Prep football recap: Rocky, Eagle stay perfect. Boise, Capital steal 1-point wins
After senior kicker Carsen McConkie converted on a 33-yard field goal on Middleton’s opening drive, Rocky Mountain coach Scott Criner told his team there would be no more points.
His defense held up its end of the bargain.
The top-ranked Grizzlies kept their opponent out of the end zone for the second straight game, earning a 30-3 victory over the Vikings in a 6A Southern Idaho Conference Foothills Division matchup Friday at Middleton High School.
But to make good on their promise, the Rocky defense had to deliver a goal-line stand in the closing minutes, with defensive end Rowan Rupp, linebacker Owen Weatherly and defensive tackle Ezekiel Tuinei meeting Middleton running back Jake Perez at the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-goal from the Rocky Mountain 1-yard line.
“Outstanding,” Criner said. “They played their fannies off tonight.”
Rocky Mountain’s defensive effort made up for an atypical evening for the 6A classification’s No. 1-ranked scoring offense.
The Grizzlies entered the night averaging 47.3 points per game, but they were held to a season-low 30 as turnovers took their toll. Rocky Mountain (7-0, 4-0) had to overcome two lost fumbles and an interception to remain unbeaten.
“I feel like we have some players that make big-time plays,” said Rocky Mountain junior running back Oakley Baxter, who totaled 41 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
“Even though we struggled a little bit, we still kept going and kept our heads up. We’re working as a team.”
The Grizzlies countered their three turnovers by making explosive scoring plays look easy.
Junior quarterback Kaelan Custer found sophomore receiver Owen Oelkers for a 45-yard touchdown with 3:26 to go in the first quarter.
Custer then tacked on an 80-yard keeper on an option play in the second, and senior Rasean Jones gave Rocky a 20-3 halftime lead on a 71-yard run with 2:46 until the break.
Jones finished the night with 129 rushing yards on seven touches and also added an interception on defense.
“The offense has bailed us out, like against Capital, and a couple other games,” Weatherly said. “When they struggle, we come and step up for them so then they can thrive as well.”
Custer was 4-for-6 through the air for 65 yards and a touchdown with one interception. He racked up 142 yards on the ground on just seven carries — an average of 20.3 yards per touch — but also lost a fumble in the second quarter.
“He just has to keep going. He knows what he’s doing,” Criner said of Custer. “He’s one of those guys who just kind of tests the situation to see if it’s going to go the way he wants it, and then he learns from it.
“He’s not making the same mistakes that he did two, three weeks ago, so that’s what we’re happy with.”
Rocky Mountain takes on Timberline next week for the River Division title. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.
MIDDLETON LEADERS
After an upset of then fourth-ranked Timberline last week, the Vikings (4-3, 2-2) had their senior night spoiled by the Grizzlies.
Perez accounted for 136 yards on 32 carries and caught five passes for 59 yards. Junior quarterback Briar Baughman finished 7-for-15 passing for 82 yards with an interception.
Middleton, which entered the game with the 6A classification’s No. 1 defense — allowing just 12.5 points per game — gave up 363 yards, including 298 on the ground.
The Vikings close out their regular-season schedule against Capital at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dona Larsen.
EAGLE 34, KUNA 8
The No. 2-ranked Mustangs (7-0, 4-0) clinched the 6A SIC River Division title, securing a spot in the conference championship game and first-round playoff bye for the fourth straight year.
Quarterback Austin Ramsey led Eagle’s 21st straight River Division victory with five total touchdowns. He went 7-for-14 for 122 yards and two TDs through the air, and he ran for 74 yards and three scores on 13 carries.
Bowen Blackburn ran for 80 yards on 11 carries, and Noah Burnham finished with 70 yards on 10 carries as the Mustangs ran for 227 yards. Landon Bult also turned four catches into 74 yards and two TDs.
Eagle’s defense held Kuna (2-5, 1-3) to 139 yards, with Anthony Butler racking up 10 tackles and Raul Zaragoza adding eight stops. Individual stats for the Kavemen were not reported.
BOISE 29, OWYHEE 28
Inaki Dougherty forced the ball loose for a sack, and Yayha Muhina jumped on the fumble with 44 seconds left to end Owyhee’s last-minute drive and seal an upset victory for Boise (3-4, 2-2 6A SIC River).
The Brave took the final lead in a back-and-forth game when freshman quarterback Wayne Bower hit a leaping Trevor Schoolfield for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 3:34 left in the fourth quarter. Bower finished 14-for-17 for 180 yards and ran for another touchdown, while Logan McDonald ran for 62 yards and a TD.
Owyhee (5-2, 2-2) briefly took a lead 28-22 when Logan Haustveit returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown with 7:19 left. But the Storm couldn’t hold on and dropped back-to-back games.
