WEEK 1

Fruitland at Kimberly (Saturday, Aug. 23, 7 PM)

Two teams that are aiming for not only conference titles this year, but a state championship as well, meet up for the second year in a row to kick off the season. Who could forget last year’s classic in Fruitland? The Bulldogs held a multi-score lead in the fourth quarter before Fruitland scored three times over the final 12 minutes to stun Kimberly 32-28. Kimberly then hosted Fruitland in a 4A state quarterfinal matchup, emerging victorious in an overtime thriller, 27-26, that wasn’t decided until Kimberly made the gutsy decision to go for the game-winning two-point conversion in OT and succeeded.

WEEK 2

Weiser at Buhl (Thursday, Aug. 28, 7 PM)

Buhl famously defied the odds in Weiser last season. After all six IdahoSports.com “experts” picked Weiser to win in our weekly Pick Six segment, Buhl went out and put the clamps on defensively in a 9-6 triumph. It set the tone for a 7-3 campaign overall, and several standout members of that Indians team are back in 2025. Despite falling to Buhl, Weiser got the last laugh, finishing 8-3 and advancing one round further into the playoffs. Homedale dispatched Buhl in the 4A quarterfinals before turning back Weiser the next week in the semifinals.

WEEK 3

Lakeland at Weiser (Friday, Sept. 5, 7 PM)

Weiser made the long journey north to Rathdrum in 2024 to battle the 5A Hawks. Now, they’ll host a team that ended up qualifying for the 5A semifinals a year ago. Lakeland’s do-everything running back Lovie Weil is gone, though, and Lakeland may lean more on the passing game this year to compensate. Weiser, led by legendary head coach Tom Harrison, features the running game heavily regardless of who’s back there, although it helps that senior Cole Ingle is a returning starter at running back.

WEEK 4

Kimberly at Homedale (Friday, Sept. 12, 7 PM)

The Bulldogs hosted Homedale a year ago and were trounced by the Trojans, 47-21. Homedale tends to do that to a lot of teams, though. Kimberly actually returns more weapons in 2025, with senior quarterback MaCraye Bruning and junior wideouts Titus Osterman and Joe Barrett forming a dangerous trio. Homedale will lean on the running game with Javid Blewett.

WEEK 5

Sugar-Salem at Kimberly (Friday, Sept. 19, 7 PM)

Kimberly went to Sugar-Salem last season and walked out with a last-second 17-14 win thanks to Eddy Paz’ field goal as time expired. Sugar doesn’t lose often, and when they do, they tend to remember. Fast forward to the 4A semifinals, where the Diggers pitched a 27-0 shutout of Kimberly on their way to a fifth state championship in six years. Get your popcorn ready for the rematch in Kimberly.

WEEK 6

South Fremont at American Falls (Friday, Sept, 26, 7 PM)

This matchup represents two programs trying to turn the corner. South Fremont is a well-coached team that has had the misfortune of playing in the same conference as Sugar-Salem and Teton the past couple of years. American Falls, meanwhile, went to Moscow in the opening round of the playoffs last year and earned their first postseason victory since 1995. Their season ended a week later, but that momentum has earned the Beavers favorite status in the South East Idaho Conference this year.

WEEK 7

Weiser at Homedale (Friday, Oct. 3, 7 PM)

What more needs to be said? Ohio State and Michigan can’t hold a candle to this rivalry (it would help if the Buckeyes could actually beat the Wolverines one of these years, but I digress). Weiser won the regular season matchup last year 30-6 before Homedale exacted revenge in the 4A semifinals 27-7. Tom Harrison of Weiser and Matt Holtry of Homedale are two of the best coaches in Idaho, and watching them battle it out again is must-watch football.

WEEK 8

Homedale at Fruitland (Friday, Oct. 10, 7 PM)

Lost in the mist of Homedale and Weiser is Fruitland, which has probably been the best third-place program in Idaho over the past several years. Not so long ago, Fruitland ruled the roost in the Snake River Valley Conference, though, and coach Jordan Gross thinks he has the team to ascend to the top spot again in 2025. Junior quarterback Titus Vidlak and senior offensive tackle Kelvin Obot (a Utah commit) have Grizzly fans excited. But in order to win the SRV, defending your home field against Homedale is an absolute must.

WEEK 9

American Falls at Snake River (Friday, Oct. 17, 7 PM)

I mentioned earlier that American Falls has earned preseason favorite status ahead of this season. And that’s great on paper. But to actually win the conference crown, the Beavers will have to travel to Snake River and take it from the Panthers. Snake River has won the South East Idaho Conference three years in a row.

WEEK 10

Bonners Ferry at Timberlake (Friday, Oct. 24, 7 PM)

Back in the day, the Intermountain League championship went to the winner of this game. Last year, though, Moscow crashed the party after petitioning down a classification level and steamrolled to the IML title. Both Timberlake and Bonners Ferry missed out on the playoffs, a trend that both squads hope will end at one year. The winner of this game will have a good shot at qualifying for the postseason, while the loser may have to sweat things out.