Stage is set. Eagle clinches division crown, securing rematch for 5A SIC football title
The rematch is on.
No. 1-ranked Eagle (7-0, 5-0) pitched a second-half shutout for a 28-14 win at No. 5 Mountain View on Friday, clinching the Mustangs the 5A SIC River Division title, a first-round playoff bye and another battle with Meridian for the conference football title in two weeks.
Meridian secured its spot in the championship game Thursday, ensuring the two preseason favorites will meet for the league title for the second year in a row.
“That’s a huge weight off our shoulders,” Eagle coach James Cluphf said. “We really tried to focus on this game, but you know that’s in the back of your head. Anytime a team plays the night before and secures things, you get kind of antsy. But I’m really proud of our kids to be able to focus tonight.”
Mountain View (4-2, 2-3) threatened to spoil the Mustangs’ perfect season, taking a 14-14 tie into halftime. But Eli Mikita and Seth Brock combined to stuff Mountain View running back Valentin Gomez-Ricks on fourth-and-1 to open the second half. And the Mavericks never seriously threatened to score again, mustering just 102 yards and seven first downs in the second half.
Eagle running back Noah Burnham took care of the rest, racking up 173 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He set the tone on the game’s first drive, running for 85 yards on his first three carries. He broke the 100-yard mark with his first carry of the second quarter. And just his presence on the field provided the game-winning score.
Fearing another bruising run from the 5-9, 160-pound sophomore, Mountain View bit hard on a play-action pass moments after Mikita’s and Brock’s fourth-down stop. That left Brock wide open over the middle for a 42-yard touchdown from Davis Harsin.
Burnham then added a 2-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter, leaping over the line for the final scoring margin.
“Noah is obviously a baller,” Brock said. “Noah makes plays where he probably shouldn’t be making plays because he’s just a dude all around. We’re really lucky to have him on our team because he makes a lot of plays for us.”
REMATCH FOR 5A SIC TITLE
Meridian and Eagle met for the 5A SIC title last year. The Warriors blew out Eagle 35-0 to extend their undefeated season. But the roles have reversed this year.
Eagle took a 36-33 victory over Meridian on opening night in August. The Mustangs rallied in the fourth quarter to earn the right to host the rematch in two weeks. And now they are the ones with a perfect record.
“We, as a team, think the first game was a little too close,” Brock said. “We’re not going to look past Borah because we have to set our eyes straight on the team that we’re playing this next week. But I feel like no one’s going to be shocked at what happens in the championship.”
MOUNTAIN VIEW LEADERS
Sophomore quarterback Henry Nelson finished 22-for-33 for 220 yards and a touchdown in his second varsity start. He stepped in for Justin McGee, who took part in the senior night ceremony with his arm in a sling.
Tyler Weaver stood as Nelson’s top receiver, hauling in eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Grayson Flatten also had eight catches for 63 yards, and he ran for 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
UP NEXT
Eagle closes out the regular season by hosting Borah (4-3, 2-3) next Friday for senior night.
Mountain View will jockey for position in the Week 9 cross-division round when it travels to Nampa (0-7, 0-5) on Friday.
This story was originally published October 6, 2023 at 11:17 PM.
