The Idaho state football playoffs are here. What every 5A, 4A SIC team must do to advance
The weather has turned, the leaves have fallen and Halloween approaches.
That can mean only one thing — the state football playoffs are here.
Nine Treasure Valley teams start their postseason runs as the 5A and 4A playoffs kick off this week. We broke down all nine matchups, and sized up the one key to victory for all nine teams, below.
OWYHEE (7-2) AT BOISE (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 31 — Years since Boise won a state playoff game
Owyhee key to victory: Bend, but don’t break. Boise sophomore quarterback Trevor Schoolfield leads 5A in passing yards (2,076) and touchdowns (21), and receiver Cooper Smith can make a game-changing play at any moment. But a few red-zone stops will earn the Storm the first playoff win in program history.
Boise key to victory: Stop the run. Boise’s defense has struggled the past two weeks, giving up 411 rushing yards in a loss to Kuna and 219 rushing yards to narrowly avoid an upset to Centennial (1-8). Boise’s first trip to the playoffs since 2002 will be a short one if the Brave can’t stop the bleeding.
Prediction: Owyhee 24, Boise 20
BORAH (4-5) AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN (6-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 11 — Straight years Rocky Mountain has reached the state quarterfinals
Borah key to victory: Simplify. Rocky Mountain’s offense throws the kitchen sink at defenses, rolling through multiple quarterbacks who run different systems. No one can prepare for everything. So the Lions will need to keep it simple and let their linebackers play free and loose to stop a five-game losing streak.
Rocky Mountain key to victory: Slow Jevon Nelson. The Lions’ do-it-all running back has posted big numbers (1,278 yards, 17 TDs) all season. He’s going to get his yards. But if the Grizzlies can limit his back-breaking plays, they’ll march on to a rematch with Coeur d’Alene.
Prediction: Rocky Mountain 35, Borah 20
MOUNTAIN VIEW (6-3) AT POST FALLS (6-3)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. MT Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 40.3 — Points per game scored by Post Falls, the most in 5A
Mountain View key to victory: Slow Tevin Burns. The Post Falls senior leads 5A in rushing yards (1,468) and touchdowns (20), headlining the state’s top rushing offense (256 yards per game). But he was limited with an ankle sprain last week, and the Mavericks’ defense has remained stout against the run all season, giving up 113 yards a game. Post Falls is 2-3 when Burns doesn’t run for 200 yards.
Prediction: Mountain View 31, Post Falls 29
MIDDLETON (7-2) AT RIGBY (5-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 7-0 — Rigby’s playoff record the past two years en route to back-to-back state titles
Middleton key to victory: Limit turnovers. Don’t let Rigby’s record deceive you. The Trojans remain the champs until someone knocks them off. Middleton’s physical run game and run defense (57 yards allowed per game) give the Vikings all the ingredients needed for an upset. But Middleton has turned the ball over 20 times this fall, a trait it will need to eliminate.
Prediction: Rigby 20, Middleton 13
BURLEY (4-5) AT BISHOP KELLY (9-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: No. 1 — Bishop Kelly’s rank in scoring offense (47.2 ppg) and defense (9.6) among 4A teams
Bishop Kelly key to victory: Slow the Gatlin Bair show. The Boise State-bound receiver remains worth the price of admission. He poses matchup problems no matter where he lines up, whether that’s as a traditional wide receiver (45 catches, 700 yards, eight TDs), in the backfield or as a defensive end (five sacks). But Bishop Kelly has faced Bair and the No. 15-seeded Bobcats twice in the past two years, running up 59-7 and 63-14 victories.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 42, Burley 15
SHELLEY (4-5) AT SKYVIEW (6-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com (audio only), NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 4 — Straight playoff losses for Skyview
Skyview key to victory: Stop the run. The No. 9-seeded Russets make no secret of their game plan. They want to pound teams into submission with their Wing-T running game, which leads 4A with 294 rushing yards per game. The No. 8 Hawks either need to get a few early scores from quarterback Cache Beus (2,651 total yards, 29 TDs) to force Shelley to change tactics, or buckle in for a physical slog.
Prediction: Skyview 35, Shelley 30
EMMETT (6-3) AT MINICO (6-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 1,161 — Rushing yards for Emmett’s Quentin Smith, the most in 4A
Emmett key to victory: Establish the run. The Huskies have worn down opponents with a two-headed backfield featuring Smith and Isaac Brennan (836 yards, eight TDs). Emmett has run for 200 or more yards in four straight games, even putting a scare into Bishop Kelly. The No. 10 Huskies will need another big night on the ground to upset No. 7 Minico.
Prediction: Minico 29, Emmett 22
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 5:38 PM.
