Prep football recap: Missing their ‘heart,’ BK shuts out Nampa; Timberline upsets Meridian
Longtime Bishop Kelly assistant football coach Jack Parker died on Sept. 5, shortly after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Even in his last days, he was still thinking of his players.
“He was the heart of the team, and we really miss him,” BK quarterback Ben Avella said. “When I talked with him the last day in the hospital, he said, ‘Have fun, and trust everyone.’ That’s just what I’ve been living on. It’s what the team’s been living on. He was everything — still is — and we’re doing this for him.”
Wearing a helmet sticker in Parker’s honor, the Knights defeated Nampa 19-0 on Friday at Bishop Kelly High to open their 5A Southern Idaho Conference schedule.
Fittingly, Parker’s grandson, senior running back Tylan Kaschmitter, scored the Knights’ first touchdown on a 4-yard run in the first quarter.
“It’s been a pretty rough month,” Bishop Kelly coach Chris Culig said. “This team’s been through a lot.”
The Knights had to make a last-minute trip to Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls for their home opener when smoke from wildfires blanketed the Treasure Valley. And they lost 42-7 last week to 6A power Rigby.
But nothing has been harder than losing Parker.
Parker’s 51-year coaching career began in 1974 at East Junior High. He went on to coach at Boise, Eagle and Bishop Kelly, building lasting relationships at every stop.
[Related: Borah upsets Owyhee | Eagle tops Boise | 6A stat leaders]
Coaches around the Treasure Valley knew to expect a visit from Parker around Christmas time each year. He’d have a pound cake and a good book in hand.
When Culig was hired to take over at Bishop Kelly before the 2023 season, he wanted Parker on his staff. The 74-year-old had roamed the BK sideline for decades and helped Culig keep many longstanding traditions alive.
And when it wasn’t football season, Gem State track and field fans knew where to find Parker. For many years, he served as the official for the shot put at the state meet.
Parker was a part of nine state championship football teams, including one last ride with the Knights, who went 13-0 and won a state title last fall.
Whatever happens this season, it’ll be in honor of Parker, players say.
“Everything we do is for Coach Parker,” sophomore receiver Boston Huskey said.
While the Knights lost the bulk of their offensive firepower from last year’s championship team, their defense has remained stout.
Bishop Kelly (3-1, 1-0) held Nampa (2-3, 1-1) to just 14 total yards in the first half, and 118 yards for the game with just six first downs.
“There’s so much tradition at Bishop Kelly. The expectations are very high,” Culig said. “We’re just a different team than last year, and we’ve got to take advantage of our strengths this year. Last year’s team is all gone. They’re graduated.”
Avella, one of the few offensive starters back from a year ago, finished 13-for-20 for 170 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Huskey caught both of those TD passes, totaling 64 yards on five receptions.
Kaschmitter and junior Ryan Arellano combined for 155 rushing yards, while senior Cole Traverso and sophomore Nike Ciovacco each grabbed an interception for the Knights’ defense.
“It’s just about sticking together,” Avella said. “All this bad stuff happens, and it’s about how we respond as a team, and I think we’re doing pretty well.”
TIMBERLINE 21, MERIDIAN 13
The Wolves continue to surprise, knocking off a 6A powerhouse on their home field behind a dominant defensive effort.
Jack Brant led the upset, throwing for 156 yards and three touchdowns while completing 18-of-24 passes. He also ran for a team-high 73 yards.
Brant found Hudson Lewis (10 catches, 78 yards) twice in the end zone to open a 14-0 lead, then hit Brody Engroff for an 8-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put away the Warriors (1-3, 0-1).
Meridian quarterback Zeke Martinez led his team to its only scores of the night, finishing 9-for-18 for 63 yards and adding 93 rushing yards. He threw a 6-yard touchdown to Lane Waldren in the third quarter and a 5-yard touchdown to Holden Coy in the fourth quarter.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN 56, CAPITAL 14
With the game tied at 7-all early in the second quarter, the Grizzlies scored four unanswered touchdowns to roll past Capital.
Ryker Clyde, Trey Broadbent and Isaiah Reed each scored on interception returns for Rocky Mountain, which improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the 6A SIC’s Foothills Division.
Quarterback Austin Rovig passed for 158 yards and two touchdowns, and Taeshawn Reece totaled 74 yards and two scores on 12 carries.
Nate Ortega paced Capital (0-4, 0-1) with four receptions for 45 yards and two TDs.
KUNA 21, MOUNTAIN VIEW 20
The Kavemen blocked an extra point with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter to hold on for the first victory over Mountain View in program history.
The Mavericks (1-3, 0-1) had won all six previous matchups vs. Kuna (2-2, 1-0 6A SIC River).
No other details or stats were reported.
VALLIVUE 50, CALDWELL 0
Junior Onix Carson averaged 19.4 yards per carry to lead the Falcons to a shutout of the Cougars.
Carson totaled 191 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries, helping Vallivue build a 44-0 lead by halftime.
The Falcons finished with 300 yards on the ground and took advantage of five Caldwell turnovers.
Junior quarterback Zion Perrault led the Cougars (0-5), completing 7-of-13 passes for 82 yards with two interceptions.
EMMETT 48, SKYVIEW 44
The Huskies scored two touchdowns in the final 5 minutes to rally past the Hawks in 5A SIC action.
Sammy Howe scored the game-winning TD on a 3-yard run with 38 seconds to play. Howe led the Huskies (4-1, 2-0) with 130 rushing yards and two TDs and also scored on a 58-yard reception.
Emmett QB Ryder Scheibe went 11-for-19 passing for 276 yards and five touchdowns without an interception.
Skyview amassed 510 total yards, including 101 rushing yards and two scores from running back Mason Krahn.
HOMEDALE 50, JEROME 0
The Trojans (4-0) kept their perfect record intact with a nonconference road victory over Jerome.
Quarterback Xavier Uranga kept the Homedale offense rolling, completing 13-of-20 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans built a 28-0 lead at halftime.
Luke Henry hauled in five passes for 85 yards and two scores, and Rafael Cuenca led the Trojans in receptions (six) and receiving yards (122) to go with one TD. Three players scored rushing TDs, led by Alex Sotelo with two.
FRUITLAND 21, NAMPA CHRISTIAN 0
The 4A Grizzlies improved to 4-0 with a shutout of the 3A Trojans at home.
Fruitland quarterback Titus Vidlak accounted for two of the team’s three touchdowns — one rushing and one passing — and 213 of the Grizzlies’ 305 total yards.
Nampa Christian (1-3) was limited to 90 total yards and five first downs.
MARSING 49, PAYETTE 7
The Huskies handed the Pirates their first loss of the season in nonconference action.
Quarterback Jace Chadez went 6-for-10 through the air for 123 yards and four touchdowns, including two to receiver Falkon Frazier. Jayden Shaw racked up 159 rushing yards and one touchdown, while also catching a 33-yard receiving TD.
Darien Pecunia scored the lone touchdown for Payette (3-1) on a 49-yard run in the fourth quarter.
WEISER 70, PENDLETON 45
Kash Cobb ran for 278 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Wolverines (2-2) to a shootout win in Oregon.
Cobb’s explosion led Weiser as it scored touchdowns on nine of 12 possessions, excluding kneel-downs on the game’s final possession. Cole Ingle also ran for 107 yards and a score on just six carries, and the Wolverines finished with 413 of their 576 total yards on the ground.
Pendleton (1-3) actually gained more yards (608). But Weiser forced three turnovers, including a pick-six interception from Kolin Cook.
This story was originally published September 20, 2024 at 6:45 PM.
