Notebook: Upsets, playoff positioning, polls. It’s all here

Here’s a look astatine what’s happening connected nan section arsenic we commencement to move into convention play.

Titans facing tougher schedule

After opening nan play pinch 2 wins, Thunder Ridge has deed nan toughest portion of its schedule and suffered losses to Hillcrest and Highland.

Last week’s 37-27 nonaccomplishment to nan Rams puts nan Titans (2-2, 0-1) successful a precarious spot successful nan convention pinch Highland, Madison and Rigby combining for a 14-1 record.

The Titans big unbeaten Madison this week.

Speaking of nan 6A High Country Conference …

Highland will big Pocatello successful a nonconference matchup that ne'er fails to disappoint arsenic 1 of nan area’s apical rivalry games.

Looking up 2 weeks and nan Rams look Rigby successful a crippled that could find nan convention title and playoff positioning. Unbeaten Madison will person a opportunity successful really nan convention title plays out, but for now, don’t expect Highland to place nan rival Thunder, who are 3-1.

Bounce backmost clip for nan Knights

A twelvemonth ago, Hillcrest breezed done nan play unbeaten and rolled each nan measurement to nan 4A title game.

Friday’s nonaccomplishment to Skyline intends nan Knights (2-2, 1-1) will person to find a measurement to regroup pinch back-to-back convention crippled coming up.

“We’re correct backmost into it pinch 2 convention games and Shelley gave america each we could grip past twelvemonth truthful I would expect thing different this year,” Hillcrest coach Brennon Mossholder said, noting he’s liked what he’s seen from nan squad done 4 games.

“I for illustration really we alert astir to nan football,” he said. “We person a batch of athletes. Obviously, coming (against Skyline) penalties wounded america … We were excessively penalized coming and we person to coach them amended successful believe truthful that doesn’t happen, but if there’s 1 area for betterment it would astir apt beryllium that. I for illustration nan spot we’re successful arsenic we get fresh to move nan timepiece to October.”

Sugar-Salem starts caller streak

One look astatine nan 4A standings and 3-2 jumps out. That’s Sugar-Salem’s grounds aft nan Diggers suffered their 2nd consecutive loss.

To put that successful perspective, Sugar-Salem had won 25 consecutive games earlier losing 2 weeks agone to Star Valley (WY).

Friday it was a 17-14 nonaccomplishment to Kimberly that featured a chaotic 4th quarter.

The Diggers, who are typically among nan highest scoring teams successful 4A, led 7-0 entering nan 4th fourth earlier Kimberly tied it up. The Bulldogs took nan lead connected different scoring walk pinch 8:52 left.

Sugar-Salem’s Jack Gardner deed Hank Carter for a 42-yard touchdown pinch 2:14 near to necktie nan crippled astatine 14-14.

That was capable clip for nan Bulldogs to put together a 12-play, 67-yard thrust down into Diggers’ territory wherever Eduardo Paz nailed a 30-yard section extremity arsenic clip expired.

The past clip Sugar-Salem mislaid 2 games successful a statement was successful 2021 erstwhile nan Diggers opened nan play pinch losses to Morgan (UT) and Shelley.

They won nan adjacent 8 games to beforehand to nan authorities title crippled wherever they mislaid successful overtime to Weiser.

Sugar-Salem has a bye this week.

Aberdeen’s defense continues to shine

The Tigers unopen down a potent Ririe rushing onslaught past week and get a week disconnected for a bye earlier facing different Nuclear Conference foe successful North Fremont.

How’s this for a matchup?

The Huskies mean much than 42 points per crippled and springiness up conscionable 9.5. The only squad amended successful 3A astatine scoring defense is Aberdeen astatine 8.0.

Coaches’ polls

Last week’s canvass had Sugar-Salem No. 2 down Homedale. How acold do nan Diggers driblet this week?

In 3A, coaches had West Side No. 1, but Aberdeen and North Fremont, astatine No. 2 and 3, respectively, each received a fist-place vote. Will they person much votes this week?