A complete list of local football teams playing this weekend with sights set on state semis

EASTERN IDAHO — There are currently 48 teams still alive and in the hunt for one of six football state championship banners.

In two weeks, champions will be crowned. But first, teams must survive a second round that includes 16 schools representing Districts 5 and 6.

Including Sugar-Salem, Rockland and Skyline, who are listed as the home teams in neutral-site games at Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome, eight local schools will host games this weekend. Four additional local teams will play on the road in eastern Idaho while even more are currently scattered across the state in preparation for quarterfinal weekend.

Here is a complete list of who will play this weekend — who they will face, where and when.

THURSDAY

2A: Rimrock at Butte County, 5 p.m. at Butte County High School

The Rimrock Raiders (6-2) won the Western Idaho Conference despite suffering a forfeit loss to open the season. Their only loss since came to Tri-Valley on Sept. 20.

They won their first-round matchup with Centennial Baptist via forfeit last week.

According to Maxpreps power rankings — which are used by the state to determine playoff seeding — The Raiders are the No. 15 2A team in the state. Their success has come on the strength of an explosive offense — as is usually the case in 8-man football — which has scored 40-plus in every (played) win this season.

The Pirates (7-1) are the topped ranked 2A team, per Maxpreps. They are coming off a bye, earned on a 48-22 division-sealing victory over Grace (No. 7 in the state).

FRIDAY

2A: Grace at Logos, 4:30 p.m. at Idaho State University (Kibbie Dome)

Logos (8-1) has been a defensively dominant team all season, allowing more than 20 points just once — in a 36-24 season-opening loss to Butte County. Their offense has been no slouch either, averaging 52.9 points per game this year.

The Knights are the No. 2 2A team across the state in the Maxpreps rankings.

Grace (6-4) has not been as effective on either side of the ball.

The two teams have faced four common opponents this season — Oakley, Clearwater Valley, Butte and Prairie. They boast an identical 3-1 against that competition, both earning double-digit victories over Oakley, Clearwater Valley and Prairie.

1A: Tri-Valley at Rockland, 5:30 p.m. at ISU (ICCU Dome)

The Bulldogs (5-3) won the Rocky Mountain Conference, earning them a first-round bye.

While going 4-0 against conference foes, Rockland won just one of four outside of its conference — scoring just 38 points combined in the three losses.

The Titans (9-1) beat North Gem, 42-20, in the play-in round to earn this week’s matchup.

North Gem could be a good barometer for this matchup, having played both teams the last two weeks. Rockland beat the Cowboys, 60-44.

3A: North Fremont at Aberdeen, 6 p.m. at Aberdeen High School

The Tigers (8-1) were a part of the three-way tie atop the South East Idaho Conference — with Declo and West Side. All three teams earned a home game in this weekend’s quarterfinals, with Aberdeen drawing the two-seed and showdown with North Fremont (the seven-seed).

Aberdeen hosted the Huskies (6-3) on Oct. 4 and beat them, 29-0.

3A: Firth at Grangeville, 6 p.m. at Grangeville High School

Grangeville (6-3) is coming off a 22-6 loss at Nampa Christian. Before that though, they scored 50-plus in back-to-back games — including a 64-point outburst against St. Maries.

The Cougars (6-2) have won four straight, including a 28-6 victory over West Jefferson last week.

One of two common opponents — both teams beat New Plymouth — West Jefferson bested Grangeville, 48-40, in September.

3A: Ririe at West Side, 6 p.m. at West Side High School

Ririe (7-2) suffered back-to-back home losses to Aberdeen and Firth in late-September. Aside from that though, the Bulldogs have used an effective defense and one of the most efficient running attacks in the state to dominate. They have scored 26 or more, while surrendering 19 or fewer in their seven wins.

West Side (8-1) took its lone loss, 6-0, at Declo on Sept. 27.

The Pirates beat both Firth, 33-1, and Aberdeen, 14-12.

6A: Madison at Eagle, 7 p.m. at Eagle High School

The Bobcats (9-1) have crushed everyone but Rigby, boasting and average margin of victory of 25.7 in their nine wins. They are coming off a 42-7 first-round win over Capital.

Eagle (7-2) had risen as high as second in the state media poll despite a lopsided 51-14 loss to West Linn (OR). They are coming off a one-sided 38-0 loss to (current No. 1) Rocky Mountain.

Madison will look to standout senior Barkley Beck to keep hopes alive of a revenge rematch with the Trojans — which, if it happens, would be the state championship game.

5A: Blackfoot at Hillcrest, 7 p.m. at Hillcrest High School

Hillcrest (7-3) has been among the top teams in 5A all year, finishing the regular season at No. 4 on the final media poll. They battled it out with 6A powers Rigby and Madison, and suffered their only in-division loss to conference foe Skyline on Sept. 20.

Since falling to the Trojans, they have run off back-to-back wins, by a combined score of 96 to 14.

Blackfoot (6-4) is coming off a 30-24 round-one victory at Preston. That marked the first time this year that the Broncos have won back-to-back games.

The two teams met once this season, on Oct. 4. Hillcrest won that game at home, 33-13.

6A: Post Falls at Rigby, 7 p.m. at Rigby High School

Post Falls (7-3) started the season winning its first four games. Since though, they’ve gone 3-3, including losses to Coeur d’Alene (21-0) and Moses Lake (WA) (69-20).

Rigby (8-1) lost, 24-14, to Coeur d’Alene to begin the season and has run the table since — including a 47-12 victory over the same Moses Lake (WA) team that beat Post Falls.

The home Trojans come into the game with one of the top offenses in the state, and an under-appreciated defense. This will be an interesting test for a Rigby team with big title expectations.

4A: Snake River at Sugar-Salem, 8:15 p.m. at ISU

Quarterfinal Friday comes to a close with the East Idaho Sports Game of the Week.

The Panthers (6-4) and Diggers (6-2) have two very differing approaches.

Snake River wants to keep the score low, having allowed an average of 13 points per game in its six wins — 30.3 in four losses.

Sugar-Salem has relied on its offense, averaging 48.2 points per game in its wins — and just 17.5 per game in its losses.

These strengths (and weaknesses) were on display when the Diggers went to Snake River in August and beat the Panthers, 41-6.

The Panthers have a tough task ahead of them.

SATURDAY

5A: Twin Falls at Skyline, 3 p.m. at ISU

After starting the season with a loss at the Rocky Mountain Rumble, Skyline head coach Scott Berger told EastIdahoNews.com that he wasn’t worried about his team, noting that growth is expected early in the season.

The Grizzlies (8-2) came out an dominated Blackfoot the following week before dropping a tight contest to Madison, 28-27.

Berger’s squad has been perfect since, running off seven straight wins including a 42-14 round-one victory over Nampa. Not only have they been unbeatable, they’ve been uncontested winning all seven games by double-digits, including a 35-14 win over 6A Highland — which had been among the top-ranked teams in the state.

Twin Falls (5-4) began its season with a loss as well — at Sandpoint — then won three straight. Since though, the Bruins have been very inconsistent. They scored 28 points combined in three losses, wrapped around a 33-7 victory. Then they beat Lewiston, 31-9, to open their playoff run.

The weekend will end with one of numerous games that should be very competitive, and while at least four of the final 24 teams will be from D5-6, it is safe to assume others will make the semifinals. But who?