Week 5 recap and notes: How the conference races look heading into October, plus it’s Emotion Bowl week

EASTERN IDAHO – Heading into the second half of the season there are a lot of storylines emerging.

Here’s a look a how the District 6 conferences are shaping up.

6A

Preseason prognosticators predicted that defending state champion Rigby would be the team to beat.

That’s still the case, but the Trojans will face the toughest part of their schedule, beginning this week.

After a bye week, media state poll No. 1 Rigby (5-0) heads north to No. 2 Coeur d’Alene for a 6A showdown.

Win or lose, things won’t get any easier when the Trojans return to finish the final three weeks with conference games that will ultimately determine playoff positioning.

Madison (5-1) has a bye this week, but comes off an impressive 21-0 win over Skyline, and may present the biggest challenge to Rigby’s dominance in the conference.

Coach Matt Pancheri noted the Bobcats are still looking to find some answers on the offensive side since a season-ending injury to QB Micah Dougherty.

“We’ve got to be able to move the ball better,” he said.

Highland has won two straight after a slow start and comes off a 41-7 win over Century.

The Rams (2-3) have scored 77 points over their past two games and play in the Black and Blue Bowl against Pocatello on Friday.

Highland has dominated the rivalry game, but another win over Poky could add some momentum heading into conference play.

Thunder Ridge (3-2) had its three-game win streak snapped by 5A power Hillcrest on Friday and plays Blackfoot this week before starting conference play.

5A

With Hillcrest losing a core group of seniors, it looked like the High Country Conference might be up for grabs this year.

The conference has long been considered one of the most competitive in the state, and that hasn’t changed. Neither has the top of the standings, where Hillcrest (5-0, 3-0) still resides.

The Knights average nearly 40 points and had little trouble with 6A Thunder Ridge last week as Logan Taylor tossed three touchdowns to Gavin Lamph, and Elam Miner, J’vion King and Taylor each ran for TDs.

Perennial power Skyline (3-2, 3-0) is in an interesting position, having lost two straight nonconference games and seeing its usually productive offense held to six points over the last two games.

If the Grizzlies needed a jolt to get back on track they’ll get it this week when they face Idaho Falls in the Emotion Bowl on Saturday.

Skyline has won the rivalry matchup 11 of the past 12 seasons, including 55-13 last year.

Blackfoot snapped a two-game skid last week with a 32-21 win over Idaho Falls.

The Broncos (3-2, 3-1) play a nonconference game at Thunder Ridge, and then host Skyline in a crucial matchup on Oct. 9.

Bonneville’s scoring defense (14.20) is the best in the conference, but the Bees’ offense is at the bottom (15.20).

The good news for Bonneville (3-2, 2-1) is that the Bees have grinded out three straight wins and are in the middle of the conference race.

The win streak will be put to the test on Friday when they travel to Hillcrest.

Idaho Falls (2-3, 1-2) and Shelley (2-3, 1-2) will need to finish strong to get into the top half of the conference standings.

Shelley is No. 11 in the MaxPrep rankings, while Idaho Falls is 16th.

Conference newcomers Century (1-4, 0-3) and Pocatello (1-4, 0-4) are still looking for their first conference win.

4A

Sugar-Salem ran its win streak to five straight, beating Preston 49-35 last week in a shootout.

The Diggers put up 442 yards of offense, with five different players scoring rushing TDs, led by QB Frank Fillmore, who ran for three scores.

The Diggers (5-1, 0-0) have a bye this week before starting conference play Oct. 9 against Teton.

The big matchup could be Oct. 16 when Sugar-Salem travels to South Fremont.

The Cougars (5-1, 0-0) have been bolstered by their defense, which has given up 10 points per game. South Fremont has given up just 14 points during its three-game winning streak.

The Timberwolves (1-4, 0-0) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-7 victory at Snake River. Teton hosts Kimberly in a nonconference matchup this week.

3A

Salmon (5-1, 1-0) has won five straight, including last week’s 19-14 win in the Nuclear Conference opener over Firth.

West Jefferson (5-1, 1-0) has won four straight games, and heads to Salmon on Friday, with the winner taking over sole possession of first place.

North Fremont (2-3, 0-0) and Firth (0-5, 0-1) look for their first conference win when they meet up on Friday.

Defending conference champion Ririe (1-5, 0-1) has a bye this week.

2A

Butte County (3-2) fell to Hagerman last week, but begins High Desert Conference play on Friday with a game at Challis (0-4, 0-0).

Grace (2-3) snapped a three-game losing skid with a 66-32 win at North Gem.

1A

Four of the five teams in the 1A Rocky Mountain Conference have at least three wins.

Mackay (3-3, 1-0) and Watersprings (3-1, 0-0) play on Friday as both teams try to keep pace with District 5’s Rockland (5-0, 1-0), which has a nonconference game at St. Joseph (UT) this week.