Century, Idaho Falls to battle for unlikely potential playoff spot

POCATELLO — At the start of the season, few, if any, would have marked a Week 8 matchup between the Idaho Falls Tigers and Century Diamondbacks as one to watch.

Century won just three games between 2021 and 2024, and had been a punching bag for playoff-bound teams.

Sure, they finished the 2025 season undefeated before beating Columbia in the first round of the state tournament. But the move to join the High Country Conference was supposed to be Century’s undoing, and it seemed like it was when the Diamondbacks started the season with a 1-4 record.

But now, after back-to-back wins, the Diamondbacks (3-4, 2-3) are a home victory over Idaho Falls away from potentially sneaking into a playoff spot.

And for anyone who hadn’t been paying attention this year, the Tigers (3-4, 2-3) might seem like a rollover.

From 2022 to 2025, Idaho Falls won just six games. But they are hot as well, coming off a tight 26-23 loss to state champion-hopeful Hillcrest on the heels of an Emotion Bowl victory over another perennial power, and hated rival, Skyline.

The winner of Friday’s East Idaho Sports District 5 Game of the Week will likely slide up the MaxPreps rankings into playoff positioning — regardless of recent history — with the state tournament starting in just two weeks.

Twelve teams will make the 5A state tournament — the four conference champions will make one-third of the field, joined by the eight top-ranked non-conference champs.

Century is currently ranked No. 13 in the 5A division, according to the MaxPreps rankings used for state tourney selection and seeding. Idaho Falls is 14th

No. 11 Shelley will host No. 12 Bonneville on Friday. Conventional wisdom would say that the Century-Idaho Falls winner would leapfrog the Shelley-Bonneville loser. At least.

The Diamondbacks beat Idaho Falls 42-33 last season, led by a 180-yard, three-score effort from running back Tito Villano, now a senior. Before last year, Century had lost four consecutive meetings with the Tigers.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Century High School.