Things were a little iffy.
But for the 14th consecutive season, the Highland High School football team walked away with bragging rights in the annual Black and Blue Bowl. The Rams downed their crosstown rivals 28-18 Friday night at Highland High School.
Keaton Belnap led the way with three touchdowns, including a 1-yard keeper that essentially iced the game with just under three minutes remaining. The junior quarterback transfer out of Marsh Valley had another 1-yard keeper earlier in the half and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Lana Alvarico at the end of the second quarter.
Cedric Mitchell scored the other touchdown on a 10-yard run in the opening quarter for the second-ranked Rams (6-0 overall, 1-0 6A High Country Conference), who now lead the all-time series 54-15. The two schools have been playing annually since 1961.
Hunter May had a hand in every touchdown for the Thunder (3-2), who came in as the No. 4 team in Class 5A.
The senior quarterback opened the game’s scoring with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Mcculloch. It gave Pocatello a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. He handed the Thunder the lead again at 12-7 on a 2-yard run at the 6-minute and 21-second mark of the second quarter.
After Highland responded with 14 unanswered points to take back the lead at 21-12 with 8:21 remaining in the third, May answered by dropping a 31-yard dime to Tavin Williams just a little more than three minutes later.
ROCKLAND 52, MACKAY 30
After being down to just 10 players and suffering a 72-point loss a week ago, the fifth-ranked Bulldogs (3-2, 1-0 1A Rocky Mountain Conference) got a much-needed win at home in their league opener Friday.
Zachary Permann accounted for seven of Rockland's touchdowns. He threw for 288 yard and four touchdowns, while adding another 172 and three more scores on the ground. He even returned a kick return for a score and made seven tackles on defense.
Aidan Radford was his primary target with seven catches for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Woodrow Lowder also had a big day receiving with three catches for 117 yards and two scores. Ethan Crump eclipsed the century mark on the ground with 104 yards and a touchdown.
RICH (UTAH) 14, BEAR LAKE 0
Jack Hulme threw for 115 yards, as the Bears (1-5, 0-1 4A South East Idaho Conference) were shutout for the second time this season with a third consecutive loss Friday night on the road in nonconference play.
Treyson Thornton was the leading rusher with just 30 yards for Bear Lake in the loss.
CHALLIS 40, NORTH GEM 38
The Cowboys (2-3, 1-0 1A Rocky Mountain Conference) dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season with a loss in their league opener Friday on the road.
DECLO 6, WEST SIDE 0
The top-ranked Pirates (3-1, 0-1 3A South East Idaho Conference) were shutout for the first time in 19 years Friday night on the road in league play.
It was their first goose egg since a 12-0 loss to Firth in the 2005 state semifinals.
No West Side player reached 50 yards of offense with Drake Sage leading the way with 45 yards on 11 carries. Trayce Stone ran for 42 yards and Bryson McDaniel hauled in one pass for 43 yards in the loss.
MALAD 35, SODA SPRINGS 6
Brady Showell nearly logged 200 yards of total offense himself, as the Dragons (2-2, 1-0 3A South East Idaho Conference) snapped a two-game slide to open league play with a win at home Friday night.
He chalked up 127 of those yards on the ground to go with three total touchdowns. Holden Tubbs ran for 52 yards and a score. Matt Briscoe capped the scoring for Malad with a touchdown run.
MARSH VALLEY 27, FILER 20
Bo Larsen rumbled for 129 yards and a touchdown, as the Eagles (4-1) are now off to their best start in 15 years after a nonconference win Friday night at home.
Larsen also had a 16-yard pick-6 on the night. Cooper Bowman and Ruger Scott added 20- and 5-yard touchdown runs, respectively, in the win for Marsh Valley.
SNAKE RIVER 28, TETON 21
Rylan Ibarra ran for 153 yards and threw a touchdown pass, as the Panthers (3-3, 1-0 4A South East Idaho Conference) have now won three in a row after Friday's nonconference result at home.
Johnny Jones added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Snake River also had touchdowns on both defense (a Landon Williams fumble recovery) and on special teams (a 95-yard kick return by Johnny Walker) in the win.
AMERICAN FALLS 14, SOUTH FREMONT 8
Kahlen Hernandez picked off pass on the goal line with just 1:20 left to preserve a win for the Beavers (4-2) in nonconference play Friday on the road.
Thorne Rose had a first-quarter pick-6 and Zak Grigg the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter for American Falls, which now has its most wins in eight years.
BLACKFOOT 16, BONNEVILLE 12
Tanner Ellis and Kaycen Edwards combined for 150 yards on the ground, as the Broncos (3-2, 1-1 5A High Country Conference) bounced back Friday night at home following a 49-0 drubbing to Madison a week ago.
Ellis led the way with 84 of the team's 170 yards on the ground. Edwards had 66 rushing yards, while Jace Cooper scored the game-winning touchdown on a 9-yard run.
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