Top storylines: Can Idaho Falls turn things around in Emotion Bowl?
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It’s another rivalry week game as Skyline and Idaho Falls meet up Saturday for the Emotion Bowl at Ravsten Stadium. That’s just one of the top storylines entering Week 5.
Emotion Bowl showdown
The goalposts at Ravsten Stadium are painted blue, which tells you all you need to know about the recent history of the Emotion Bowl matchup between Idaho Falls and Skyline.
It’s also much more than recent history, as Skyline has won nine of the past 10 rivalry games with Idaho Falls.
The winner gets to paint the goalposts their school color as a reminder of who owns bragging rights in Idaho Falls.
The Grizzlies have won the past two meetings and would add to their conference lead with a third win.
Skyline (2-2 overall, 2-0 conference) comes off a big win over last year’s conference champ Hillcrest, which was sparked by a solid defensive effort that surrendered just a field goal over the last three quarters.
Idaho Falls (1-3, 0-1) has the second-lowest scoring offense in the league at 17.5 points, but has moved the ball behind quarterback Bradley Elison, who averages nearly 260 yards per game passing. His favorite target has been Easton Watkins, who’s caught five TD passes.
The Tigers have just two rushing touchdowns and average 62.5 yards on the ground.
That could be the key to the game.
3A South East Idaho Conference showdown
One of the most compelling conference games of the weekend features the 3-0 West Side Pirates going to Declo to face the 4-1 Hornets.
West Side (No. 1 in the current media poll rankings) has wins over Firth, South Fremont and Marsh Valley, and are led by senior running back Crew Sage.
Declo (No. 4) suffered its lone loss in-conference, at Aberdeen — in a tight, low-scoring affair, 8-0.
West Side has yet to finish a game with fewer than 30 points, while Declo has not allowed more than 14 in any game this season. This is a true contrast in attacks and should offer more than just a conference showdown.
Who will build momentum?
The Soda Springs Cardinals (0-4) have been outscored 169 to 14 combined across four games this season.
Despite earning a season-opening win, the Malad Dragons (1-2) have been outscored by a combined 82 to 26 score over its three games.
One of the two teams will earn a much-needed win Friday, and build momentum as they enter difficult conference schedules next week.
More Nuclear Conference fun
Everyone may be chasing North Fremont in the Nuclear Conference standings but the winner of Friday’s matchup between Firth and Ririe will close the gap.
Neither has played a conference game yet. Ririe (3-1) comes off a tough loss to No. 2 Aberdeen, while Firth (2-2) has losses to No. 1 West Side and No. 4 Declo.
Ririe averages nearly 40 points per game and has a potent running game. Firth’s scoring defense (13.75) is second in the conference only to frontrunner North Fremont.
Madison opens conference play
The Bobcats are 5-0 but have beaten just one 6A team in Middleton.
Madison does have wins over 5A teams Skyline and Hillcrest, so this will be a good gauge in what is expected to be very competitive conference with Highland and Rigby still the teams to beat for a good state playoff seed.
After opening the season with two wins, the Titans (2-2, 0-1) have back-to-back losses to Hillcrest and Highland.