Mid-Term Report: District IV/V/VI
- idaho8man
- Oct 5, 2017
- 5 min read
Photo Courtesy: Valley High School
Six weeks done. September is over. It's time to start looking ahead to see who is in good shape and who has work to do to qualify for the Idaho 1A state football playoffs.
Up next, District IV/V/VI.
Division 1 Snake River Conference
Bids: 3
Looking Good
Valley (5-0 overall, 3-0 SRC): Head Coach Ryon Jarvis's bunch has not been held under 50 points thusfar, nor has it allowed over 20 points in a game. The Vikings already have a win over Challis, which will be beneficial in tiebreaking scenarios, but they're walking into a three-week stretch where they're home against Raft River, at Grace, and at Oakley. That's a brutal stretch.
Oakley (3-1 overall, 3-0 SRC): Yes, the Hornets lost once to Raft River, but it was considered a non-conference game. They also didn't get one of its non-conference games when District III Horseshoe Bend canceled a scheduled contest. It's a very talented team but, like Valley, has a rough three-week stretch where the Hornets are at Challis and then home for Valley and Raft River.
Challis (5-1 overall, 4-1 SRC): The Vikings split with Valley and Raft River, but still have both Grace and Oakley -- at home -- to close the regular season. Take care of business and they're fine. If not ... tiebreaker scenarios could be crazy in the Snake River Conference later this month, depending on how things play out. TT Cain has his team playing really well right now.
Raft River (4-1 overall, 2-1 SRC): The defending state champion's path is simple - win out, and you're in. A one-point loss at Challis has put them in a bit of a danger zone but the Trojans still get Valley (road) and Oakley (home) over the final four weeks to take care of business. One of these four is guaranteed to miss the playoffs.
Mathematically Alive
Grace (4-2 overall, 2-2 SRC): Remember, only three teams get in and Grace is the fifth one we have listed. Losses to Oakley and Raft River (a very tight game) have left the Grizzlies little margin for error. They still get Valley (home) and Challis (road) to make their case. A loss in either makes it unlikely that Grace will reach the postseason. Win both, however ... which isn't an outrageous thought ... and who knows?
Out
Hagerman (2-4 overall, 0-4 SRC): Coach Mark Kress's group's biggest issue this season is that it plays in the Snake River Conference. Its two non-conference games - 2-0, outscored its opponents 66-16. Its four conference games - 0-4, outscores by its opponents 208-20. Wouldn't be shocked to see the Pirates win two of their final three, but ... won't be enough to make the postseason.
Shoshone (0-5 overall, 0-3 SRC): The Indians have already faced Valley, Challis, and Grace. A lot of 8-man teams in Idaho would be 0-3 if they played the same schedule. Head coach Michael Perry's group can play spoiler, though, with Raft River and Oakley still to come.
Glenns Ferry (0-6 overall, 0-3 SRC): The Pilots qualified for the postseason in 2017 but graduated a terrific senior class and changed head coaches. The defense has shown flashes, but the offense has failed to duplicate its success from recent seasons.
Division 2 Sawtooth West
Bids: 4
Qualified
Carey (6-0 overall, 5-0 SW): The Panthers have two games remaining so the worst they can finish in SW play is 5-2 and tied for 4th with Castleford (assuming the Wolves win out). Carey has already beaten the Wolves, giving the Panthers that tiebreaker. Carey has the look of a legitimate state title contender.
Looking Good:
Dietrich (4-2 overall, 4-1 SW): A win over winless Hansen on Friday should punch the Blue Devils' ticket as well. They've been a good story this season after losing a good senior class last season. Head coach Rick Astle and his players have done a good job plugging holes and winning games and won't be an easy "out" in the playoffs.
Lighthouse Christian (4-2 overall, 4-1 SW): A win in either of its last two games (at Castleford, at Dietrich) should do the trick for the young Lions. No sure thing but their fate is squarely in their own hands.
Mathematically Alive
Castleford (3-3 overall, 3-2 SW): First-year head coach Brian Lowry and his players have done a good job to put themselves in position to qualify for the postseason. If the Wolves want to be sure of it, a win at resurgent Murtaugh on October 20 would likely seal the deal.
Murtaugh (2-3 overall, 2-3 SW): The Red Devils, under Todd Jensen, have been a very pleasant surprise in the Sawtooth West. After losing nearly 30 games in a row, Murtaugh has won two of its last three but likely needs a win at home over Castleford in its final regular-season game to advance to the playoffs.
Out
Richfield (1-4 overall, 1-4 SW): The Tigers have one of the top players in the conference in RB/LB Justin Wood, but struggles on defense have proven too much for the team to overcome in its quest to qualify for the playoffs. It has been great, however, to see the team back on the field after turnout issues kept Richfield from fielding its own team last fall.
Camas County (1-5 overall, 1-4 SW): Injuries have derailed what had the looks of a promising season in Fairfield for the Mushers. The team was 1-1 before falling in a tight game against Dietrich. The Mushers lost their next two before low numbers forced a forfeit in a non-conference game against Watersprings but, if healthy, the team has an opportunity to finish strong with games against Richfield and Hansen still left on the docket.
Hansen (0-5 overall, 0-5 SW): The Huskies have been able to score some points, including 66 in a loss last week against Richfield, but not enough to fight into the upper tier of the Sawtooth West. Love to see the Huskies and Murtaugh, who had previously co-op'd a single team, fielding their own squads. That's a very good thing for 8-man football in Idaho.
District V/VI Sawtooth East
Bids: 4
Looking Good
Butte County (4-1 overall, 3-0 SE): Easy formula for head coach Sam Thorngren and his team - win two games and claim the no. 1 seed out of the Sawtooth East. There is a plausible scenario where the Pirates and North Gem could be playing for a conference title (and top seed) in the regular-season finale but the Pirates appear to be in good shape to reach the postseason either way.
Clark Co./Watersprings (4-2 overall, 2-1 SE): CC-W has two games left and even a split appears to clinch a playoff berth. Not bad for a team that was forced into co-op'ing due to low turnouts about a month before the season began. They're not flashy, but they play hard.
North Gem (2-3 overall, 2-1 SE): Dana Strong's Cowboys team picked up a big win over Rockland two weeks ago to clear its path going forward. The Cowboys can do itself a big favor by beating Sho-Ban at home next Friday (10/13), which gives them a chance to play at Butte County ... where the winner would be the conference champ.
Mathematically Alive
Everyone else. Mackay (1-1 SE), Sho-Ban (0-2 SE) and Rockland (0-3 SE) will tussle for one spot. Friday's game in Rockland between the Bulldogs and Sho-Ban could help clear some of the dust while Mackay faces two tough tests to close out the regular season against Butte County (home) and Clark Co./Watersprings (road). In terms of tiebreakers, Mackay beat Rockland, giving the Miners a tie-breaker edge there. Bottom line, though, is that all three teams are still playing for something at this point which, for coaches, players and fans, is what you want.
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