Photo Credit: Michael Najera Photography

6A CLASSIFICATION

 - After losing a significant amount of playmakers to graduation, defending 6A champ Rigby had no issues with Roy (Utah) in the season opener.  The Trojans went to the Beehive State and pitched a 35-0 shutout.  A pair of new running backs combined to rush for four touchdowns, and the defense came away with a few timely turnovers.  The Trojans return to Idaho to play in this weekend’s Rocky Mountain Rumble.  All Rumble games will be streamed exclusively on IdahoSports.com.

- A fast first quarter propelled Eagle to a 33-28 win over Highland in a matchup of top-five teams.  Senior Bowen Blackburn rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns for Eagle, which led 13-7 at the end of one quarter of play.  The Rams were forced to play catch-up the rest of the way and had one final possession with just over a minute to play.  But the drive eventually faltered on an incomplete pass with 30 seconds to go, preserving the win for Eagle. 

- Coeur d’Alene handled 5A Lakeland, 35-10.  Dual-threat quarterback Tannar Stern completed 14-of-17 attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns while adding 103 yards and two touchdowns rushing in the win.  Coeur d’Alene associate head coach Vinny Lupinacci coached the Vikings to the win, as head coach Shawn Amos must serve a two-game suspension to start the year after using a JV-only-eligible player during last year’s playoffs. 

- Boise survived a tight battle with Lake City, 14-13.  The Brave jumped out to leads of 7-0 and 14-7 thanks to a six-yard run from Logan McDonald and an 11-yard pass from Wayne Bower to Charlie Ruebel.  With just under five minutes to play, Lake City backup quarterback Knox Keogh (subbing for injured starter Britton Johnston) scored on a five-yard run to bring Lake City within 14-13.  But the extra point was no good and Boise ran out the remaining clock to hold on for the win.

- Madison blew past 5A Minico in its season opener, 52-0.  The Bobcats led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter and 42-0 at halftime.  Micah Dougherty threw four touchdown passes and ran in a fifth, Carter Tonks scored a rushing touchdown and returned a fumble 15 yards for a score, and Brenner Stoddard nailed a 42-yard field goal. 

5A CLASSIFICATION

 - Sandpoint survived a nip-and-tuck battle with Twin Falls after the Bruins failed on a two-point conversion try with less than 30 seconds to go.  Trailing 36-28, Twin Falls running back Jackson Sattelberg scored on a three-yard run, bringing the score to within 36-34.  Kamden Richter was stuffed on the two-point try, though, and the Bulldogs held on for the two-point win.  IdahoSports.com Player of the Game Brock Yarbrough caught 12 passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns for Sandpoint.

- Lewiston’s defense came away with three interceptions as the Bengals held off Columbia, 12-8.  The Bengals trailed 8-0 at halftime, but junior DJ Wilkerson scored on a three-yard run and also hauled in a 74-yard touchdown pass from Dallas Richardson to propel the Bengals to the come-from-behind win.

- All of the scoring between Blackfoot and Shelley occurred in the second quarter, as the Broncos slugged out an 8-7 win over the Russets.  Shelley struck first on an 85-yard touchdown run from Kyrev Hawker and took a 7-0 lead.  Then, with just 28 seconds to go before halftime, Blackfoot answered on a one-yard plunge from Briggs Esplin.  Broncos coach Josh Stewart elected to go for two, Mason Taylor punched it in, and that was all she wrote.

- Skyview’s rushing attack piled up 302 yards as the Hawks nearly shut out Mountain Home, 35-2.  Kimball Robison led the way with 86 yards on seven totes, while Lukas Henslee (9 carries, 73 yards) and Blaedon Brock (10 carries, 69 yards) also turned in fine efforts.

- In just one game, Burley has already exceeded its win total from 2025.  After finishing winless a year ago, the Bobcats went on the road to Ridgevue and sneaked away with a narrow 20-19 win over a playoff team from last season.

4A CLASSIFICATION

- Homedale senior Tyce Fisher turned heads last year for his play on defense, as the linebacker earned All-State honors during the Trojan’s championship-winning season.  In 2026, though, Fisher has his sights set on an All-State nod at running back, too.  Fisher rushed for 125 yards and three scores on 18 carries as the Trojans surged past Sugar-Salem, 33-14, in a rematch of last year’s 4A semifinals.

- We didn’t get one, but two semifinal rematches from last year’s 4A playoffs.  The second semifinal saw Fruitland exact revenge over Kimberly, 42-21.  The Bulldogs nipped the Grizzlies last year, spoiling Fruitland’s perfect season and denying them an opportunity to play for a championship.  Titus Vidlak threw for 136 yards and a touchdown, but the Montana State commit dazzled with his legs, rushing for 197 yards and four scores.

- Weiser and Spring Creek (Nev.) battled to a 35-35 draw through four quarters, sending the game to overtime.  The Wolverines scored on their opening possession, as Zayn Crossley ran in a touchdown from four yards away.  Weiser’s two-point conversion try was stuffed, though, leaving the Wolverines in a precarious position.  When Spring Creek answered on their possession in OT, all they needed was an extra point to win.  Spring Creek drilled the PAT and earned the 42-41 win over Weiser.

