Streaks are meant to be broken. Can 4 Idaho football teams slay their tormentors this week?
Winning and losing streaks are a funny stat in high school sports.
What a football team did in 2010 has no bearing on this year’s squad. Over time, the numbers tell a larger story of the state’s dominant and struggling programs. But four Treasure Valley teams enter the week with a chance to change those narratives.
Boise, Timberline, Vallivue and Marsing all square off against an opponent that has tormented them for years, if not decades. Can they pull off the upset? Read on for our predictions of the week’s top matchups.
MOUNTAIN VIEW VS. BOISE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
We’ve reached the midpoint of the regular season, and the story of the season remains Boise (4-0, 2-0 5A SIC River).
The Brave cracked the state media poll at No. 5 this week for the first time in recent memory. They’ve already matched their highest win total since 2008. And most impressively, their defense ranks fourth in 5A at 12.3 points per game.
But Boise has put up those numbers against opponents that are a combined 3-13. The Brave face their first true test against No. 3-ranked Mountain View (3-1, 1-1).
The Mavericks are 15-1 all-time against Boise and have won 11 straight in the series. Few of those games were close, including a 50-7 drubbing last fall.
Mountain View appeared to find its stride last week, scoring touchdowns on four straight drives to start the second half and run away with a 42-21 win over previously undefeated Borah. That spells trouble, or a headline-grabbing opportunity, for Boise.
Prediction: Mountain View 34, Boise 14
BORAH AT OWYHEE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Owyhee (3-2, 1-2 5A SIC River) fell a last-minute stop shy of knocking off No. 1 Eagle last week. But moral victories don’t count in the standings, and the Storm host a reunion with Borah (4-1, 2-1) coming to town.
Owyhee coach Jason Burton previously won a pair of conference coach of the year awards at Borah. His former defensive coordinator, J.Q. Kenyon, took over the Lions after his departure. And former assistants dot both coaching staffs.
Between the lines, Borah fields one of the state’s top running backs in Jevon Nelson (739 yards, 11 TDs). But Owyhee counters with the state’s leading tackler in linebacker Gage Haws (13.5 tackles per game). Expect the two to meet early and often.
Prediction: Owyhee 24, Borah 21
TIMBERLINE VS. CAPITAL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Capital (1-3, 0-1 5A SIC Foothills) scheduled its crosstown rival for homecoming, and it’s not hard to see why. The Eagles have won 20 in a row over Timberline (0-4, 0-1), and the Wolves have lost 14 straight games dating to the 2021 season.
But Timberline hung with Meridian last week until succumbing in the fourth quarter, and it has covered for a porous defense (41.3 ppg) with a surprisingly good offense. Finding the win column appears within reach.
Capital mustered only 209 yards of offense in a double-overtime loss to Centennial last week. Brody Call proved the Eagles’ most effective weapon, returning a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns. Any shot at an upset starts with containing him.
Prediction: Capital 34, Timberline 23
MERIDIAN AT HIGHLAND
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
Meridian (2-2) has played one of Idaho’s toughest schedules this fall, and it only gets tougher with a trip across the state to No. 2-ranked Highland (4-0).
The Warriors topped the Rams 14-6 at home last year, moving to 5-0 before eventually reaching the state championship game. But Meridian struggled to put away Timberline last week, leading to questions. Is the Warriors’ 2-2 record a result of their schedule or have they lost a step?
We’ll find out this week against Highland’s explosive offense (41.3 ppg), led by quarterback Drew Hymas (660 total yards, seven TDs).
Prediction: Highland 34, Meridian 21
VALLIVUE AT BISHOP KELLY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Vallivue (1-3, 1-1 4A SIC) squeaked out its first win last week 28-27 over Columbia. The Falcons’ reward? A trip to No. 1-ranked Bishop Kelly (4-0, 1-0).
The Knights have owned Vallivue, winning 15 straight over the Falcons. Bishop Kelly looks like another juggernaut this fall, fielding 4A’s best defense (9.3 ppg) and second-best offense (47.5 ppg) while playing three of its four games against 5A opponents.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 42, Vallivue 13
NEW PLYMOUTH AT MARSING
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Boise isn’t the only comeback story in the Treasure Valley. Marsing coach Shea McClellin has guided the Huskies (3-1) to three wins already, their most since 2013. Next on the to-do list? Snapping a 42-game conference losing streak, which includes 10 straight losses to New Plymouth.
Marsing leads the 2A classification with 44.3 points per game, topping 60 points twice. But New Plymouth (3-1) has no problem with a shootout. Pilgrims quarterback Colton Frates threw for 402 yards and three TDs in a 52-49 win against Grangeville last week.
Prediction: Marsing 40, New Plymouth 35
This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 1:41 PM.
