Written by: Lucas Gebhart
Emmett has been one of Idaho’s best 4A schools in recent years, but a strong 2021 regular season didn’t help much in last year’s postseason.
The Huskies went 7-2 in the 2021 regular season, earning the 4-seed heading into the state playoffs. But Emmett was upset on its home turf in the opening round by Nampa, a school the Huskies beat by 10 about a month earlier.
The loss ended what was a promising season. Emmett smoked 5A Boise in its season opener before losing by only 6 to the eventually 3A state champion in Weiser. The Huskies then closed the year by winning six of their last seven, shutting out conference power Bishop Kelly along the way.
Despite the strong start, Emmett’s struggles began at the worst possible time. The Huskies lost by one to Vallivue to close the regular season and an outright SIC championship slipped through their hands in the process. The struggles continued the following week as Nampa took full advantage of getting another crack at the Huskies, beating Emmett, 37-29.
It ended what many hoped would be another bid at a state title. Emmet got close in 2020 but lost to Skyline in the state title game that year. It was their first appearance in the 4A title game since making the move from 3A in 2016. Emmett has made the state playoffs in four of those six years.
This year, Emmett will open its season with Blackfoot, Fruitland and Lake City before diving into the SIC schedule with Skyview, a school that’s returning to 4A after a brief stint in 5A. Skyview, along with Bishop Kelly, figure to contend for a conference championship along with Emmett this year, but many of the conferences coaches says Columbia could be dangerous too.