Prep football recap: Rocky Mtn, Mtn View advance in 5A state playoffs. 4A SIC starts 3-0
Brody Swearhart doesn’t usually play on Rocky Mountain’s hands team.
But he might have just earned himself a full-time job.
The senior linebacker returned an onside kick 48 yards for a touchdown with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter, quelling a Borah comeback and securing a 30-15 win Friday night in the first round of the 5A state playoffs at Rocky Mountain High.
“I got put in because a kid got a concussion,” Swearhart said. “The ball was coming at me, and I just went for it.”
[Related: Idaho state football playoff brackets]
Before Swearhart’s touchdown, the Lions covered 80 yards in nine plays to pull within 23-15 with 1:05 to go on a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Detwiler to receiver Ryan Lopez, who overcame double coverage in the end zone to secure the football.
But Swearhart’s sure hands kept the Lions comeback at bay and sent the Grizzlies (7-3) to their 12th consecutive state quarterfinal appearance.
They draw Coeur d’Alene (7-2), the No. 1 seed from the North, next week in Coeur d’Alene. It will be a rematch of a game Rocky Mountain won 16-0 on Aug. 25.
“It’s always hard to play a team twice, and they’re a good football team,” Rocky Mountain coach Scott Criner said. “... They didn’t have their best performance against us, and we hit on all cylinders. I know that we’re not gonna see that same team.”
As it has done all season, Rocky Mountain mixed it up at the quarterback position against the Lions (4-6), with four different QBs getting on the field.
Junior Trey Broadbent was one of two Rocky signal callers to have a hand in a touchdown Friday night, scoring on a 6-yard keeper on the Grizzlies’ opening drive. Broadbent, who injured his shoulder at the start of the season, finished 3-for-5 for 36 yards and added 10 carries for 13 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Collin Chapman was 9-for-14 for 77 yards, and senior QB Cam Crum came in for short-yardage situations, bulldozing his way into the end zone for a 2-yard score in the second quarter.
“We’re just a young football team, and each quarterback does something well,” Criner said. “We’re trying to play to their strengths, which I believe the more kids you can put on the field, the more involved they are, the better we’re gonna be.”
Rocky Mountain junior wide receiver Jeff Thompson says all the changes at quarterback can get confusing sometimes, but Thompson didn’t let the adjustments faze him. He collected 101 rushing yards on seven carries and caught four passes for 46 yards.
“He’s a tough little sucker,” Criner said. “People think he’s just tiny, but he’ll drop his shoulders and run over you, too. So he’s fun to watch play, and he’s smart. He’s got a really good football IQ.”
The Grizzlies, which led 14-7 at halftime, had four different players score touchdowns, as junior tailback Taeshaun Reese added a 4-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Senior kicker Shawn Thompson connected on a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter to round out the scoring for Rocky Mountain.
“I think our run game has gotten way better, and our O-line has helped a lot,” Jeff Thompson said. “They’ve stepped it up, and we just have way more options. I feel like we have more plays.”
Senior running back Jevon Nelson paced Borah with 124 rushing yards, including an 89-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 24, POST FALLS 14
Quarterback Henry Nelson threw three first-half touchdowns to help the Mavericks (7-3) upend Post Falls on the road in the first round of the 5A state playoffs.
Nelson completed 10-of-18 pass attempts for 139 yards. Receiver Brody Munson was Nelson’s top target, hauling in four passes for 76 yards and a pair of scores.
Valentin Gomez-Ricks kept the Mavericks balanced with 128 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Mountain View advances to face Meridian on the road in the quarterfinals.
RIGBY 42, MIDDLETON 16
Two-time defending state champ Rigby took advantage of six Middleton turnovers to roll into the quarterfinals of the 5A state playoffs.
The Trojans (6-4) led 28-0 at halftime thanks to five first-half turnovers by the Vikings (7-3).
Middleton scored early in the third quarter to pull within 28-8, but that was as close as they would get.
Middleton’s Patxi Franks totaled 66 yards on 12 carries, and quarterback Cash Weeks finished 12-for-28 passing for 165 yards while adding 50 yards on nine carries.
BISHOP KELLY 48, BURLEY 12
The Knights (10-0) cruised to a first-round win in the 4A playoffs, forcing three turnovers and scoring two defensive touchdowns to advance to a quarterfinal matchup with Emmett.
Will Sachse and Joe Stroschein both returned fumbles for touchdowns as Bishop Kelly erupted for 26 points in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Peter Minnaert carved up the Burley (4-6) defense, needing just eight carries to run for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Ben Avella finished 6-for-11 for 98 yards and two touchdowns, both to Alex Sullivan (three catches, 53 yards).
Burley’s Gatlin Bair, a Boise State commit, hauled in six passes for 123 yards and both of the Bobcats’ touchdowns.
SKYVIEW 21, SHELLEY 14
Mason Krahn caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cache Beus with 2:42 remaining to break a 14-all tie and send Skyview (7-3) to a first-round home victory in the 4A state playoffs.
It was Krahn’s second touchdown reception of the game, as he also caught a 25-yard TD pass from Beus in the first quarter. Krahn caught four passes for 63 yards, while Beus went 13-for-23 passing for 140 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Martinez in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14 going into halftime.
Skyview will travel to top-seeded Hillcrest (10-0) for next week’s quarterfinals.
WEISER 38, MARSH VALLEY 16
Weiser quarterback Kolin Cook only attempted six passes. But when he took to the air, it proved deadly.
Cook was 5-for-6 passing for 222 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Wolverines (9-1) to a win in the first round of the 3A state playoffs at Weiser High. Cook threw touchdown passes of 63, 36 and 58 yards.
Receiver Brock Spencer caught two of those TD passes and totaled 164 yards on four receptions. Jayden Walker and Kaleb Grove each added rushing touchdowns for the Wolverines.
This story was originally published October 27, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
