The rubber meets the road this week. Predictions for 5 key football games in 6A, 5A SIC
The first month of the high school football season merely served as an appetizer. The stakes ratchet up this week as the 6A SIC begins its division schedule and the 5A SIC hosts a full league slate.
We broke down the top matchups this week and picked their winners.
EAGLE VS. BOISE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday at Dona Larsen Park
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Perennial underdog Boise (3-0) has reason to circle any date on the schedule. But after getting mercy-ruled at Eagle last season in a battle of the then-No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams in the state, this one stands atop the list.
Eagle owns an all-time record of 20-1 vs. the Brave, including 20 straight wins. The Mustangs (2-1) bounced back from an ugly loss of their own to rout Centennial 68-0 last week. All-state running back Noah Burnham did not play after suffering a knee injury against West Linn, Oregon. Eagle clearly didn’t need him in that game, but it will need him later in the season.
Boise continues to prove its doubters wrong. After finishing seventh in the league’s preseason poll, the Brave are off to another undefeated start. Junior quarterback Trevor Schoolfield (786 passing yards, nine TDS) remains one of the state’s most dangerous quarterbacks. He led the Brave to a late win over Timberline last week, throwing the go-ahead touchdown with 1:24 left. A win here would turn a nice comeback story into a sea-changer.
Prediction: Eagle 35, Boise 24
BORAH AT OWYHEE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Only four teams truly mattered in the SIC championship race the past three years. Owyhee (3-0) broke up that stranglehold last week, knocking off Meridian 35-19 to morph from a dark horse into a legitimate contender for the league crown.
Linebacker Gage Hawks leads one of the state’s top defenses thus far (13.3 points allowed per game). Receiver Ryan Brekke remains a game-changing weapon. And the Storm finally figured out the quarterback position, settling on the elusive Nate Keith last week.
But Borah (2-1) looms as a potential trap game after a program-defining win. Owyhee coach Jason Burton made the Lions the last team to challenge the SIC’s blue bloods in his previous coaching stop. Quarterback Dylan Luekenga (713 yards, eight TDs) spreads the ball around to a host of weapons. And the Lions are only a walk-off field goal away from a 3-0 start themselves.
Prediction: Owyhee 31, Borah 21
TIMBERLINE AT MERIDIAN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Owyhee’s upset win over Meridian last week raised a lot of eyebrows. But Meridian (1-2) fans shouldn’t panic yet. Yes, the Warriors dropped a couple of early games. They also started 0-2 last season before playing in the league championship game and the state semifinals.
The games that truly count start Friday with the beginning of Meridian’s Foothills Division schedule. The Warriors have won 11 in a row against division opponents. A 12th victory will calm a lot of nerves.
Timberline (2-1) remains one of the early feel-good stories in the state. After going 1-17 the past two seasons, the Wolves fell 2 minutes shy of a 3-0 start last week. One thing you can count on: Timberline always keeps it interesting.
Prediction: Meridian 35, Timberline 27
NAMPA AT BISHOP KELLY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com
Nothing proves how wide open the 5A classification remains better than Bishop Kelly’s status as its No. 1-ranked team following a mercy-rule loss to Rigby. The Trojans remain one of the state’s 6A powers, and no one has emerged to credibly challenge BK at the 5A level — yet.
The Knights (2-1, 0-0) remain elite on defense and special teams. The offense remains another story, averaging just 233 yards per game thus far. Bishop Kelly will need to find its identity there to challenge for more league and state titles.
Nampa (2-2, 1-0) continues to surprise after a winless 2023 season. A balanced attack led by quarterback Dom Almaraz has the Bulldogs eyeing a playoff spot. An upset here would truly throw 5A’s pecking order into chaos.
Prediction: Bishop Kelly 24, Nampa 15
EMMETT AT SKYVIEW
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Broadcast: Fan.Hudl.com
When the 5A SIC season started, this looked like the de facto second-place game, the one that would determine the league’s final guaranteed playoff berth. But Skyview (0-3, 0-1) is reeling to start the season. Another loss likely takes it out of contention for that guaranteed playoff berth, and a 0-4 hole doesn’t bode well for an at-large selection.
Emmett (3-1, 1-0) last won at Skyview in 1998. But the Huskies’ physical run game remains one of the league’s best.
Prediction: Emmett 30, Skyview 15
This story was originally published September 18, 2024 at 11:43 AM.
