This week’s top 5 high school football games in Southwest Idaho — and who will win them
Another weekend features another top-5 matchup and another rivalry trophy in the Treasure Valley.
No. 1 Eagle hosts No. 4 Rocky Mountain in the annual Herb Criner Bowl on Friday. The traveling trophy honors Herb Criner, who coached at both schools and is the father of Rocky Mountain coach Scott Criner.
But it’s not the only big game on the schedule this week. We broke down the top five games and looked into the crystal ball to pick their winners.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AT EAGLE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Eagle (2-0) may enter as the state’s top-ranked team and with plenty of accolades. But Rocky Mountain (2-1) has owned its Herb Criner Bowl rival, winning seven straight over the Mustangs. That includes a 17-10 victory last year that saw the Rocky Mountain defense force four turnovers and limit Eagle to just seven first downs.
Eagle brings a much more varied offense into this matchup. Sophomore running back Noah Burnham has run for 232 yards and three TDs through two games to keep the ground game rolling, and quarterback Davis Harsin gives Eagle a new dangerous threat. He’s 20-for-37 for 308 yards and four TDs to start the year.
Rocky Mountain’s defense remains one of the state’s best, though. The Grizzlies are holding opponents to 169 yards per game, and they’ve racked up 11 turnovers already. Rocky Mountain just needs to find an offensive rhythm.
Prediction: Eagle 21, Rocky Mountain 15
MIDDLETON AT MERIDIAN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Meridian (0-2) opened the season as the favorite in the 5A SIC. But back-to-back losses to No. 1 Eagle and No. 3 Mountain View — by a combined eight points — leave the Warriors searching for their first win.
Meridian’s once-vaunted defense suddenly looks vulnerable. The Warriors didn’t give up 30 points once last fall. They’ve already done it twice in their first two games. But they return home Friday for their season opener after two road games and a bye week.
Middleton (2-1, 0-1) gave Meridian one of its toughest games last fall before falling 18-6 in the state quarterfinals. The Vikings once again started the season with little fanfare, but they’ve shown their mettle by giving Rocky Mountain all it could handle before racking up back-to-back wins.
Prediction: Meridian 36, Middleton 27
BOISE AT NAMPA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
The story of the season so far comes from Boise, which is 3-0 for the first time since 1988. The Brave were picked dead last in the 5A SIC preseason coaches’ poll, they’ve posted one winning season in the past 30 years and they last made the playoffs in 2002 — the longest active drought at the 5A level.
But hope springs in the North End for the first time in decades. Senior Cooper Smith looks like one of the league’s top playmakers, and a once porous defense is holding opponents to 11.7 points per game. A win Friday would make Boise 2-0 in the 5A SIC River Division, a key step toward ending that 20-year playoff drought.
Nampa (0-2, 0-1) has yet to find its stride under first-year coach Dave Sandau, scoring a single touchdown in each of its two losses.
Prediction: Boise 35, Nampa 13
KUNA AT BORAH
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Borah (3-0, 1-0 5A SIC River) missed the playoffs last fall on a tiebreaker, but the Lions have raced out to their best start since 2018 trying to avoid a repeat.
Borah owns the 5A SIC’s top offense (35.3 ppg) early in the season. Senior running back Jevon Nelson has served as the primary catalyst, posting at least 145 all-purpose yards in each of the first three weeks.
Kuna (2-1, 0-1) rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to knock off the Lions 35-28 in overtime last year. The Kavemen are looking for a bounceback win after a 34-6 loss to Eagle last week.
Prediction: Borah 28, Kuna 20
VALLIVUE AT SKYVIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
The 4A SIC gets only two guaranteed playoff berths. So while this is the conference opener for both teams, it serves as a near must-win as both try to chase down Bishop Kelly and Emmett.
Skyview (1-2) quarterback Cache Beus has posted big numbers as the head of the Hawks’ offense. But Skyview’s defense has struggled, giving up 33.7 points per game.
Vallivue (0-2) poses a similar story. The Falcons have surrendered a whopping 66 points per game to start the year, so expect plenty of points.
Prediction: Skyview 42, Vallivue 33
This story was originally published September 6, 2023 at 4:50 PM.
