Week 8 recap and notes: Thunder Ridge earns first conference win in 6 years as 6A race heats up

EASTERN IDAHO – As we head into the final week of the regular season, all the storylines surrounding the 6A High Country Conference have come true.

Rigby looks to make another state championship run.

Check.

Madison’s defense is stellar.

Check.

Well, maybe not all the storylines.

Surely Highland can bounce back from an 0-3 start and make a run in conference play?

Based on past history, Thunder Ridge likely won’t be a factor in conference play.

Well, the last two storylines collided last week as Rigby held off Highland 21-18 to drop the Rams to 0-2 in conference play.

Meanwhile in Idaho Falls, Thunder Ridge beat Madison 21-20 to win its first conference game since 2020.

The Bobcats led 20-14 before the Titans put together a scoring drive in the closing minute, capped by a 3-yard TD by Tayt Nelson. Ryder Portmann also passed for two touchdowns for Thunder Ridge.

That result throws a wrench into the standings and possibly the MaxPreps rankings in the final week matchups.

Rigby (7-1, 2-0) takes on rival Madison (6-2, 1-1) on Friday. A win by the Trojans earns a conference title and a bye as the top seed in the East in the state playoffs.

The East No. 2 team also earns an automatic berth.

Thunder Ridge (5-3, 1-1) takes on Highland (3-5, 0-2) this week.

Along with the two automatic berths from the conference, there are also three at-large berths for the 6A playoffs based on MaxPreps rankings.

Rigby is currently No. 2, with Highland No. 6, Madison No. 7, and Thunder Ridge at No. 11.

5A

The 5A High Country Conference is a little more clear-cut as Hillcrest (8-0, 6-0) is the conference winner and will likely earn a first-round bye.

The Knights are No. 2 in the MaxPreps rankings and finish the regular season Friday at Blackfoot.

Despite a loss to Pocatello last week, the Broncos (4-4, 4-2) could put themselves in the playoff discussion with a win. They are currently No. 9 in the rankings.

4A

Sugar-Salem (7-1, 2-0) secured the Mountain Rivers Conference title, and a likely first-round bye for the playoffs with its 28-7 win over South Fremont.

3A

West Jefferson closed the regular season with six straight wins and gave up just 27 points over the final four games.

The Panthers (8-1, 4-0) are No. 4 in this week’s MaxPreps rankings and in position for a first-round bye depending on this week’s results.

8-man

Butte County hosts Grace this week for the 2A High Desert Conference title.

Everyone is still chasing Rockland (8-0) in the 1A Continental Divide Conference, Mackay (5-4, 3-1) finished its regular season with a 50-6 win over Sho-Ban.

Stats and stuff

Among teams that reported stats, West Jefferson’s Canon Calder leads the state with 1,397 rushing yards and teammate Bruer Burtenshaw is among leaders with 18 touchdowns. Calder has 17 TDs.

Dodge Wynn of North Fremont is second in the state with 109 total tackles