How 6 Boise-area football teams can make the state championship — and which ones will
Making it to a state championship game remains the dream for countless high school football players.
Six Treasure Valley teams get a chance to punch their ticket to the finals this week. But how many are moving on? And how will they achieve that dream? We broke down all the local matchups — from 5A to 2A — below.
[Related: Idaho state football playoff scores, brackets]
COEUR D’ALENE (8-2) AT EAGLE (10-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com, IdahoSports.com (audio)
Key stat: 39 — Turnovers forced by Coeur d’Alene’s defense, the most in 5A
Eagle key to victory: Protect the ball. The Vikings have made a killing off their ball-hawking defense, building 5A’s top unit (10.6 points per game). Eagle has only eight turnovers this fall. But the Mustangs will need to redouble their efforts this week. Eagle has all the offensive weapons and defensive studs to contend for a state championship, but sloppy ball security or one ill-advised throw could end the undefeated season in the blink of an eye.
Prediction: Eagle 22, Coeur d’Alene 15
MERIDIAN (7-3) VS. HIGHLAND (9-1)
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. Friday at Holt Arena
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com, IdahoSports.com (audio)
Key stat: 21-14 — Score of Meridian’s win at Highland in September, the Rams’ only loss
Meridian key to victory: Stand tall on defense. Meridian forced two second-half turnovers and made two fourth-down stops to pitch a second-half shutout in its seven-point win at Highland earlier this season. The Warriors’ don’t field an elite defense like they did a year ago, but that unit has steadily improved all season (21.1 points allowed per game), and Meridian will need another big night from its defense to return to the finals.
Prediction: Meridian 28, Highland 23
POCATELLO (7-2) AT BISHOP KELLY (11-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com, IdahoSports.com (audio)
Key stat: 10-0 — Bishop Kelly’s record in the semifinal round since 2004
Bishop Kelly key to victory: Feed Peter Minnaert. The 4A leader in rushing yards per game (134.9), yards per carry (11.7) and rushing touchdowns (24) entered the playoffs well rested. A series of blowouts meant the Knights rarely needed him for more than 10 carries a game. But the deeper in the playoffs BK gets, the more opportunities the game-changing running back will get. And no one has stopped him this year.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 28, Pocatello 17
WEISER (10-1) VS. SUGAR-SALEM (9-0)
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Friday at Holt Arena
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com, IdahoSports.com (audio)
Key stat: 20 — Straight wins for Sugar-Salem since falling to Weiser in double-overtime in the 2021 state championship game in Holt Arena.
Weiser key to victory: Stay disciplined. Sugar-Salem remains built around the running game and its Wing-T offense. But the Diggers are much more explosive through the air this year with quarterback James Chase (1,317 yards, 14 TDs). That presents a pick-your-poison scenario for defenses, one Weiser will need to avoid and still come up with stops.
Prediction: Sugar-Salem 34, Weiser 23
TETON (9-1) AT HOMEDALE (10-0)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com, IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 40-1 — Homedale’s home record the past seven years.
Homedale key to victory: Limit big plays. Homedale fields 3A’s best defense (9 ppg), but the Trojans shouldn’t count on their fourth shutout of the year. Teton averages 44.8 points and 528 yards per game. Timberwolves quarterback Jack Nelson has thrown for 2,970 yards and 28 TDs. And do-it-all senior Thomas Heuseveldt (2,461 all-purpose yards, 34 TDs) remains a highlight waiting to happen. Homedale doesn’t need to shut Teton down completely. It just needs a few stops to return to the finals for the fifth time in six years.
Prediction: Homedale 35, Teton 30
MELBA (8-2) AT DECLO (10-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com, IdahoSports.com (audio)
Key stat: 21 — Years since Melba won a state semifinal game
Melba key to victory: Get Noah West involved. Both teams run the Wing-T and post big numbers on the ground. So neither will surprise each other with schemes or play calls. But Melba has one ace up its sleeve with West. The 6-4 receiver has 540 receiving yards this fall and poses a matchup nightmare no matter where the Mustangs line him up. He’s faced double coverage all year, but he gives Melba the big-play weapon they need to have to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Declo 30, Melba 22
This story was originally published November 8, 2023 at 3:01 PM.
