Mountain View, Rocky Mountain meet for 5A state football title
Just about everything went right for the Mountain View High football team when it hosted Rocky Mountain on Sept. 3.
The exact opposite could be said for the Grizzlies, who committed six turnovers and lost 44-20.
Neither coach is expecting a repeat of that Week 2 matchup when the 5A SIC rivals meet at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Albertsons Stadium with the 5A state championship at stake.
“We didn’t expect it to go like that last time, and we’re not expecting that again,” Mountain View coach Judd Benedick said. “We expect a very good team to show up from Rocky, and we expect a very good game.
“Everything that could have gone wrong for them last time did, and everything that could have gone right for us did. Whether you’re looking at it from our side or their side, it’s either the perfect storm or the worst storm. We just don’t see it going that way again.”
Mountain View led 37-0 at halftime, and the Grizzlies’ defense was on the field for 56 snaps in the first half.
“I believe our kids walked on the field thinking that the reputation would carry us through,” said Rocky Mountain coach Scott Criner, whose team had won five in a row over the Mavericks. “What we found out is, Mountain View can play football. If you don’t come with your ‘A’ game against a team like that, they’re going to hand it to you.”
Mountain View has continued to roll and enters Saturday’s game with a school-record 11 victories and a second straight appearance in the title game.
Rocky Mountain (10-1) recovered from its only loss with nine straight wins, earning its first berth in the state championship game after losses in the semifinals the previous two seasons.
Regardless of who wins, it will be the Treasure Valley’s first 5A state title since 2009, which also marks the last time the Valley had two teams in the championship game.
“I think our kids are excited to play the game. It’s something we talked about on the field that night,” Criner said. “If all the cards fall in the right place, we’ll see this football team again. What are you going to do?”
Mountain View has been dominant on both sides of the ball, averaging 50.7 points a game while allowing 11.8. Junior quarterback Tucker Rovig (2,134 yards, 20 TDs, 4 INTs) leads the no-huddle spread and has looked strong distributing the ball to receivers Joe Farris and Keenan Pattwell, who have combined for 1,408 yards and 10 TDs. Senior TreyTon Bell complements Rovig’s passing attack as arguably the most dynamic running back in the state. He has 1,646 rushing yards and 24 TDs, plus 408 receiving yards and four more scores.
Rocky Mountain’s offense averages 37.6 points and 395 yards per game, while the defense allows 14.5 points a game. The Grizzlies favor the run, paced by senior quarterback Christian Blaser (842 rushing yards, 10 TDs; 949 passing yards, 9 TDs) and senior running back Jake Roper (1,146 yards, 15 TDs). Roper missed three games with a knee injury, but he has been difficult to stop in the playoffs, collecting 387 yards and five touchdowns in wins over Lewiston and Highland.
“It’s going to be a blast. It will be more people than most of these kids ever play in front of in their life,” Benedick said. “It’s just going to be a special opportunity, because it’s two teams from the Valley. They all know each other, and they’re not very far apart in terms of where their houses are. It should be a really fun environment for the kids.”
Championship Saturday
Here are the state championship football games involving Treasure Valley area teams:
▪ 5A: Mountain View vs. Rocky Mountain, 12:30 p.m., Albertsons Stadium, Boise
▪ 4A: Bishop Kelly vs. Sandpoint, 2 p.m. MT, Kibbie Dome, Moscow
▪ 3A: Emmett vs. Gooding, 4 p.m., Holt Arena, Pocatello
▪ 1A DII: Salmon River vs. Deary, 8 p.m. MT, Kibbie Dome, Moscow
Mountain View vs. Rocky Mountain
▪ When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday
▪ Where: Albertsons Stadium
▪ Radio: KAWO (104.3 FM)
▪ Records: Mountain View 11-0, Rocky Mountain 10-1
▪ Series: Rocky Mountain leads 5-3 (Mountain View won 44-20 this season)
Fan Facts
- Parking lots open at 11 a.m., and doors open at 11:30 a.m. No tailgating allowed.
- Mountain View fans will be seated on the west side and enter through Gate A and potentially Gate B on the southwest side.
- Rocky Mountain fans enter through Gate N on the southeast side.
- Tickets ($7 adults, $6 students/seniors) can be purchased in advance at idhsaa.org.
- Fans should expect long lines and increased security.
STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GLANCE
CLASS 5A
QUARTERFINALS
Rocky Mountain 65, Lewiston 20
Highland 29, Eagle 27
Madison 22, Coeur d’Alene 12
Mountain View 42, Capital 14
SEMIFINALS
Rocky Mountain 24, Highland 7
Mountain View 23, Madison 21
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday
At Albertsons Stadium, Boise
Rocky Mountain (10-1) vs. Mountain View (11-0), 12:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
QUARTERFINALS
Century 42, Twin Falls 35 (OT)
Bishop Kelly 28, Middleton 21
Sandpoint 34, Kuna 13
Rigby 43, Blackfoot 13
SEMIFINALS
Bishop Kelly 56, Century 20
Sandpoint 31, Rigby 22
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday
At Kibbie Dome, Moscow
Bishop Kelly (9-2) vs. Sandpoint (8-3), 2 p.m. MT
CLASS 3A
QUARTERFINALS
Emmett 55, Shelley 14
Sugar-Salem 28, Fruitland 26
Gooding 34, South Fremont 33
Homedale 28, Parma 0
SEMIFINALS
Emmett 42, Sugar-Salem 14
Gooding 43, Homedale 34
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday
At Holt Arena, Pocatello
Gooding (9-2) vs. Emmett (10-0), 4 p.m.
CLASS 2A
QUARTERFINALS
Nampa Christian 23, North Fremont 22
Grangeville 41, Melba 6
Declo 34, West Jefferson 28 (OT)
Aberdeen 17, St. Maries 0
SEMIFINALS
Grangeville 48, Nampa Christian 34
Aberdeen 28, Declo 7
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday
At Kibbie Dome, Moscow
Grangeville (8-3) vs. Aberdeen (11-0), 5 p.m. MT
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
QUARTERFINALS
Raft River 36, Notus 8
Prairie 42, Oakley 22
Lapwai 44, Glenns Ferry 25
Valley 48, Kamiah 36
SEMIFINALS
Prairie 44, Raft River 30
Valley 104, Lapwai 48
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday
At Holt Arena, Pocatello
Valley (11-0) vs. Prairie (11-0), 1 p.m.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
QUARTERFINALS
Carey 26, North Gem 8
Deary 36, Council 28
Salmon River 48, Kendrick 20
Lighthouse Christian 34, Clark County 32
SEMIFINALS
Deary 20, Carey 16
Salmon River 44, Lighthouse Christian 32
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday
At Kibbie Dome, Moscow
Deary (11-0) vs. Salmon River (9-1), 8 p.m. MT
This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 11:58 PM with the headline "Mountain View, Rocky Mountain meet for 5A state football title."