- Welcome back to 4A football, Emmett.  After several years of competing at the 5A level, the Huskies dropped back down to 4A due to declining enrollment and blew past Moscow in their season opener, 55-0.  Eli Brennan threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, Ryder Leonard ran for 105 yards and three scores, and Griffin Hargitt caught six balls for 107 yards and a TD.

- The Battle of Fremont County belongs to South Fremont after the Cougars dismantled North Fremont, 53-0.  Although South Fremont is a 4A program, while North Fremont is 3A, the dominant win was still impressive for coach Chad Hill’s squad.

3A CLASSIFICATION

- Drake Sage ran wild in West Side’s 29-14 win over 4A Snake River.  The senior handled 17 carries for 155 yards and all four touchdowns for the Pirates.  On the other side of the ball, West Side held Snake River’s ground game to just 75 yards.

- The more things change, the more they stay the same in Aberdeen.  Despite a new group of stars leading this year’s Tigers team, coach Derek Jolley’s unit looked markedly similar to the teams that have made deep playoff runs in recent years.  Aberdeen showcased a clock-grinding offense, paired with a suffocating defense, as the Tigers defeated Salmon in a 14-8 contest.

- Declo dazzled in its season-opening win over 4A Filer, 38-14.  Sophomore Mason Smith led the way with 11 yards and two touchdowns rushing, while junior quarterback Traecyn Thaxton completed 13-of-16 passes for 138 yards and a score.

- Melba senior Rhett Franklin is ready for his close-up after rushing for 28 yards and four touchdowns in the Mustangs’ 26-0 shutout of Ririe in the season opener for both squads.  The Bulldogs ran their Wing-T to near perfection last year in a state runner-up season, but on this day, it was Melba’s rushing attack that stole the show.  

- Logos, the 2A runner-up a season ago, voluntarily opted up to play 3A football this season.  That alone is bold, but the fact that 2A is played with eight players, and 3A is played with 11, it’s downright unheard-of.  The Knights showed no problems with the 11-man game, as they defeated Wendell, 39-6.  Senior quarterback Baxter Covington threw four touchdown passes to four different players (Peter Kern, Finn Miller, Nate Monjure and Sam Rigney), and he ran for two scores as well.

2A CLASSIFICATION

- Potlatch made things interesting late, but Wallace ultimately prevailed by a score of 44-42 in a fun non-conference battle between a pair of 2A squads.  The Loggers trailed 44-28 midway through the fourth quarter, but scored two unanswered touchdowns and came within a two-point conversion of tying the game.  Wallace quarterback Cooper Miller threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 135 yards.  Lennox Radford caught eight passes for 202 yards and four scores.  For Potlatch, Trey Magallon threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 114 yards and a score.

- Nursing an 8-6 lead midway through the second quarter, Prairie finally broke things open before halftime, scoring 28 points in the frame on the way to a 56-12 win over 1A Troy.  Kade Quintal threw for 217 yards and two scores, while Peyton Stamper rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns.

- Grace picked up a 36-26 win over Murtaugh in non-conference play.  The Grizzlies platooned at quarterback with Kade Kimball (one rushing touchdown) and Keathen Edwards (one passing touchdown and two rushing scores).

- Butte County put the clamps on 1A Mackay en route to a 28-6 win.  Quarterback Cooper Williams rushed for 106 yards and returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown, while Teagan Babcock rushed for 83 yards and a score.  Babcock also turned in 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense.  Mackay’s Grayden Bruley registered 21 tackles in the loss.

1A CLASSIFICATION

- Coeur du Christ Academy quarterback Grant Clemens let it rip in the Saints’ 44-16 win over Lewis County on Saturday in a non-conference game at the Marimn Health Coeur Center in Worley.  The junior completed 20-of-24 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns en route to IdahoSports.com Player of the Game honors.  The two-way starter also intercepted two passes on defense.

- Kendrick has won five consecutive state championships entering 2026.  Three of those five have come at the 1A level, which is where the Tigers find themselves after a two-year sojourn to Class 2A.  In their return to 1A football, the result looked similar to others from this run of dominance: a 50-0 shutout of Council.  Maddox Kirkland completed 8-of-10 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns in the win.  Orion Stewart rushed for 125 yards and three scores on just nine carries.  Additionally, Nathan Kimberling logged five tackles and three sacks on defense.

- Lapwai nearly rallied back late, but the 2A Wildcats ultimately ran out of time as 1A Deary held on for the 36-26 win.  Junior quarterback Jarrett Keen had a hand in all five touchdowns for the Mustangs.  Keen threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 159 yards and three scores.

- Salmon River soared to a 70-28 win over Genesee in the season opener for both teams.  Blake Shepherd went 10-of-16 passing for 331 yards and five touchdowns, Noah Cereghino rushed for 182 yards and four scores on just 12 carries, and Malachi Cable hauled in six receptions for 226 yards and three TDs.

- North Gem’s rush-heavy triple option attack looked good in its season-opening 28-24 win over the Utah Military Academy.  The game was held in Ogden, Utah, and now North Gem returns home for a pivotal showdown with Carey this week.