These are the top high school football games in Week 3. And here’s who will win them
The third full week of the Idaho high school football season goes head-to-head with Boise State’s conference opener. But Treasure Valley schools aren’t giving up their traditional Friday night home, not with so many key games on the schedule.
Friday night includes one of the Boise area’s biggest rivalries, an upstart program looking to prove it belongs with the state’s blue bloods and two desperate playoff contenders searching for their first win.
EAGLE AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
No. 1-ranked Rocky Mountain hosts Eagle with a chance to sweep its rivals in back-to-back weeks.
The Grizzlies (3-0) backed up that No. 1 ranking in a 37-21 win at Mountain View a week ago as quarterback Tegan Sweaney threw for 366 yards and racked up five total touchdowns. Quarterback remained Rocky Mountain’s lone question on a team full of Division I prospects. But Sweaney quieted those doubters, carving up the Mavericks down the field over and over again. If he plays like that every week, the Grizzlies look like a juggernaut.
Eagle’s season got off to a rough start with a 36-14 loss at No. 2 Meridian. After a bye week, the Mustangs bounced back with a dominant defensive effort in a 21-7 victory over Kuna. Carter Davis led a defensive line that lived in the backfield all night, racking up 5.5 sacks on his own. That kind of pressure remains key to forcing Sweaney to get rid of the ball quickly and into potential mistakes.
Eagle has lost six in a row to its rivals across the Boise River. Its last victory came in the first Herb Criner Bowl in 2016.
Prediction: Rocky Mountain 22, Eagle 15
MOUNTAIN VIEW AT OWYHEE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
The rubber meets the road Friday night for Owyhee.
The Storm started the season 3-0, reviving fresh memories of Owyhee winning state titles in boys basketball and baseball as a first-year program last season. But Owyhee’s three wins came against teams with a combined 3-7 record that no one expected to contend deep into the playoffs.
Enter Mountain View, the reigning 5A SIC champ, River Division favorite and the No. 4-ranked team in the state. The Mavericks actually rose a spot in the past week despite a 0-2 start, a nod to their brutal schedule the first two weeks.
Mountain View opened the year with a six-point loss at No. 2 Meridian, then fell last week to No. 1 Rocky Mountain in game as close as two points until the final four minutes.
An injury to starting running back Grayson Flatten left Mountain View searching for answers last week. Justin McGee, a converted quarterback and wide receiver, filled in admirably. Now he’ll have a full week to prepare as the starter.
Prediction: Mountain View 35, Owyhee 20
MERIDIAN AT MIDDLETON
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
The only 5A SIC Foothills Division game on the schedule comes with postseason implications.
No. 2-ranked Meridian (2-0) and Middleton (2-1, 0-1) have emerged as the top two contenders to challenge Rocky Mountain in the Foothills Division. And both need a win to stay in the hunt for the division title and a spot in the 5A SIC conference championship game.
The Warriors come off a bye after back-to-back marquee wins over No. 5 Eagle and No. 4 Mountain View. Meridian’s defense has looked better than advertised, giving up only one earned touchdown in garbage time against Eagle.
Middleton has impressed thus far in its first foray into the 5A classification. It challenged Rocky Mountain the opening week, falling 21-7, before getting its offense rolling with a 36-34 win at Nampa and a 35-24 victory at Skyview.
Prediction: Meridian 27, Middleton 13
NAMPA VS. BOISE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Location: Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Few circled this game on the calendar to start the season, as Nampa finished 12th out of 13 teams in the 5A SIC preseason coaches’ poll and Boise was picked 13th. But the two have delivered several early surprises.
Boise (2-1, 0-1) won its opening two games for the first time since 2012, then took a halftime lead on Owyhee before three pick-six interceptions in the second half handed the Brave a loss in their 5A SIC River Division opener.
Meanwhile, Nampa (1-1, 0-1) sent a message last week as it lit up a Borah defense that posted back-to-back shutouts to start the season. Senior running back Daniel Carrillo served as the primary wrecking ball, running for 242 yards and five TDs in a 37-21 victory. He’s averaging 8.2 yards per carry through two games for a total of 392 yards and seven TDs.
Prediction: Nampa 35, Boise 21
BORAH AT KUNA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Two teams that started 2-0 came crashing back to earth last week. But they get a chance to rebound with another 5A SIC River Division game.
Kuna took 5A’s top-scoring offense through two weeks into Eagle, and the Mustangs promptly held it to seven points while pressuring quarterback Cole Luekenga all night.
Borah’s defense looked impregnable to start the year, posting back-to-back shutouts. Then it gave up 479 yards and 37 points in a surprise loss at Nampa.
A victory heals all wounds. And it remains key to staying in the River Division race.
Prediction: Borah 28, Kuna 21
SKYVIEW AT VALLIVUE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
The 4A SIC opener for both teams provides an opportunity to right the ship for two programs who entered the season as favorites for playoff spots.
Skyview (0-3) was picked to finish second in the 4A SIC preseason coaches’ poll, and Vallivue (0-2) was picked fourth. Neither has found the win column yet. But both have provided plenty of entertainment with shootouts.
Skyview enters averaging 31.3 points per game while surrendering 48. And Vallivue has averaged 41 points per game while giving up 51.5. A first victory may come down to who has the ball last.
Prediction: Skyview 41, Vallivue 38
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 5:20 PM.
