Game of the Week preview: Black and Blue Bowl a matchup of high-flying offense, stifling defense

POCATELLO — The yearly Black and Blue Bowl will pit nan undefeated Highland Rams against nan one-loss Pocatello Thunder astatine Highland High School.

Highland (5-0) is coming disconnected a triumph successful its first convention matchup of nan season, beating Thunder Ridge, 37-27. The Rams person besides tallied wins complete Legacy (NV), Carson (NV), Summit (OR) and Lake City.

The Thunder (3-1) suffered their lone nonaccomplishment of nan play to Blackfoot, falling astatine location successful overtime connected Sept. 13. Pocatello’s wins person travel complete Skyview, Idaho Falls and, astir recently, Sandpoint.

What to watch for

Led by elder backmost Hunter May, nan Thunder are among nan highest scoring teams successful nan 5A division, averaging 35.25 points per game. Defensively, they person allowed 29 points per game.

The Rams, connected nan different hand, person leaned heavy connected their defense, allowing 14.6 points per crippled — pinch that number jumping aft they allowed 27 points past week. When they needed it, however, nan discourtesy recovered a rhythm, posting a season-high 37 against nan Titans.

This crippled appears to beryllium a classical matchup of unstoppable unit — nan Poky discourtesy — gathering an immovable entity — nan Ram defense. In bid to gain nan upset victory, May and nan Thunder discourtesy will request to people early and often.

Highland, led by inferior backmost Keaton Belnap, will trust connected its powerful tally crippled — which is what Blackfoot utilized to gain its upset astatine Pocatello.

The crippled is scheduled to kickoff Friday astatine 7 p.m.