Breaking down the quarterfinals

By mlycklama • Nov 5th, 2009 • Category: Football, News
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If you’re looking for a Shelley-Salmon preview, we broke out an entire feature on it here.

Class 5A

Idaho Falls (4-4) vs. Highland (7-2)

When: 6 p.m. Friday at Holt Arena

By the numbers
Points scored: Highland 30.2, Idaho Falls 25.75
Points allowed: Highland 18, Idaho Falls 24.5

Players to watch
Idaho Falls: QB Devan Munk, sr.; DT/LB Christian Denny
Highland: QB Tanner Nielson, jr.; WR Jace Hansen, sr.

What to know: It was just two weeks ago that Highland beat Idaho Falls 20-7 in Holt Arena to secure the conference title.

Highland has had Idaho Falls’ number lately, winning seven of the past eight meeting. But the Rams have owned everyone for the past decade, and just lost to Skyline for the first time since 1992, so perhaps they’re ripe for the picking.

Idaho Falls didn’t move the ball much two weeks ago, managing 208 yards of total offense. But where the Tigers really struggled was in the red zone, turning the ball over on downs at the Highland 1-, 10- and 20-yard lines, all in the second half.

While Idaho Falls held Highland to 48 total yards in the second half, the Tigers let quarterback Tanner Nielson go off in the first half, completing 15 of 16 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

“A lot of credit goes his way and coach Mariani’s way for having him prepared,” Johnson said. “We had a couple breakdowns in containment and we need to keep him inside the pocket. He’s dangerous when he gets outside the pocket because it just means now we’re trying to cover guys for a lot longer than we should.”

Class 4A

Blackfoot (8-1) at Bishop Kelly (8-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday in Boise

By the numbers
Points scored: Bishop Kelly 30.8, Blackfoot 29.7
Points allowed: Bishop Kelly 11.4, Blackfoot 16.3

Players to watch
Blackfoot: QB Anthony Clarke, sr.; WR Julio Flores, sr.
Bishop Kelly: LB Cody McCarthy, jr.; RB Matt Sato, jr.

What to know: The sledding doesn’t get any easier for Blackfoot, the state’s second-ranked team. A week after knocking off No. 5 Century at Holt Arena, Blackfoot takes to the road to face the state’s No. 3 team, Bishop Kelly.

Bishop Kelly dominated the Treasure Valley this year behind 1,000-yard running back Matt Sato and 1,000-yard passer Jake Wylie. But the key to Bishop Kelly’s success under first-year coach Lee Leslie, a former Boise Burn coach, has been a defense that has posted four shutouts.

For everything Bishop Kelly does though, Blackfoot does it just as well, if not better. The Broncos also have a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer. It just comes in one package — senior quarterback Anthony Clarke. His favorite target and the area’s leading receiver, senior Julio Flores, has yet to find a team capable of containing him.

And while the Blackfoot defense has posted just one shutout, that’s because the second-string has seen so much time. It wasn’t until it played Bonneville in Week 6 that the defense surrendered a first-half offensive touchdown.

Pocatello (3-6) at Hillcrest (8-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday at Holt Arena

By the numbers
Points scored: Hillcrest 41.2, Pocatello 25
Points allowed: Hillcrest 16.1, Pocatello 28.7

Players to watch
Hillcrest: RB Devin Droghei, sr.; RB Jordan Speirs, sr.
Pocatello: RB Jerron Batts, soph.; QB Tyler Hargraves, sr.

What to know: To defend its 4A title, Hillcrest will have to run through the same team it beat in last year’s quarterfinals, Pocatello.

Pocatello comes in much less heralded than last season. Last year, the Indians entered the game as the state’s top-ranked 4A team. This year, it comes in with just three wins, two of which came over Jerome.

But that doesn’t mean Hillcrest will take them any less serious. Pocatello is still the physical team it always is and it can cause problems.

Leading the way for Hillcrest is a senior-loaded backfield that led it to last year’s championship. Devin Droghei leads the area in rushing despite missing one game with 1,307 yards and has added 13 touchdowns. Fellow wingback Jordan Speirs is second in rushing, 1,260 yards, and leads the area in scoring thanks to 23 touchdowns.

But perhaps most important is fullback/linebacker Jake Belnap who leads a resurgent defense that is forming another tool in Hillcrest’s arsenal.

