Week 8 Idaho high school football preview: Top games to watch, players to see, score predictions

Here is an inside look at the top high school football games across the state of Idaho during the eighth full weekend of 2022.

CLASS 5A

NO. 9 COEUR D’ALENE VIKINGS (4-3) at NO. 10 POST FALLS TROJANS (5-2)

7 p.m. (PST) Friday at Post Falls High School

Game nugget: Coeur d’Alene has won six out of the past seven meetings.

How the Vikings win?: Score points. While Coeur d’Alene has won four out of its past five games, it is still 19th out of 21 teams in points per game at 15.7. The Vikings have yet to score more than 28 points in a game this season. Is this the game where QB Jamison Kizziar and company finally let loose?.

How the Trojans win?: This is the moment Post Falls has been waiting for - a chance to rule the 5A Inland Empire by itself. It did win a share of one last season in a three-way tie, but hasn't won a league title outright since 2004 in 4A. QB Isaac McKeown and RB Jake Bustamante are catalysts in powerful offense.

SBLive Idaho pick: Post Falls, 28-24.

NAMPA BULLDOGS (5-2) at NO. 6 MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS (4-3)

7 p.m. (MST) Friday at Mountain View High School, Meridian

Game nugget: Mountain View has won all four meetings by a combined score of 237-25.

How the Bulldogs win?: Get the run game going. It’s something Nampa didn’t do in its last high-profile game against Eagle earlier this season (45-14 loss) RB Daniel Carrillo leads the classification in rushing with 1,265 yards and 20 touchdowns while Dante Avijan has racked up 504 yards on the ground himself.

How the Mavericks win?: A fast start. The common theme among all three of Mountain View’s losses this season has been a slow start, including falling behind 14-0 to Eagle less than four minutes into the game last week. QB Dawson Wahl’s health has been an issue, but RB Justin McGee has picked up the slack. 

SBLive Idaho pick: Mountain View, 34-20.

CLASS 4A

VALLIVUE FALCONS (4-3) at NO. 5 EMMETT HUSKIES (5-2)

7 p.m. (MST) Friday at Emmett High School

Game nugget: Winner secures at least runner-up finish in 4A SIC.

How the Falcons win?: Run the football. Vallivue boasts the top rushing attack in the state at 374 yards per game. It’s doing so behind the two-headed monster of Tyson Fox and Koa Maio, who have combined for 2,044 yards and 27 touchdowns. Fox leads the classification in rushing with 1,359 yards and 16 touchdowns.

How the Huskies win?: A balanced attack has served Emmett well this season. It’s led to the Huskies having the state’s fourth-best offense in points per game with 41.8. QB Dakota Perry has thrown for 1,211 yards and 27 touchdowns (and only two INT) while RB Ry Fullerton is 62 yards away from the 1,000-yard mark.

SBLive Idaho pick: Emmett, 38-31.

CLASS 3A

NO. 10 FRUITLAND GRIZZLIES (4-3) at NO. 2 HOMEDALE TROJANS (6-1)

7 p.m. (MST) Friday at Homedale High School

Game nugget: Winner takes over first place in 3A Snake River Valley.

How the Grizzlies win?: It wasn’t that long ago when Fruitland was mired in chaos with a sudden coaching change after an 0-3 start. But under the guidance of new coach and ex-NFL lineman Jordan Gross, Grizzlies are in great position. QB Luke Barinaga has led the charge with both his arm and legs.

How the Trojans win?: On a 23-game league winning streak, Homedale knows how to win important regular-season games. QB Jaxon Dines is a dual threat. RB Trenton Fisher chews up yardage on the ground like nobody’s business and there might not be a ball that WR Mason Strong can’t bring in.

SBLive Idaho pick: Homedale, 42-14.

CLASS 2A

NO. 4 ABERDEEN TIGERS (5-1) at NO. 3 WEST SIDE PIRATES (5-1)

7 p.m. (MST) Friday at West Side High School, Dayton

Game nugget: West Side has won the past four meetings.

How the Tigers win?: Aberdeen blanked No. 1 North Fremont, 24-0, last week. Can it now do the same to the three-time reigning state champions? First-year coach Braden Driscoll’s decision to transition the Tigers to a run-first offense with Brody Beck moving over from quarterback to running back has paid dividends.

How the Pirates win?: West Side’s 35-game winning streak ended weeks ago - but a fourth consecutive state title is still well within reach. But first, the Pirates would like to secure a fifth South East Idaho Conference championship in a row. Running back trio of Parker Moser, Easton Shurtliff and Owen Nielsen have been hard to stop.

SBLive Idaho pick: Aberdeen, 21-14.