19 local teams selected for state tournament, including 5 with sub-.500 records

EASTERN IDAHO — The state football brackets have been released, and there are surprising selections and shocking omissions across the board.

The Skyline Grizzlies (3-6) will not play for the 5A banner, while the Pocatello Thunder (3-6), who Skyline beat, will. The Idaho Falls Tigers (4-5) own a better record than both Skyline and Pocatello, and have wins over both, but were left out as well.

The Malad Dragons (5-4) were left out of the 3A field, while two teams Malad beat, Aberdeen (5-4) and Ririe (4-5), have been included.

State tournament play starts Friday, with eastern Idaho teams hosting three games. One more game will be played locally on Saturday.

Here is the full shakedown of first-round games involving local squads:

6A

The Highland Rams (4-5) enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed and will host a first-round game. The Rams will welcome No. 12 Lake City (6-3) to town on Saturday.

Highland turned its season around against Lake City, beating the Timberwolves 36-0 on Sept. 18 after starting the season 0-3.

Saturday’s winner will visit No. 4 Eagle (6-3) in round two.

No. 7 Madison (6-3) will host No. 10 Capital (5-4) Friday for the right to visit No. 2 Rigby (8-1) in the second round.

The Bobcats have not gone head-to-head with Capital this season and will look to end their current three-game slide.

5A

No. 12 Pocatello will visit No. 5 Lewiston (4-5) for the right to face top-seeded and reigning champion Bishop Kelly (9-0). The two teams did not see each other this season.

No. 8 Blackfoot (5-4) will host No. 9 Shelley (5-4) in a battle of 5A High Country Conference rivals. When the Broncos and Russets faced off on Aug. 21, Blackfoot came away with an 8-7 win.

The winner will travel to No. 4 Lakeland (5-4) for round two.

No. 11 Bonneville (4-5) will face No. 6 Twin Falls (6-3) on the road for the right to take on No. 2 Columbia (7-2).

The Hillcrest Knights (8-1) round out the five 5A District 5-6 selections as the conference champs and No. 3 seed. Hillcrest will take advantage of a bye to recover from a regular season-finale loss to Blackfoot. They will face the winner of this week’s matchup between No. 7 Sandpoint (5-4) and No. 10 Minico (5-4).

4A

No. 9 Preston (4-4) will be on the road for an opening-round matchup with No. 8 South Fremont (6-3). Preston beat the Cougars 42-35 when the two teams met in Preston on Oct. 2.

The winner will visit No. 4 Fruitland (6-3) in round two.

No. 2 Sugar-Salem (7-1) will be on a bye this week, awaiting this week’s winner of No. 6 Kimberly’s (5-4) matchup with No. 11 Gooding (4-4).

3A

No. 1 West Side (9-0) will also be on a bye, waiting for a showdown with the winner of this week’s game between Grangeville (8-1) and Aberdeen, at Grangeville.

Ririe will be at Buhl (5-3) Friday night. The winner will visit No. 4 West Jefferson (8-1), which earned its own bye.

2A

Grace (3-6) will be at Raft River (8-1) Friday, playing for the right to take on No. 1 Hagerman (8-1).

Butte County (6-3) enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed, claiming a first-round bye. They will host the winner of this week’s matchup between Notus (6-2) and Kamiah (5-3).

1A

Mackay will be at Council this week, though a day and time of the game have yet to be determined. What is known is that the winner will advance to take on No. 1 Kendrick (9-0).

As the classification’s No. 2 seed, Rockland (9-0) will also have a bye this week, awaiting the winner of the Hansen (5-4) vs. Castleford (7-1) matchup.