3 Idaho high school football games you should not have missed in Week 5 (9/22/2023)

Hillcrest shows it is team to beat after knocking off another title contender

Hillcrest High School football coach Brennon Mossholder didn’t want to go as far as to call it a statement.

But what else do you call knocking off two prohibitive Class 4A favorites in consecutive weeks?

The second-ranked Knights took down No. 3 Pocatello, 21-14, on Friday night in its own stadium at Lookout Field. This comes just a week after downing three-time reigning state champion Skyline.

“I think it means we’re among the best. But November is a long way off,” Mossholder said. “I think we’ve proven that we belong and we just got to keep getting better from here.”

It was another come-from-behind win, too.

The Knights trailed 14-6 at the break. The first half saw them waste away two red-zone opportunities. They turned it over on downs before Peyton King threw an ill-timed interception.

But Hillcrest got its act together after coming out of the locker room.

The Knights tied it up at 14-14 midway through the third quarter after Jace Judy came up with some late-game heroics. The junior wide receiver hauled in a 25-yard, over-the-top pass from King on  fourth and 1 from the Thunder 30-yard line with a little more than four minutes remaining.

King gave Hillcrest the lead for good - 21-14 - on a bootleg pass to senior tight end Ben Morris with 45 seconds remaining.

But Hillcrest (5-0) did have to survive one last charge from Pocatello (2-2).

The Thunder reached the Knights’ 15 to give themselves one last chance to either tie or win the game. However, Dreyson Contreras’ pass fell just incomplete in the corner of the end zone as Hillcrest was able to celebrate its best start in at least 20 years.

“When you have tight football games, it’s never gonna be pretty,” Mossholder said. “But the fact that we persevered through it and made plays when we absolutely needed to, I’m really proud of our guys and where we’re at.”

Ryken EchoHawk and Julian Bowie were responsible for Pocatello’s touchdowns on the night. EchoHawk scored on the team’s first possession of the game via a run. While Bowie snagged a pass from Contreras in the second quarter.

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MERIDIAN SEEMINGLY BACK ON TRACK AFTER EDGING NO. 2 HIGHLAND

Following an 0-2 start -its worst in a decade - Meridian plummeted out of the rankings and was out of mind.

Well, the Warriors are now seemingly back after a 21-14 road win over second-ranked and previously undefeated Highland.

"Meridian outplayed us and made plays when they needed to. We didn't execute down the stretch," Highland coach Nicholas Sorrell said. "Too many self-imposed mistakes cost us that put us behind the chains and put us in tough situations all night long."

Junior quarterback Zeke Martinez found senior running back Rylie Byington in the flat. His legs did the rest for a 20-yard touchdown catch with 1:25 to go in the third quarter. It gave the Warriors (3-2) a 21-14 advantage. Their defense did the rest.

They picked off Highland senior quarterback Drew Hymas and forced a pair of turnovers on downs deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter for a third straight win. It’s the second year in a row in which Meridian has downed the Rams, as well.

Martinez combined for 212 yards, including 153 on the ground. He connected with senior tailback Marco Del Rio on a touchdown pass, too. Del Rio also ran for a score in the win.

Highland’s Jackson Riddle ran for a pair of touchdowns, including breaking off a 55-yard score on the opening drive of the game. The Rams were looking for their first 5-0 start since 2014.

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BOISE PROVES ITS FOR REAL WITH UPSET OVER NO. 3 MOUNTAIN VIEW

There are no more excuses.

Any lingering doubt about whether Boise, which was picked to finish dead last in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference preseason coaches poll, is legit or not was erased after its stunning result Thursday evening.

The Brave downed No. 3 Mountain View, 35-21. at Dona Larsen Park for just their second-ever win over the perennial power.

Sophomore quarterback Trevor Schoolfield hit senior wideout Cooper Smith for a 33-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to give Boise a 19-13 lead. The Brave (5-0) never trailed again.

Smith torched the usual tough Maverick (3-2) defense for 188 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. He had 10 catches for 138 yards and two scores.

Schoolfield only missed four times, going 20-of-24 for 281 yards and three scores.

And Alex Hess sealed it.

The senior halfback took a handoff and went right up the middle for a 68-yard touchdown run with just 4:58 remaining.

This is now Boise’s best start in nearly 40 years.

Coming into the season, the Brave had posted just one winning season over the last 30 years and owned the 5A classification’s longest playoff drought. They haven’t made state since 2002. Those both look to be finally over.

Boise won the game despite committing 15 penalties for 118 yards.

Mountain View senior quarterback Justin McGee totaled nearly 400 yards of offense himself. He went 17-for-34 for 267 yards and two touchdowns, while running for another 97. Grayson Flatten finished with 146 yards and a score, including hauling in nine receptions for 98 yards.

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