Football playoff races heat up. The title, postseason berths, seeds on the line
Idaho’s high school football playoffs don’t start until Halloween. But the jockeying for postseason berths, seeding and league titles kicks into high gear this week.
We broke down all the top matchups in the Treasure Valley and their playoff implications.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AT MIDDLETON
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: IdahoSports.com, NFHSNetwork.com
This matchup atop the standings won’t clinch any playoff berths., but it serves as a crucial battle in the 6A SIC Foothills Division race.
Top-ranked Rocky Mountain (6-0, 3-0) remains in the driver’s seat for the division title, which comes with a berth in the conference championship game and a first-round playoff bye. But Timberline looms next week, so the Grizzlies can’t wrap up the crown unless the Wolves fall to Centennial — an unlikely result.
Middleton (4-2, 2-1) remains 0-3 all-time against Rocky Mountain. But the Vikings upset No. 5-ranked Timberline on its home field last week, and Middleton’s defense leads 6A in scoring (12.5 ppg) and stopping the run (65 yards per game).
That stout unit always keeps the Vikings in the mix. Middleton may have two losses on its resume, but they came by a combined three points.
Pick: Rocky Mountain 28, Middleton 20
TIMBERLINE AT CENTENNIAL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
No. 5-ranked Timberline lost its perfect record last week, but that setback didn’t doom the Wolves (5-1, 2-1). Wins by both Timberline and Rocky Mountain on Friday set up a battle between the two for the 6A SIC Foothills Division title next week at Dona Larsen Park.
Meanwhile, Centennial (0-6, 0-3) sits on the brink of elimination. A loss and a Meridian win over Capital ends the Patriots’ playoff chances. A loss and a Meridian loss means the two square off in a loser-out game next week.
Pick: Timberline 42, Centennial 6
CAPITAL AT MERIDIAN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
This Foothills Division matchup presents the most possible scenarios, so let’s keep this simple.
A Capital (3-1, 1-2) win and a Middleton loss sets up a fight between the Eagles and Vikings for home-field advantage in the 6A SIC’s crucial crossdivision games. Winners of those Week 9 contests clinch playoff berths.
Meridian (1-5, 1-2) clinches a spot in the crossdivision round with a victory. Lose, and the Warriors must beat Centennial next week to keep their playoff chances alive.
Pick: Capital 33, Meridian 20
EAGLE AT KUNA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: IdahoSports.com
No. 2-ranked Eagle (6-0, 3-0) owns the 6A SIC River Division. The Mustangs have won 20 straight division games, and victory No. 21 clinches Eagle the division title, a spot in the conference title game and a first-round playoff bye for the fourth straight year.
Kuna (2-4, 1-2) needs a win to stay in the hunt for a Week 9 home game. A loss means it hits the road.
Pick: Eagle 37, Kuna 15
OWYHEE VS. BOISE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Last week’s loss to Eagle all but knocked Owyhee (5-1, 2-1) out of the 6A SIC River Division title race. But the Storm still have plenty to play for. A win Friday guarantees Owyhee will finish no worse than second or third in the division. That guarantees the Storm a home game in the all-important Week 9 matchups.
Boise (2-4, 1-2) needs to pull the upset to keep its chances of hosting a Week 9 game alive. A loss guarantees the Brave must travel the final week of the regular season.
Pick: Owyhee 27, Boise 20
MOUNTAIN VIEW VS. BORAH
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Thursday at Dona Larsen Park
Watch: Fan.Hudl.com
The playoffs begin Thursday for Borah (1-5, 0-3). A loss eliminates the Lions from the playoffs and guarantees a last-place finish in the 6A SIC River Division. A win keeps Borah in the hunt to steal a berth in Week 9.
Mountain View (3-3, 2-1) can clinch a second- or third-place finish in the River Division with a victory. That guarantees the Mavericks a home game in the Week 9 cross-division round.
Pick: Mountain View 34, Borah 13
BISHOP KELLY AT VALLIVUE
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
Top-ranked Bishop Kelly (6-0, 3-0 5A SIC) can clinch its 14th straight playoff berth with a road victory. The Knights have long tormented Vallivue, winning 17 in a row over the Falcons (3-3, 2-1) stretching back to 2001. But Vallivue nearly broke through last year, forcing BK to settle for a 21-14 victory.
Pick: Bishop Kelly 41, Vallivue 15
HOMEDALE AT FRUITLAND
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHSNetwork.com
The top matchup of the week sees No. 3-ranked Homedale (6-0, 2-0) travel to No. 2-ranked Fruitland (6-0, 2-0). This game unfortunately falls in the middle of the 4A SRV schedule, meaning neither team can clinch anything Friday. But it sets the stage for the rest of the conference race.
Fruitland and its 4A-leading offense (45.8 ppg) edged Homedale by a single point in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll. But the Grizzlies have lost eight in a row to the Trojans, including a 29-28 defeat last year. Fruitland can’t call itself the team to beat until it finally breaks Homedale’s spell.
Pick: Fruitland 27, Homedale 22
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM.
