Preview: It’s been six years since Sugar-Salem lost a conference game. Can South Fremont do it again?

District 6 Game of the Week

Sugar-Salem at South Fremont
Friday, 7 p.m.

EASTERN IDAHO – The Sugar-Salem Diggers have not lost a Mountain Rivers Conference game since 2020.

The last team to beat Sugar-Salem was South Fremont, who edged the Diggers 27-21, forcing a Kansas City tiebreaker player between Sugar-Salem, South Fremont, and Teton.

The Diggers won the tiebreaker and eventually went on to claim the 3A state title.

Could that happen again?

Two things could happen Friday night.

1. A Sugar-Salem win earns the Diggers the conference title and automatic state berth.

2. If host South Fremont ends the Diggers’ conference streak, then the potential for another Kansas City tiebreaker could be set for next week when the Cougars end the regular season with a game against Teton. If South Fremont beats Sugar-Salem and Teton, then the Cougars are the conference champion.

The Diggers (6-1, 1-0) already have a win over Teton after last week’s forfeit.

MaxPreps rankings has Sugar-Salem No. 2 behind unbeaten Homedale, which handed the Diggers their lone loss this season.

South Fremont (5-2) is No. 8 and comes off a bye after losing 42-35 to Preston two weeks ago. Sugar-Salem hasn’t played in two weeks because of a bye and forfeit.

What does that mean for Friday’s game?

Probably not much other than the fact both teams will be well-rested.

Sugar-Salem QB Frank Fillmore has passed for six touchdowns and run for seven more, but, as always, it’s the Diggers’ balance that’s been hard to stop during their six-game win streak.

Six players have rushed for TDs and four different players have caught touchdown passes. Defensively, Sugar-Salem leads the the state with just 12.71 points allowed.

The Cougars’ defense has also been sharp, allowing less than 15 points per game. In its five wins, South Fremont gave up just 32 points, for a 6.4 average.

Senior quarterback Cy Hill has been efficient, passing for 145.8 yards per game with eight TDs, while rushing for 37.3 yards per game with three TDs. Tayson Farley has been a threat with a team-high five rushing scores and one receiving touchdown.

This could be a grind-it-game, but whoever comes up with one or two big plays could have the advantage.