Asher Gaudet ran for 55 yards and two TDs for Owyhee, and Colin Foy finished 21-for-29 for 184 yards.
CAPITAL 43, MERIDIAN 42
The Eagles rallied from a 12-point deficit with 9:09 left in the fourth quarter and survived a potential game-winning field goal with 7 seconds left to steal a road victory.
Sophomore Quincey Clay capped the comeback, taking a fourth-and-1 handoff before hitting the left edge for a 29-yard touchdown with 1:23 left. He torched the Meridian defense all night, running for 168 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries, while adding four catches for 45 yards.
Capital (4-3, 2-2 6A SIC Foothills) quarterback Brayden Dudley finished 12-for-26 for 201 yards, and Elliot Schrack added eight catches for 152 yards and a touchdown.
Meridian (1-6, 1-3) quarterback Easton Nungaray went 19-for-31 for two touchdowns. Holden Coy ran and threw for a TD, and Noah Steward hauled in nine passes for 128 yards and score.
BISHOP KELLY 37, VALLIVUE 21
The top-ranked Knights led by 30 points entering the fourth quarter, cruising to an 18th straight win over Vallivue and clinching their 14th straight trip to the playoffs.
Jaxon Brady only needed six offensive touches to put up 185 total yards and two touchdowns for Bishop Kelly (7-0, 4-0 5A SIC). Quarterback Ben Avella finished 11-for-19 for 208 yards and a TD, and he ran for 54 yards and another score.
The Knights can wrap up their fourth straight league title with a win over Ridgevue next week.
Onix Carson led Vallivue (3-4, 2-2) with 120 rushing yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, and Evert Eels hauled in a 79-yard touchdown from Shane Osuna in the first quarter.
COLUMBIA 50, SKYVIEW 34
The Wildcats (5-2, 3-2 5A SIC) nursed a two-point lead entering the fourth quarter. But running back Jackson Cheslak put the game away, ending a rivalry contest that saw five lead changes in the first three quarters.
Cheslak finished the night with 32 carries for 250 yards and five touchdowns, including a pair of fourth-quarter scores as Columbia finished the night with 14 unanswered points. He teamed with Santiago Carbajal (96 yards, one TD) to form a potent rushing attack that ran for 347 of the Wildcats’ 503 total yards.
Skyview’s Lukas Henslee tallied 12 tackles and returned a kickoff 90 yards to the end zone to cut the lead to 36-34 late in the third quarter. Hawks (2-5, 1-4) quarterback Trevan Plew finished with 94 total yards and two TDs.
FRUITLAND 43, HOMEDALE 21
The No. 2-ranked Grizzlies trailed 21-14 at halftime. But Fruitland dominated the second half, finding the end zone on every possession to score 29 unanswered points, snap an eight-game losing streak to No. 3-ranked Homedale and take control of the 4A SRV title race.
Titus Vidlak spearheaded a Fruitland (7-0, 3-0) offense that racked up 548 yards. The junior went 7-for-14 for 225 yards and three TDs through the air, and he ran for another 130 yards and a score. Killian Wilson also ran for 147 yards and a TD.
Kade Hall led Homedale (6-1, 2-1) with 72 rushing yards and two TDs, and Javid Blewett added another 56 yards and a score on the ground.
WEISER 38, COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN 6
The Wolverines (4-3, 2-1) ran for 309 yards and put points on the board on their first five possessions to cruise to a 4A SRV victory.
Garret Walker led the efficient attack, turning five offensive touches into 149 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Klete Cook finished 7-for-10 for 176 yards and two TDs, and Ty Cobb ran for 70 yards and a score.
Stats for Cole Valley Christian (2-4, 0-3) were not reported.
NAMPA CHRISTIAN 46, PARMA 0
The Trojans forced three turnovers and held Parma to 50 total yards to post the shutout and run away with a conference victory.
Ian Johnson turned six carries into 119 yards and two touchdowns to lead Nampa Christian (4-2, 2-0 3A WIC). Mason Mills ran for 82 yards and a score, and Ben Knudson added 69 yards and another TD as the Trojans ran for 293 of their 341 yards, averaging 12.2 yards per carry.
Stats for Parma (1-6, 0-3) were not reported.
SALMON RIVER 52, GARDEN VALLEY 50
The Wolverines scored twice in the final 3 minutes. But Salmon River (5-2, 1-1) held on to keep its 1A Long Pin Conference title hopes alive.
Quarterback Blake Shepherd led Salmon River in the shootout, completing 13-of-20 passes for 237 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Riley Davis ran for 232 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, and he added another score as a receiver.
Payson Kelly led Garden Valley (4-3, 0-3), completing 7-of-8 passes for 267 yards and two TDs while running for another score.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 6:56 PM.
