Idaho football is fully back. Picking the top games (and winners) in Week 1
The Treasure Valley football season officially began last week with a dozen local early games. But Idaho’s high school schedule kicks into high gear this week with 24 games involving Boise-area teams.
We broke down all the top matchups, including a pair of Boise city rivalries and a star-studded matchup in Meridian.
BOISE VS. CAPITAL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday at Dona Larsen Park
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Boise removed the proverbial monkey from its back in last year’s season opener, snapping a 32-game losing streak to Capital on a last-second field goal. Now the Brave get a chance to start a winning streak of their own.
Boise brings back 10 starters after its second straight winning season, including three-year quarterback Trevor Schoolfield and two of his top three receivers. Capital is still looking to find its footing after a downturn, going 3-7 last fall after back-to-back two-win seasons. But with a three-year starting quarterback of their own (Brayden Dudley), the Eagles expect to contend for the postseason again, and finished eighth in the 6A SIC’s preseason coaches’ poll, just one spot behind Boise.
This game may not count in the division standings, but a cross-division win will go a long way toward both team’s playoff chances.
Prediction: Boise 34, Capital 28
TIMBERLINE VS. BORAH
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Watch: Fan.Hudl.com
Observers around the state find themselves asking the same question: How legit is Timberline?
Long a doormat in 6A SIC, the Wolves field five Division I commits and start with arguably the most preseason expectations in program history. Timberline finished third in the league’s coaches’ poll — its highest finish since its first season in 1998, when it played in a lower classification. Quarterback Jack Brant (UC Davis commit) and wide receiver Hudson Lewis (Washington State) remain the names on the marquee. But the two can’t carry Timberline to its third playoff win in program history — or possibly more — alone.
Crosstown rival Borah provides Timberline its first test. The Lions made the playoffs last fall. But with just four returning starters, Borah fell to 10th out of 12 teams in the league’s preseason poll. Timberline needed a walk-off field goal to put away the Lions last year, so the Wolves maybe shouldn’t expect a cakewalk.
Prediction: Timberline 35, Borah 14
MERIDIAN AT EAGLE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
This matchup pitted two of the 6A SIC’s favorites against each other right out of the gate the past three years. That streak ended this year as Meridian fell to 11th out of 12 teams in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll. But this game still remains a measuring stick.
Eagle returns with designs on making it back to the state championship game. The River Division preseason favorite brings back 11 returning starters, including Noah Burnham, a first-team all-state selection twice, and the league’s leading rusher each of the past two years. Eagle has owned its rival the past two decades, winning 18 of the past 20 matches.
Meridian starts the year as a mystery. The Warriors went 3-6 last fall, then made two offseason coaching changes after John Zamberlin retired. Meridian is young, with just six returning starters. But LaGary Mitchell Jr., a Utah commit, remains one of the state’s top linebackers and leads a strong linebacker corps.
Prediction: Eagle 33, Meridian 20
OREM (UTAH) AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
No one can accuse No. 2 Rocky Mountain of scheduling a cupcake for its season opener. Orem started the season as the preseason favorite in Utah’s second-largest classification. And it brings five FBS commits to Meridian, including Alabama-bound quarterback Tayden Kaawa.
Rocky Mountain fields four FBS commits of its own. Jax Tanner, a four-year starting offensive lineman and a BYU commit, headlines that group. But Friday’s star-studded affair marks the season opener for the Grizzlies, while Orem (1-1) already has two games under its belt.
Prediction: Orem 28, Rocky Mountain 20
FRUITLAND AT EMMETT
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Fruitland quarterback Titus Vidlak carved up the Huskies last season for 271 total yards and five touchdowns. The reigning first-team all-state quarterback picked up where he left off last week, racking up 364 total yards and four TDs in a 49-13 win at Kimberly.
Emmett’s best chance at slowing him down remains keeping the ball out of his hands. The Huskies debuted a powerful ground game last week, running for 347 of their 450 total yards in a 30-18 win at Canyon Ridge. Emmett will need a similar clock-eating performance to avenge last year’s loss.
Prediction: Fruitland 28, Emmett 20
NAMPA CHRISTIAN AT DECLO
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Nampa Christian heads east battling for not just itself, but the entire 3A Western Idaho Conference. The league has posted a 1-9 playoff record the past five years against teams outside the 3A WIC, including Nampa Christian’s 19-14 loss to Declo in last year’s quarterfinals. No. 5-ranked Declo opened the season last week with a 33-12 home loss to Teton, so some of the shine has fallen off the Hornets. But a win would go a long way to proving the Trojans, and perhaps the 3A WIC, can contend into November.
Prediction: Declo 20, Nampa Christian 15
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
