1-2-3: It’s time for a by-the-numbers state championship preview
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So state championship week is finally here. Here’s a by-the-numbers first look at the matchups.
294
That’s the number of miles Rigby has to travel to face Eagle in the 6A championship game Saturday at Albertsons Stadium in Boise. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
Per 6A rules, the championship game can not be held in the same region two years in a row unless the matchup features two regional teams.
Highland played in the ICCU Dome last season when the Rams won the state title, so the Trojans hit the road this year.
Rigby (10-1) was the East No. 1 seed in the bracket while Eagle (9-2) was the West’s No. 2 seed behind Rocky Mountain.
The Trojans are no stranger to bus trips. Rigby has played eight of its 11 games on the road. Its only loss came in the season opener at Coeur d’Alene (distance 476 miles).
2
Skyline coach Scott Berger noted after Saturday’s semifinal win that he loves bringing his team to the dome in Pocatello.
No issues with wind, rain, snow or freezing conditions, just football, he said.
The Grizzlies are 16-1 since 2016 in playoff games in the dome on the way to five state titles since 2016. They’ve only won two of those championships in Pocatello, beating Minico in 2017 and Bishop Kelly in 2022. Their one playoff loss in Holt Arena was to Vallivue in 2019.
This year’s 5A championship matchup is against Hillcrest Friday at 8:15 p.m. at the ICCU Dome.
The last time the Grizzlies faced the Knights in the postseason was last year when Hillcrest beat Skyline 35-31 in the state semifinals, ending the Grizzlies’ run of state titles at three straight.
That game was played at Bonneville High.
1
That’s the number of yards that is keeping Sugar-Salem from playing for a seventh straight state title.
The Diggers face Homedale for the 4A title on Saturday looking for their sixth title in seven years.
The one year they didn’t take home a blue trophy?
That was in 2021 when Weiser stopped a Sugar-Salem two-point attempt at the goal line in overtime to hold on for a 34-33 victory.
Former player Carson Harris always said he thought about the play nearly every day. Harris has since graduated, but the current crop of players look to keep their own streak going with a third-straight title.
Saturday’s game is 1 p.m. at Middleton High.
10
That’s the number of state titles Declo and West Side have combined for since 2010.
This year it looked like there could be a challenger as the 3A classification was brutally competitive with Aberdeen, Firth, Ririe and North Fremont all earning spots in the state media poll.
But in the end, the two teams rose again with convincing semifinal wins – West Side beat Aberdeen 29-0 and Declo knocked off Firth 28-7 on Saturday.
Recent success has belonged to West Side, which has won four of the past five titles. Declo won in 2017 and 2018, and Bear Lake was the lone spoiler, winning the championship in 2022.
West Side plays Declo Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the ICCU Dome.
946
That’s the population of Arco according to the World Population Review site.
How many will travel to Mocow to see Butte County take on Kendrick in the 2A championship game?
Butte County won its first state title last season and the team’s journey and local support has been well documented.
Butte County avenged its only regular-season loss with a convincing 50-22 win over Hagerman in the semifinals. Kendrick has won four straight since a loss to Logos and averaged 54 points during the stretch.
More fun with numbers.
The Pirates average nearly 51 points, but Kendrick sported the top defense in 2A at 12 points per game.
Butte County and Kendrick will play at the Kibbie Dome on Friday at 4 p.m. (PST).