Class 3A

South Fremont (7-2) at Weiser (6-3)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

By the numbers
Points scored: South Fremont 36.9, Weiser 24.5
Points allowed: South Fremont 16.1, Weiser 18.3

Players to watch
South Fremont: RB Jeff Rawson, sr.; QB Spencer Goulding, soph.
Weiser: RB Darin Thomas; QB Austin Winegar.

What to know: How did Weiser knock off previously undefeated Buhl on its home field in the first round? Simple. By forcing four turnovers, running the ball 51 times for 191 yards out of the veer and building an early lead, forcing Buhl to become one dimensional.

That focus will turn this week to South Fremont running back Jeff Rawson and his 980 yards rushing. But as South Fremont proved last week, it’s not a one-pony show.

Sophomore quarterback Spencer Goulding stepped up when Snake River loaded the box to stop Rawson and completed 9 of 16 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

The one worry the Cougars have is taking its foot off the gas against Snake River and watching a 31-14 halftime lead nearly vanish. As a team in uncharted territory — no one can remember the last time it made it to the quarterfinals — it’s a mistake the Cougars can’t afford to make again.

Class 2A

Glenns Ferry (7-2) at North Fremont (7-1)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

By the numbers
Points scored: Glenns Ferry 31.8, North Fremont 20.5
Points allowed: North Fremont 10.9, Glenns Ferry 30.9

Players to watch
Glenns Ferry: RB/WR Michael Crane, sr.; WR/DB Ross Arellano, sr.
North Fremont: RB Will Bollinger, sr.; LB Jared Dalton, sr.

What to know: North Fremont may find its home field a bit unfamiliar as it hosts just its third game of the season, and first since Sept. 25. The Huskies have played five games on the road, then one at Holt Arena last week in the playoffs, after losing one game to district budget cuts.

But to advance again North Fremont will have to work on finishing drives. The Huskies dominated Aberdeen last week, outgaining the Tigers 256 to 94 yards. But three drives of 10 or more plays stalled in the red zone, hence the 14-6 score.

“We can’t drive all the way down the field, eat a bunch of clock and then turn the ball over on downs on the 10-yard line and walk away with nothing,” North Fremont coach Rod Coverley said. “We need to put points on the board.”

That will be especially key against Glenns Ferry and its potent passing offense. Coverley said he’ll stick with his game plan to control the clock with running backs Will Bollinger and Tayler Martindale. But scoring when the opportunity presents itself will be the difference between a win and a loss.

Class 1A Division II

Dietrich (4-5) at Mackay (9-0)

When: 4 p.m. Friday

By the numbers
Points scored: Mackay 45.3, Dietrich 30.7
Points allowed: Mackay 14.7, Dietrich 31.8

Players to watch
Mackay: QB Kole Krosch, sr.; RB Justin Warner, sr.
Dietrich: RB/WR Dion Norman, jr.; QB Alex Heimerdinger, jr.

What to know: This is a rematch of Week 2, won by Mackay 38-26. Even though the Miners are undefeated and have already beaten Dietrich, Mackay coach Lance Rosenkrance is making sure his team isn’t overlooking anyone. After getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs the past two years, he can’t afford to.

“That’s been a push all year,” Rosenkrance said. “Last year, we had a really good season, but faltered in the first round. That’s one thing we’ve been mulling over all season long. We need to realize it’s a whole new level of football.”

Leading the charge for Mackay will be a defense that is allowing 14.7 points per game — impressive for any level, not to mention in 8-man football.

“It was a big deal when we went to 8-man that we’re not going to let them be 8-man games,” Rosenkrance said. “I take the attitude if we’re playing 8-man, it doesn’t have to be 70-60. It can be 20-14.”

Montana 6-Man

Clark County (7-2) at Hysham, Mont. (9-0)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

By the numbers
Points scored: Clark County 51.2, Hysham 43
Points allowed: Hysham 11.6, Clark County 24.3

Players to watch
Clark County: RB Austin Farr, sr.; QB Bodie May, sr.

What to know: Clark County picked up its first playoff win as a member of the Montana 6-man classification last week, 19-18 over Reed Point/Rapelje. Its reward? Undefeated Hysham, which bounced Clark County from it first Montana playoffs two years ago.

Running back Austin Farr is recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the conference finale, and Clark County coach Mark Williams said he was back to 85 percent Wednesday. But the concern lies on defense.

“We’re just going to have to be disciplined,” Williams said. “Defensively, we’re going to have to stay home on cutbacks. They make their living on cutbacks. And offensively, we’re going to have to hold our blocks because Hysham has one of the fastest defensive teams around.”

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