Prep football recap: Backup QB leads Mtn View. Rocky Mtn runs away. Meridian cruises to win
Henry Nelson had a homecoming game to remember Friday night.
Making his first start of the season, the sophomore quarterback threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mountain View to a 52-15 victory over Kuna.
Nelson stepped in behind center for injured starter Justin McGee and made it count, leading an overwhelming offense that had 489 total yards in a key 5A SIC River Division win.
The Mountain View (4-2, 2-2) students and players celebrated on the sand volleyball court next to the football stadium, burning a 6-foot replica of the Mavericks logo as the student band blared music.
“Justin being out, it’s some big shoes to fill,” Nelson said in front of the celebration. “All season, I’ve been getting some reps. So that plays a big factor in it, just being able to see the field. But coming in tonight, I just knew that if I do what I can do, we’re going to come out with a W.”
Mountain View spotted Kuna (3-3, 1-3) a 3-0 lead but provided a storming response, getting touchdowns on its first three drives to set the tone. Nelson had a 29-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Weaver in that span, his favorite receiver on the night. Weaver had six catches for 91 yards.
When Nelson wasn’t throwing, junior running back Dennis Williams was barreling through Kuna defenders. The 5-foot-2 running back carried the ball 11 times for 67 yards.
“The way (Williams) sees the field is outrageous,” Nelson said. “He sees the holes open. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen.”
Kuna was led by running Austin Lattimer, who had 88 yards on 17 carries. Freshman quarterback Lino Senio completed his first 10 passes and finished the game 15-for-20 for 96 yards. The Kavemen had 263 yards of total offense.
Mountain View, back on track in its postseason push, has a new challenge next week: No. 1-ranked and undefeated Eagle (6-0, 4-0).
Kuna will return home to host Owyhee (5-2, 3-2).
ROCKY MOUNTAIN 38, CAPITAL 15
The Grizzlies (4-2, 3-0 5A SIC Foothills) ran for 320 yards and five touchdowns to remain undefeated in division play.
Trey Broadbent led the way with 101 rushing yards and a touchdown. Carson Adams ran for 72 yards and a score, Zack Schledewitz ran for 30 yards and a TD, and quarterback Cam Crum punched in a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.
Rocky Mountain held Capital (2-4, 1-2) to 180 total yards and a pair of second-half scores. Joren Peterson ran for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Austin Brown added 61 rushing yards and a score.
MERIDIAN 37, CENTENNIAL 7
Zeke Martinez went 12-for-17 for 162 yards and three touchdowns as the Warriors (4-2, 3-0 5A SIC Foothills) won their fourth straight and their eighth in a row over Centennial.
Cole Jones, Carver Martin and Parker Bunderson all hauled in touchdown passes from Martinez. Martin also ran for a score, finishing with four offensive touches for 101 yards. Bunderson ran for a touchdown, too, finishing with three offensive touches for 68 yards. And Marco Del Rio led the ground game with 81 yards on 12 carries.
Stats for Centennial (1-5, 1-2) were not reported.
MIDDLETON 49, TIMBERLINE 20
Paxti Franks ran for 138 yards and four TDs, spearheading a Vikings (4-2, 1-2 5A SIC Foothills) ground game that finished with 449 rushing yards.
Middleton quarterback Cash Weeks went 7-for-15 for 118 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Timberline (0-6, 0-3) got a pair of touchdowns from Hudson Lewis, and another score from Hayden Dodson.
RIDGEVUE 26, VALLIVUE 16
Cash McKie ran for 76 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the Warhawks (2-3, 1-1 4A SIC) to their first win over their district rival since the school opened in 2016.
Izaiah Kasper returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and Ridgevue’s first score. He also ran for 73 yards and a pair of two-point conversions. Ben Bullock also added a 31-yard field goal to give Ridgevue an 11-10 halftime lead.
Stats for Vallivue (1-5, 1-3) were not reported.
BISHOP KELLY 59, BURLEY 7
The No. 1-ranked Knights (6-0) racked up 497 yards of offense and jumped out to a 52-7 lead at halftime for the nonconference road win. No individual stats were reported.
WEISER 20, MCCALL-DONNELLY 7
Kaleb Grove ran for 150 yards to lead No. 3-ranked Weiser (6-0, 2-0 3A SRV) to a road win in a battle of undefeated teams.
Grove ran for just over half of Weiser’s 296 yards of total offense. The next-highest gainer was quarterback Kolin Cook, who ran for 31 yards and both Weiser’s touchdowns. And Ryndon Olsen added field goals of 22 and 32 yards.
Weiser held McCall-Donnelly (4-1, 1-1) to 202 total yards. Individual stats for the Vandals were not reported.
HOMEDALE 48, PAYETTE 0
The No. 2-ranked Trojans (6-0, 2-0 3A SRV) scored touchdowns on their first six possessions to remain undefeated with a shutout.
Homedale quarterback Dillon Fine had a near-flawless night, going 12-for-14 for 270 yards and four TDs. Rafael Cuenca finished with three catches for 127 yards and two TDs. Danny Lomeli had five catches for 74 yards and a score, and Andrew Marston ran for 51 yards and two TDs.
Tyler Feeley led Payette (1-5, 0-2) with 95 rushing yards.
MELBA 21, COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN 0
The Mustangs forced five turnovers and racked up four sacks to pitch the shutout.
Nate Wellington led the Melba (4-1, 1-0 2A WIC) defense with 10 tackles and an interception. Evan Michaelson also had 10 tackles, and Ryan Frank grabbed two interceptions.
Brendan Svetich ran for 148 of Melba’s 365 rushing yards. Frank added 96 rushing yards and two TDs.
ROCKLAND 72, RIMROCK 21
Ronaldo Gomez threw for a touchdown, ran for another, returned a kickoff for six points and kicked a 30-yard field goal in a loss for the Raiders (1-5) on Thursday. He finished with 359 all-purpose yards.
NOTUS 54, WILDER 0
Grayson Benitez ran for 247 yards and four touchdowns, and he added another TD on a punt return to lead the Pirates to a conference home win Saturday.
Adrian Avilla also ran for 87 yards and two TDs for Notus (4-1, 2-0 1A DI WIC), and AJ Blank led the defense with four sacks.
This story was originally published September 29, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
