Idaho football playoffs kick off Friday. What every 6A, 5A SIC team must to do advance
Buckle up. The Idaho high school football playoffs start the week, meaning it’s do-or-die time for Treasure Valley squads.
The top teams received first-round byes. But nine schools in the 6A and 5A Southern Idaho Conference fight for their playoff lives starting Friday.
We broke down all the matchups and the key to each Treasure Valley team advancing.
KUNA (4-5) VS. TIMBERLINE (6-3)
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Dona Larsen Park
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 2 — Playoff wins in Timberline history. Kuna has never won a playoff game in the state’s top division.
Kuna key to victory: Contain Hudson Lewis. Timberline’s speedster changes the game on offense, defense and special teams. The Kavemen don’t have to shut him down totally. But they can’t let him take over, like he did in Timberline’s win over Owyhee last week.
Timberline key to victory: Embrace the ugly. The duo of Lewis and quarterback Jack Brant can create highlight-reel plays as well as anyone in the state. But Kuna’s smashmouth style shortens the game and limits an opponent’s touches. Timberline must at least battle the Kavemen to a draw in the trenches to give their playmakers time.
Pick: Timberline 24, Kuna 14
HIGHLAND (6-3) AT MIDDLETON (5-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com. Listen: IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 35 — Straight years Highland qualified for the playoffs, the longest streak in 6A.
Middleton key to victory: Turn Drew Holman loose. An all-state linebacker last year, the junior leads 6A with 13.4 tackles per game this season. Middleton limits his offensive snaps to keep him fresh on defense. But an injury at running back led him to 18 carries for 148 yards and two TDs in a come-from-behind win over Mountain View last week. Middleton needs more of that.
Pick: Highland 21, Middleton 17
CAPITAL (3-6) AT MADISON (8-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 247 — Madison’s rushing yards per game, the most in 6A.
Capital key to victory: Don’t stop believing. Everyone left Capital for dead after a 1-6 start. Then the Eagles won back-to-back games over Middleton and Borah, two playoff teams, to sneak into the postseason. Capital enters with just a 3% chance to win, according to the rankings that power MaxPreps. But the odds weren’t much higher the past two weeks, either.
Pick: Madison 38, Capital 20
BORAH (5-4) AT POST FALLS (6-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 2005 — Last time Borah won a game outside the Treasure Valley. The Lions are 0-4 on road trips since then.
Borah key to victory: Force turnovers. The Lions feasted off a turnover-happy defense that forced a state-leading 17 takeaways during a 5-1 start. But Borah has created just five turnovers the past three weeks, backing into the playoffs on a three-game skid. A second playoff win since 1995 relies on the Borah defense getting 6A passing leader Dylan Luekenga (2,428 yards) a few extra cracks with the ball.
Pick: Post Falls 29, Borah 22
POCATELLO (5-3) AT BISHOP KELLY (8-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 5 — Years in a row that Bishop Kelly and Pocatello have met in the playoffs. BK is 3-1 in the previous matchups.
Bishop Kelly key to victory: Get up early. The Knights’ defense remains one of the state’s best, pitching three shutouts and forcing 19 turnovers. But BK often falls into offensive dry spells, relying on its defense or special teams for a spark. Take an early lead, and Bishop Kelly’s defense can pin its ears back and wreak havoc.
Pick: Bishop Kelly 21, Pocatello 15
BONNEVILLE (4-5) AT VALLIVUE (6-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Key stat: 6-0 — Vallivue’s record when it runs for 150 yards or more.
Vallivue key to victory: Establish the run. The Falcons are an imposing team when they get into a rhythm and feed Onix Carson (1,218 rushing yards, 13 TDs). But they struggle when forced to drop back and become a one-dimensional passing team.
Pick: Vallivue 33, Bonneville 27
EMMETT (6-3) AT MINICO (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 1,683 — Rushing yards by Minico’s Preston Sonner-Cranney, the most in 5A.
Emmett key to victory: Control the line of scrimmage. The Huskies lead 5A with 275 rushing yards per game, but Minico isn’t far behind at 207. Both teams built their identity around smashmouth football. So this game is won or lost in the trenches.
Pick: Minico 23, Emmett 20
NAMPA (4-5) VS. SKYLINE (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at ICCU Dome, Holt Arena
Watch: IdahoSports.com
Key stat: 13-1 — Skyline’s playoff record inside the ICCU Dome the past eight seasons.
Nampa key to victory: Let loose. Few expect the Bulldogs, the last team in the playoffs, to contend with the perennial power and the state’s top seed. So empty the playbook, go all in and see where the chips fall.
Pick: Skyline 38, Nampa 15
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 12:55 PM.
