District 5 Week 5 recap: Rockland, West Side still rolling; Highland beats Century in return of city rivalry

EASTERN IDAHO — The West Side Pirates and Rockland Bulldogs stayed perfect on the season with wins Friday.

Rockland downed the Sho-Ban Chiefs 62-6, matching their awe-inspiring season point differential. West Side traveled to Declo for a showdown of undefeated rivals, topping the Hornets 21-14 in the East Idaho Sports District 5 Game of the Week.

In other local action, the Highland Rams and Century Diamondbacks renewed their crosstown rivalry, with the Rams claiming an impressive 41-7 victory for a second win in as many weeks, and Malad bolstered its playoff resume with a one-sided victory over Soda Springs.

Rams continue climbing the momentum mountain

Highland (2-3, 0-0) started the season with three straight losses, by 21 combined points. The Rams awoke from that slumber last week with a 36-0 neutral-site victory over Lake City (4-2). They won their second game in as many weeks Friday, beating the Diamondbacks (1-4, 0-3) 41-7 at Century High School.

Senior quarterback Jacob Vincent led the way, completing 16 of 19 pass attempts for 205 yards and three scores. Senior Kellan Tingey was on the receiving end of two of those touchdown passes, while senior Cedric Mitchell caught the other, adding 86 rushing yards — on just 13 carries — and another touchdown.

Next up for the Rams is another rivalry matchup, with the Black and Blue Bowl pitting host Highland against the Pocatello Thunder on Friday.

Century will be at home, hosting conference foe Shelley (2-3, 1-2).

Thunder go quiet

Pocatello (1-4, 0-4) got a solid effort from its defense, which the Bonneville Bees (3-2, 2-1) to seven points. But the Thunder offense could muster just six points of its own, falling 7-6 for a third consecutive loss.

The Thunder have scored fewer than 20 points in four of five games this season.

4A teams go winless

American Falls (3-3, 0-0), Bear Lake (3-2, 0-0), Preston (0-4, 0-0) and Snake River (0-6, 0-0) combined to go 0-4 over the weekend, with conference play just around the corner.

The Beavers went on the road, falling 27-8 against South Fremont (5-1, 0-0); Bear Lake hosted Rich (UT), losing 33-12; Preston visited Sugar-Salem (5-1, 0-0), going down 49-35 in a shootout; and the Panthers hosted Teton (1-4, 0-0), going down 20-7.

Preston will be at home against South Fremont on Friday, while Bear Lake will visit Wendell (0-5). American Falls and Snake River will use a bye week to prepare for the conference schedule.

Dragons torch Cards, Pirates sting Hornets

The Malad Dragons (3-2, 1-0) continued their winning streak, pushing that streak to three games with a 33-6 home victory over conference foe Soda Springs (2-3, 0-1). The Cardinals also came into the weekend riding a three-game winning streak, but will have to rebuild that momentum this week when they host West Side.

The Pirates (5-0, 0-0) took their own winning streak on the road to Declo, for a rivalry showdown with the undefeated Hornets (5-1). As has become tradition, the two teams met at midfield before the coin toss for a short kerfuffle.

Cooler heads prevailed, though, with players from both sides shaking hands and hugging opponents after a 21-14 West Side win. The Pirates were led by junior running back Mason Williams, who finished the game with 119 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

RELATED | West Side continues its dominance in rivalry with Declo despite coach’s ejection

Malad will host conference newcomer Marsh Valley (0-5, 0-1) Friday, while West Side battles Soda Springs, and Aberdeen (3-2, 1-0) hosts Filer (0-4).

Bulldogs keep biting, North Gem falls short

The Rockland Bulldogs (5-0, 1-0) went into their Friday matchup with the Sho-Ban Chiefs (0-4, 0-1) boasting a shocking plus-216, though four games (plus-54 per game). They maintained that margin of victory, beating the Chiefs 62-6.

Rockland was led by Zach Permann, who scored four touchdowns — one rushing, two receiving and one via pick-six. Xavier Parrish added four passing touchdowns, while freshmen Luke Permann and Cooper Udy scored two touchdowns apiece.

The Bulldogs will be in Ogden, Utah, this week to take St. Joseph (UT), while Sho-Ban will travel to Bancroft for a conference matchup with the North Gem Cowboys.

North Gem (3-3, 1-1) was in Mackay last week, where they lost 40-34 to the Miners (3-3, 1-0).