District 5 Week 6 recap: Offensive eruptions lead Bear Lake, West Side, Preston to victory

EASTERN IDAHO — Bear Lake, Preston and West Side all used season-highs in points scored to secure massive wins over the weekend.

West Side and Preston both nearly doubled their season output Friday, while the Bears more than doubled theirs.

Rockland also scored points in bunches, staying perfect on the season.

Additionally, North Gem, Aberdeen, Century, Highland and Malad each won their Week 6 games

6A

The Highland Rams (3-3, 0-0) pushed their current winning streak to three games, topping rival Pocatello (1-5, 0-0) 17-8 in the annual Black and Blue Bow, led by a solid defensive effort.

Senior defensive end Jaxson Collard recorded three of Highland’s four sacks on the night, as the Rams held the Thunder scoreless until the closing seconds of the game.

RELATED | Led by solid defensive effort, Highland wins 16th straight Black and Blue Bowl game

Highland now heads into conference play, beginning with a road game against the Madison Bobcats (5-1, 0-0) on Friday.

5A

The Thunder, who have lost four in a row, will be in Shelley Friday to take on the Russets (2-4, 1-3) in a conference battle.

The Century Diamondbacks (2-4, 1-3) ended their own two-game losing skid with a home victory over the same Russets.

Century will be in Bonneville this week to take on the Bees (3-3, 2-2).

4A

Bear Lake (4-2, 0-0) and junior quarterback Dax Perkins picked up 331 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Perkins’ favorite target, senior Tate Ewing, hauled in seven passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 462 yards and six scores on the season.

The result was a 51-14 win at Wendell (0-6). Coming into the week, the Bears were averaging 24 points per contest and had scored just 18 points in their previous two games combined.

Preston (1-4, 0-0) entered the week also averaging 24 points per game, but boosted that a bit with a 42-35 victory over South Fremont (5-2, 0-0).

Senior quarterback Carter Perry led Preston, passing for 141 yards and two scores, and running for an additional 83 yards and two touchdowns.

Bear Lake will be at American Falls (3-3, 0-0) for a conference game this week. Preston will also open conference play Friday, visiting Snake River (0-6, 0-0).

Both the Beavers and Panthers will be coming off a bye week.

3A

The Aberdeen Tigers (4-2, 1-0) improved their current winning streak to three games on Friday with a 27-19 road victory over Filer (0-5). The Tigers will be at home again this week, hosting conference-leading Malad (4-2, 2-0).

The Dragons, winners of four straight, are coming off a 27-6 victory over Marsh Valley (0-6, 0-2).

Reigning East Idaho Sports District 5 Athlete of the Week Easton Green was incredible on both sides of the ball again. He ran for 72 yards and a touchdown, and intercepted two more passes. Green pushed his state-leading interception total to nine picks on the season.

The Pirates (6-0, 1-0) entered the week averaging 29.4 points per game. They nearly doubled that total in a 57-20 win over the Cardinals (2-4, 0-2) at Soda Springs.

West Side will visit Marsh Valley on Friday.

2A

The Grace Grizzlies (2-2, 0-0) hit another speed bump, this time in the form of reigning Utah 8-man football state champion Rich County (UT). Grace has already lost to Adrian (OR), another reigning state champ, and has Flint Creek (MT), a reigning state runner-up, next up on the schedule.

Both Butte County (4-2, 1-0) and Challis (0-5, 0-1) were on a bye.

1A

The North Gem Cowboys 4-3, 1-1), coming off back-to-back losses, found themselves in a dogfight with the Sho-Ban Chiefs (0-5, 0-2), but came away with a 26-14 home win.

North Gem will stay home this week to take on Watersprings (3-2, 0-1), while Sho-Ban will visit the Challis Vikings.

Behind more all-around dominance from All-State senior Zach Permann, the Rockland Bulldogs (6-0, 1-0) stayed perfect on the season with a 67-13 victory over St. Joseph (UT).

Permann finished the game with one rushing touchdown, 149 yards and two touchdowns receiving, one kick-return touchdown and an interception.

Rockland will host Mackay (4-3, 2-0) this week, with the winner seizing the top spot in the conference standings.