finished as the runner-up in their conference, a rarity for two proud programs. But Rocky Mountain, the defending state champ, drew a first-round bye, while Highland had to grind out a 45-28 win against Skyview last week.
That week to rest and heal is crucial.
Prediction: Rocky Mountain 22, Highland 15
CAPITAL AT RIGBY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
After routing Lewiston on the road, the farewell tour for Capital coach Todd Simis continues with a trip to Rigby (8-1), the No. 2-ranked team in the state and the defending state runner-up.
Capital (7-3) had little trouble outgunning Lewiston and its 5A-leading offense a week ago. Quarterback Max Clark continues to shred defenses. But the Eagles have added a deadly new element with Kody Walk (6-5, 230 pounds) taking carries.
The state’s sacks leader (17.5) has run for 132 yards and three TDs the past two weeks, giving Capital a physical edge it lacked earlier in the season.
Rigby poses an entirely different challenge, though, with a pair of three-star recruits making it a heavy favorite to return to the state championship game. Quarterback Tiger Adolpho has committed to Weber State, while 6-6, 290-pound defensive lineman Talin Togiai has committed to BYU.
Prediction: Rigby 34, Capital 22
EAGLE AT COEUR D’ALENE
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Mountain time Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network
Eagle (8-2) is a postseason regular, reaching the quarterfinals 14 years in a row. But the Mustangs haven’t made the semifinals since 2016. And they’ve lost seven straight road playoff games since winning a 2009 semifinal at Coeur d’Alene. Eagle won its last state title that season.
Eagle makes the long trip to North Idaho seeking to repeat that history. The Mustangs have won six in a row, but they will enter shorthanded after running back Deegan Martinho went down with a knee injury last week.
Martinho was already the replacement to Ethan Mikita, who started the year in the backfield before tearing his ACL on his second touch of the season. That leaves Roy Hull as the next man up, and he’s produced when given the opportunity (8.1 yards per carry, eight TDs).
But Coeur d’Alene remains one of the toughest places to play in Idaho. Vikings quarterback Braden Bengtson ranks third in the state with 1,734 yards and 15 TDs without a true No. 1 receiver. And defensive end Cameren Cope, a Weber State commit, headlines a defense with two shutouts under its belt.
Prediction: Coeur d’Alene 34, Eagle 28
BISHOP KELLY VS. POCATELLO
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Friday at Holt Arena
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
Bishop Kelly (8-2) blanked Pocatello 35-0 in the first round of last year’s playoffs, holding the Thunder to -10 rushing yards. Now Pocatello (8-2) gets a shot at revenge on its home field.
Bishop Kelly has looked like an entirely different team since getting shut out at Emmett in Week 3. The Knights have won seven in a row and now own 4A’s top offense, at 41.2 points per game.
Senior running back Seth Knothe is a large part of that. He leads the state with 1,808 rushing yards and 32 TDs. But quarterback Hadley Smith has also punished teams trying to stack the box, making the Knights even more dangerous.
Pocatello’s only losses this season came to 5A Highland and 5A Idaho Falls. But lowly Bonneville (2-8) made the Thunder one-dimensional last week in the first round, holding Pocatello to -24 rushing yards in a 24-6 loss.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 35, Pocatello 20
NAMPA AT BLACKFOOT
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
Nampa (6-4), arguably 4A’s hottest team, travels to what might be the classification’s most overlooked squad, Blackfoot (5-5).
Nampa started 1-4, only to rip off five straight wins. The Bulldogs have looked unstoppable in recent weeks, averaging 50.4 points a game during their winning streak. Whether it’s Gabe Navarro slinging the ball over the field, or a two-headed running game led by Daniel Carrillo and Ryan Schuler, opponents have found no answer to slow down Nampa.
But you could have said the same about Middleton a week ago. And Blackfoot throttled the Vikings 52-24 in the first round, holding them under 40 points for just the second time this season.
Prediction: Nampa 31, Blackfoot 28
VALLIVUE VS. SKYLINE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Holt Arena
Broadcast: NFHS Network, IdahoSports.com (audio only)
Vallivue (6-4) hits the road looking to slay another giant. The Falcons upset unanimous No. 1 Minico last week to open the playoffs, and they knocked off then-No. 2 Emmett in the final week of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth.
Vallivue gave up only a single touchdown in each of those wins. Now it gets Skyline (6-4), the reigning state champ, on the fast carpet at Holt Arena.
Prediction: Skyline 27, Vallivue 21
SNAKE RIVER AT WEISER
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
Weiser (9-1) coach Tom Harrison has seen it all in his decorated career, which includes a record 10 state championships. But Friday will mark a first even for him.
The legendary coach will face his son, Snake River (5-4) coach Jeb Harrison, in the first meeting between the two.
The matchup was only a matter of time with both coaching at the 3A level. But now it comes with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
Weiser hasn’t reached the semifinals since 2011. But the Wolverines field one of their best teams in years, leading the 3A classification with 42.8 points per game behind do-everything quarterback Brett Spencer.
Prediction: Weiser 34, Snake River 22
SOUTH FREMONT AT HOMEDALE
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Broadcast: NFHS Network
No. 1-ranked Homedale (9-0) starts its playoff journey with a rematch of last year’s semifinal game against South Fremont (5-4).
Homedale running back Hayden Kincheloe ought to still live in the Cougars’ nightmares after running for 348 yards and four TDs to lead the Trojans to a 48-28 win a year ago. The reigning 3A All-Idaho Player of the Year hasn’t quite met that lofty pace this year, but he has 1,291 rushing yards and 18 TDs in just seven games played.
Prediction: Homedale 45, South Fremont 21
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 7:13 PM.
