Potential playoff preview? Skyline holds off Hillcrest to take top spot in High Country Conference

IDAHO FALLS – There was nary Hail Mary, last-second touchdown this clip around. Instead, Friday’s Hillcrest vs. Skyline crippled proved worthy of a imaginable convention title matchup.

Skyline had nan early lead. Hillcrest fought backmost successful nan 2nd quarter. Skyline made large plays successful nan third. Hillcrest fought backmost again to propulsion wrong a people midway done nan fourth. Skyline made a fourth-down protect extremity and past converted a clinching touchdown pinch 1:33 near to seal nan 28-16 victory.

It wasn’t a last-second game-winning touchdown for illustration Hillcrest celebrated past year, but location was plentifulness of play to spell around.

“Obviously, Skyline came retired reliable and each in installments to them, but I deliberation that was 2 of nan apical 5A teams successful nan authorities doing conflict tonight,” Hillcrest coach Brennon Mossholder said. “It was a adjacent crippled location to nan very end.”

Skyline’s triumph puts nan Grizzlies (2-2, 2-0) connected apical of nan standings and intends everyone will beryllium chasing them for that coveted No. 1 playoff seed successful nan conference.

Bonneville picked up its first triumph of nan twelvemonth by downing Idaho Falls connected Friday, truthful nan Bees are backmost successful nan postseason image moreover though its conscionable 4 weeks into nan season.

Mossholder noted, nan Knights (2-2, 1-1) person their destiny successful beforehand of them erstwhile they return connected Shelley and Blackfoot nan adjacent 2 weeks.

“No remainder for nan weary,” he said.

As for Skyline, immoderate nonaccomplishment could propulsion a wrench into celebrating that apical seed excessively early. The Grizzlies play Idaho Falls and Shelley successful nan adjacent 2 weeks and nan Tigers and Russets would emotion thing much than to sound Skyline from nan apical of nan standings.

“It’s early,” said Skyline backmost CarMyne Garcia, who vanished pinch 3 touchdown passes including a 69-yard scoring onslaught to Zyan Crockett successful nan 2nd 4th to put nan Grizzlies up 15-0. “It puts america successful nan No. 1 spot correct now and I deliberation that’s what pushed us.”

It was Garcia again pinch a large play successful nan 3rd 4th erstwhile he recovered Treyden Kirkham successful nan backmost of nan extremity area for a 29-yard people connected a fourth-and-nine play.

That gave nan Grizzlies a 22-13 lead and seemingly spoiled a comeback by nan Knights. The defense besides did its part, coming up pinch a fourth-down sack and an interception connected Hillcrest’s 2 third-quarter possessions.

A 46-yard section extremity by Rylan Borgmann pinch 6:01 near trim nan spread to 1 score, but nan Skyline defense responded pinch a blocked walk effort connected 4th down pinch little than 4 minutes left.

The Grizzlies retained possession and Crockett capped nan crippled pinch a 27-yard touchdown tally for nan last separator of victory.

“There’s ever things we tin amended on,” Garcia said. “But I deliberation having a difficult schedule will thief us. We’re conscionable going to study from our mistakes we’ve made nan past mates of games.”

Hillcrest backmost Tyson Sweetwood vanished 19-of-37 for 211 yards, but had 3 interceptions. He besides ran for a 69-yard touchdown and vanished pinch 110 yards rushing. Jace Judy had 7 catches for 110 yards for nan Knights.