Idaho’s top two teams battled for 6A SIC title. Rocky Mountain left no doubt who is No. 1
No. 1-ranked Rocky Mountain turned another highly anticipated matchup into yet another blowout Friday, crushing No. 2-ranked Eagle 38-0 in the 6A SIC football championship game to wrap up a perfect regular season and clinch home-field advantage in the 6A state playoffs through at least the state semifinals.
But Rocky Mountain left Friday with at least one aspect to work on — its celebration — after clocking coach Scott Criner in the head during the postgame Gatorade bath.
“They about knocked me out,” Criner said with a laugh. “I told them, ‘I’m 65 years old, boys. Knock it off.’”
That lone miscue leaves little comfort for opponents heading into the playoffs. The Grizzlies (9-0) enter the postseason with the state’s top offense (46 ppg) and defense (10 ppg). They showcased an electric special teams Friday. And no one has hung with Rocky Mountain for four quarters all season.
The Grizzlies dominated from the opening kickoff to the final minutes Friday. Taeshaun Reese opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run on the game’s first possession. Jeff Thompson then returned a punt 82 yards for a score. And Reese hauled in a 53-yard bullet throw from Austin Rovig for a 21-0 halftime lead.
The rout continued in the second half with a 35-yard field goal from Sawyer McLinden, and a 6-yard touchdown run from Jordan Kafari. Kaiden Kimble-Turner then put the final exclamation point on Rocky Mountain’s fourth league title in six years with a 32-yard interception return for a TD late in the fourth quarter.
Reese finished the night as the top standout with 12 offensive touches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. But on a team loaded with Division I prospects and explosive playmakers, Rocky Mountain spread the ball around to score on four of five offensive possessions, not including a kneel down to end the game.
“The versatility of this team is just amazing,” Reese said. “Everybody can play everything. I mean, we could put an O-lineman at corner and he could do something about it.”
Rocky Mountain finally closed out its first shutout of the season Friday after giving up garbage touchdowns late in multiple blowouts earlier this year. Eagle (7-2) finished the night with 275 yards and 18 first downs. But the Mustangs came up empty on three trips deep into Rocky Mountain territory.
Cole Bucher intercepted a tipped pass to stop the first threat. Rocky Mountain stood tall on a drive to end the first half, forcing Eagle to settle for a 28-yard field goal try from Lucas Boockholdt, which hit the left upright. And the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the 13-yard line on their last promising drive in the fourth quarter.
Eagle all-state running back Noah Burnham finished the night with 23 touches for 121 yards. But neither he, nor any other Mustang, managed to break a big play. Rocky Mountain kept everyone in front of it all night and made an explosive Eagle offense earn every single yard.
“I don’t think they realized our team speed was what it was,” Criner said. “If they did, I think that’s what made the difference. We were able to get to spots that other people just haven’t been able to do.
“That’s a good football team. It would not shock me if that’s who we’re playing in the state championship.”
The loss will send Eagle to the opposite half of the state playoff bracket. It also received a first-round bye and will host a quarterfinal game in two weeks against the winner of Capital at Madison. But the Mustangs would have to travel for a potential semifinal if all the high seeds win.
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 11:48 PM.
