Who’s the real No. 1 football team in Idaho? We’ll find out Friday in surprising matchup
Blink all you want. Your eyes don’t deceive you.
Boise rose to No. 2 in the Idaho state football media poll this week, setting up a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 when the Brave travel to Eagle on Friday night.
Anyone who claims they circled this game in August as a battle of Idaho’s only two undefeated 5A teams is a liar. But that doesn’t make this heavyweight matchup any less real.
So who will emerge with the No. 1 crown? What are the other top games to watch in the Treasure Valley this week?
Read on to find out.
BOISE AT EAGLE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Boise (5-0, 3-0 5A SIC River) proved that it’s for real last week, thoroughly beating Mountain View 35-21. The Brave snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Mavericks by relying on a formula that has the long-struggling program suddenly turning heads: a stout defense, Cooper Smith running wild and a sophomore quarterback, Trevor Schoolfield (1,075 yards, 11 TDs), playing well beyond his years.
But the Brave don’t get to bask in the accolades. They must travel to top-ranked Eagle, a place they’ve never won. Eagle (5-0, 3-0) has won 19 straight matchups against Boise. The only time the perennial power lost to Boise came in 1995, Eagle’s first season.
Eagle owns the state’s most battle-tested resume and has clearly earned the No. 1 ranking. The Mustangs have wins over Meridian (by three points), Rocky Mountain (four points) and Owyhee (four points). Eagle’s defense (13.8 points per game) looks like one of the state’s best. And the ground game remains potent behind sophomore running back Noah Burnham (561 yards, seven TDs) and senior quarterback Davis Austin (839 total yards, eight TDs).
Prediction: Eagle 24, Boise 21
KUNA AT MOUNTAIN VIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Perennial power Mountain View (3-2, 1-3 5A SIC River) stands at a crossroads. The No. 5-ranked Mavericks have lost two of their past three games, and penalties are largely to blame.
The Mavericks committed a combined 26 penalties for 324 yards in losses to Boise and Owyhee, leaving Mountain View in a hole in the 5A SIC River Division standings. The Mavericks no longer control their own fate for the division title, and they likely need to run the table to host a Week 9 winner-to-state, cross-division game.
Kuna (3-2, 1-2) enters at a similar crossroads, and the Kavemen are 0-5 all-time vs. Mountain View. They entered the season with plenty of expectations, finishing fifth in the 5A SIC preseason coaches’ poll. But back-to-back losses to Eagle and Borah took the shine off a 2-0 start, and Kuna needed overtime to edge winless Nampa two weeks ago.
Prediction: Mountain View 27, Kuna 20
CENTENNIAL AT MERIDIAN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Anyone who counted out Meridian after a 0-2 start ought to reconsider that thought.
The Warriors (3-2, 2-0 5A SIC Foothills) proved they are still a force to contend with after a 21-14 win at then-No. 2 Highland last week, spoiling the Rams’ undefeated record. Quarterback Zeke Martinez showcased a new side, running for 153 yards. But more importantly, Meridian’s defense rounded into shape, holding Highland’s high-flying offense to a season-low 14 points.
Meridian has won seven straight over the Patriots (1-4, 1-1), including three straight shutouts.
Prediction: Meridian 34, Centennial 7
BISHOP KELLY AT BURLEY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com, NFHSNetwork.com
Top-ranked Bishop Kelly (5-0) hits the road for a nonconference game to take on the Gatlin Bair show. The Burley wide receiver remains the top recruit to ever commit to Boise State. But the Knights had little trouble containing him in a 63-14 win in Boise last year.
He’ll still get his yards. And Burley (2-3) quarterback Mack Jensen (1,357 yards, 17 TDs) remains a dangerous weapon feeding him the ball. But BK’s 4A-leading offense (47.8 ppg) and defense (7.4) shouldn’t have much trouble.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 42, Burley 20
WEISER AT MCCALL-DONNELLY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Six teams remain undefeated in the 3A classification. One will fall in this SRV contest, which may come down to special teams.
Brock Spencer has terrorized opponents all season as a kick and punt returner for No. 3-ranked Weiser (5-0, 1-0 3A SRV). Why anyone still kicks to him is a mystery.
But McCall-Donnelly (4-0, 1-0) blocked three punts in last week’s 37-14 win over Fruitland and held the Grizzlies to less than 100 yards of offense, the Star-News reported.
Prediction: Weiser 33, McCall-Donnelly 22
This story was originally published September 28, 2023 at 1:12 PM.
