High school football is back on the blue turf. But that’s not the only big game in town
High school football is returning to Boise State’s iconic blue turf — for at least one night.
Albertsons Stadium hosts a tripleheader Friday for the first Battle of Boise. Two 8-man powers, Oakley and Kendrick, kick off the event at 3 p.m., with Emmett and Fruitland following at 5:30 p.m. The Broncos’ newest homegrown recruit, Gatlin Bair, stars in the nightcap when Burley faces Vallivue at 8 p.m.
General admission tickets are $10, and $7 for youth and seniors.
But the bright lights of Albertsons Stadium will see only a few of Week 2’s games. We broke down all the top games and predicted their winners.
EAGLE AT KUNA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com, NFHSNetwork.com
Eagle (1-0) enters as 5A’s top-ranked team and with a 7-0 all-time record against Kuna (2-0). But this Thursday night matchup comes with plenty of intrigue given the Kavemen’s preseason expectations.
Kuna was picked fifth in the 5A SIC preseason coaches’ poll, earning a sleeper label. It’s not hard to see why with eight returning offensive starters, including four offensive linemen, from a team that didn’t struggle to score. The Kavemen have backed it up thus far with 20-0 and 34-14 wins to start the season.
But Eagle poses Kuna’s first real test. The Mustangs are coming off a bye, so the short week shouldn’t bother them. And Eagle vaulted to that No. 1 ranking after an impressive Week 0 win that saw the Mustangs top 5A SIC favorite Meridian 36-33.
The defense rode to the rescue in the second half, creating two fourth-down stops. And quarterback Davis Harsin and running back Noah Burnham looked like a duo who will post big numbers all season.
Prediction: Eagle 34, Kuna 22
MOUNTAIN VIEW AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
The front-loaded 5A SIC schedule creates the third matchup between league heavyweights in as many weeks. But this one comes with a rivalry trophy in the shape of a 3-foot fireman’s ax.
No. 3-ranked Rocky Mountain (2-0) has won the Battle of the Mountains four of the five times since its creation. And the Grizzlies proved their defense remains elite this fall despite former coach Chris Culig’s departure for Bishop Kelly.
Rocky Mountain blanked Coeur d’Alene 16-0 a week ago, racking up five turnovers for the road win. The Grizzlies have forced nine turnovers and are holding opponents to an average of 175.5 yards through two games under new defensive coordinator Quintin Mikell, a former Boise State safety who played 11 years in the NFL.
No. 4 Mountain View (1-0) showcased a dangerous and efficient offense in last week’s 31-26 win over Meridian. The Mavericks used a two-quarterback system, putting Henry Nelson on the field in obvious passing downs. But the true threat lies in quarterback Justin McGee and a read-option attack with Valentin Gomez-Ricks.
Both ran for more than 100 yards in their season opener. Another week of practice should make the Mavericks even sharper.
Prediction: Rocky Mountain 27, Mountain View 24
BOISE AT OWYHEE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Two upstart programs enter 2-0 looking to score a key win for their playoff hopes in this 5A SIC River Division opener.
Owyhee has ridden the arm and legs of quarterback Matt Irwin to its hot start. Irwin racked up five touchdowns in last week’s 38-8 win over Centennial (four passing, one rushing). He also ran for two scores in a season-opening win at Madison.
Boise has racked up 82 points through two weeks behind sophomore quarterback Trevor Schoolfield and senior wide receiver Cooper Smith. But to move to 3-0 for the first time since 1988, Boise will need to avoid the six turnovers, including three pick-six interceptions, that doomed it in a 45-16 loss to Owyhee last year.
Prediction: Owyhee 34, Boise 20
BURLEY VS. VALLIVUE
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Friday
Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise State
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
The highest-rated commit in Boise State history headlines the inaugural Battle in Boise and gets to make an early impression on the blue turf. Four-star wide receiver Gatlin Bair (6-2, 198) looked like a man against boys last week against Mountain Home, catching two touchdowns, returning a punt for a TD and running for a score as a wildcat quarterback.
Burley (1-0) hasn’t won a playoff game since 1994, but Bair’s presence already has the Bobcats ranked No. 4 in the state media poll. He will get his biggest stage to shine so far on Friday night.
Vallivue (0-1) shot itself in the foot last week, committing five turnovers — including three in the first quarter — in a 67-19 loss at Twin Falls. The Falcons cannot afford to give Burley and Bair any extra opportunities.
Prediction: Burley 55, Vallivue 20
FRUITLAND VS. EMMETT
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Friday
Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise State
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
No. 5 Emmett (1-0) also gets its chance to shine on the blue turf in the second game of a tripleheader.
The Huskies opened the season in their typical dramatic fashion, rallying from a 16-point deficit for a 33-30 win at Blackfoot thanks to Tucker Welling’s walk-off 29-yard field goal. But the biggest revelation came in the form of Isaac Brennan. The converted wide receiver moved to quarterback after Emmett’s starter went down with a knee injury. He promptly set the school’s single-game rushing record (315 yards) as an explosive option quarterback despite getting just a week of practice.
Emmett crushed Fruitland (0-1) last year 40-0, triggering the running-clock mercy rule.
Prediction: Emmett 42, Fruitland 14
This story was originally published August 30, 2023 at 12:45 PM.
