Top storylines: Blackfoot, Hillcrest jostle for playoff positioning; unbeaten Aberdeen and North Fremont square off

IDAHO FALLS — Rigby-Highland is far from the only game this weekend that carries major playoff implications.

Sure, the Trojans and Rams will be the headliner, but in Terreton, West Jefferson and Ririe will meet in a matchup of 3A Nuclear Conference hopefuls. Blackfoot and Hillcrest will face off in a showdown of 5A High Country Conference 3-2 teams, and North Fremont will travel to Aberdeen for a battle of undefeated conference leaders.

Here are our top five storylines for the weekend.

Battle for High Country No. 2

The Blackfoot Broncos and Hillcrest Knights — who is 5A No. 5 in the state media poll — have two losses apiece. Both teams have suffered losses to Madison and conference foe Skyline. Each is also coming off a conference win — Hillcrest topped Shelley, 44-7, last week, while Blackfoot bested Bonneville, 16-12.

While both Blackfoot and Hillcrest find themselves looking up at the conference-leading Grizzlies, the winner Friday will grab a strong hold on the No. 2 spot in the conference and a potential playoff position.

Another battle of unbeatens

Aberdeen took over the top spot in the 3A state media poll this week after former No. 1 West Side lost.

The Tigers will get challenged for that spot on Friday when they host No. 3 North Fremont (4-0) in a non-conference game.

Both teams come off byes but expect a playoff-level game with the winner sitting atop the state poll next week.

Both teams also sport two of the top-scoring defenses in 3A, with the Huskies giving up just 9.5 points per game and Aberdeen giving up just 8.0.

North Fremont’s rushing game could be the star of the game as the Huskies average 311 yards per game, with five different rushers averaging more than 30 yards per game.

8-man showdown

There should be some fireworks when No. 2 Carey heads to Rockland for a non-conference matchup.

Carey (4-1) is among 1A leaders at 58.4 points per game with its only loss coming to 2A No. 2 Butte County when they scored just 20 points.

Rockland (3-2) leads the Rocky Mountain Conference and put up 52 points in last week’s win over Mackay.

Can the Thunder get rolling again?

Pocatello is coming off a Black and Blue Bowl loss to Highland last week, falling to 3-2 on the season but remaining No. 4 in the state media poll. They have yet to play a 5A South East Idaho Conference game but are in control of the conference, which is home to Preston (1-4) and Century (0-5).

This week, the Thunder drop back to 5A to play Twin Falls (3-1 overall, 3-0 in conference) at home.

The Bruins are currently tied with Minico atop the 5A Great Basin Conference.

Wins over Preston and Century to close the season will guarantee a postseason spot for Pocatello, but a win over another 5A playoff contender would be a feather in their collective caps.

First win of the season on the line

Speaking of Century, the winless Diamondbacks will travel to Teton to face the winless Timberwolves (0-5, 0-0).

One of the teams will — most likely — record their first win of the season, but who?

Century has been shut out twice this season, and average just 7.8 points per game while allowing 34.6. Teton has one 35-point outburst against Marsh Valley in a hard fought Sept. 6 loss, but still average just 16.6 point per game while surrendering 36.8

So, which team will win and escape a possible winless season right now?