So far so good. North and Grangeville won big. West was able to dispatch a surprisingly tough McCall team. Grangeville didn't seem to have to much trouble. For N Fremont last night, it was business as usual - take care of West Jeff early. I was impressed with the fight from the Vandals against West Side. They didn't roll like they easily could have after going down early. Declo should beat St Maries soon and there we will have it, an all undefeated semifinal round.
Is this really Rigby's first State Championship in football?
Yep it's Declo. Declo v West Side is an easy line. It should be Declo by 2-3 scores. Duncan is just too dominant. I'm really interested to see the NF at Grangeville game. Hawkes is almost as dominant as Duncan and maybe a better team leader. The Huskies seem to really rally around him. I think they are wearing the cinderella slipper. NF in a close one.
I believe we will see a Declo versus Grangeville final. Declo is just plum nasty and deeper than what seems fair from a 2A team. It looks like Declo’s year again having the firepower to beat any remaining team by two or three scores
It’s going to be a fun couple games this weekend! The powers that be could not have had it work out better with the RPI. No question we have the best 4 teams here. Hoping for good close games in all 3 remaining 2A games!!
2A has 4 teams that are a lot better than the rest of the field. I don't know if I've ever seen a semifinal in any division where all the teams are undefeated. Something has got to give this weekend because none of these teams know how to lose. IDHSAA got it right. The RPI seeding will almost certainly spread to the other divisions.
How good is NF? I think the fact Grangeville has not been challenged all year could be there downfall
If Grangeville has not been challenged all year long while playing two 3A schools (Kellogg and Priest River) and two 4A Schools (Moscow and Clarkston WA), I think they have prepared themselves pretty nicely for this week and North Fremont. North is definitely playing their best season ever, but I believe Grangeville has the program and method built up to defeat the Huskies. By the way, 3 of those 4 upper level teams that Grangeville played, are state playoff bound (All defeated in first Rounds).
Good thing you didnt bet money on that statement about grangeville being the only program that can stop declo. I've watched declo and north and I predict north wins the state title by 3 scores. Declo hasn't played against a good offense all season. Sugar was not as good as they are when they played declo. North defense is just as tough, if not nastier than declo's.
There are going to be a lot of penalties against declo because they aren't used to getting beat up and ran all over.
North 48 declo 28
@idwash12 where in my post did I say anything about Grangeville being the only team that can stop Declo? Alot of people were saying Grangeville were soft with a soft North Idaho schedule, I pretty much defended them and predicted that they had the tools to beat North Fremont.
With that being said, North does have a shot at beating Declo, but to me, West Side and North were on equal footing with each other and with the way West Side was dominated by Declo, I see the same happening to North.
But hey, like my Grangeville prediction over North, I could be completely wrong again.
@Coach Newell
You are right I miss read your post. My apologies. I do think north has the edge over declo because their high powered offense
Have any of you actually seen NF play? Every team NF has played this year have said the same thing. Their line is tough, the option is hard to guard against, and they have some incredible athletes. If you think that getting through the nuclear conference without a loss is easy then you are wrong because it's no cake walk. Most of the teams NF played was also in the playoffs. Grangeville will be a tough opponent and will come ready to play as will NF. I suspect both teams' players are focused and ready to play. They both have great coaches and a great system in place or they wouldn't be undefeated.
I've only seen the North vs Aberdeen game. I was trying to find more about a month ago to see them but that was the only game that idahosports.com had recorded on them.
They look okay up front and do have some athletes. Their stud in that Aberdeen game dident look like a stud like he played. Kinda looked like that LB from Remember the Titan's. High shoulder pads, goofy run, but still a Man among boys.
Well Grangeville had an up close look at that goofy run ALL NIGHT LONG.
Hmm look okay up front. They looked dang good up front to me. Watching the Grangeville coach on the sidelines last night he was fit to be tied trying to figure out how to stop the Huskies front line last night.
Declo is their own worst enemy. If they keep getting so many unnecessary penalties and find themselves in a competitive game next week with North Fremont, it’s going to cost them a title. I blame their coaches. It’s lack of discipline. I have seen several of their games this year and last year and the chosen few Seniors comit unsportsmanlike, targeting, face mask, and roughing penalties for fifteen yards apiece and don’t even get spoken to by a coach then other players on their team commit a meer hold and they get ripped by the coaches and benched. That’s terrible favoritism and a double standard by the coaches and creates a cancerous lack of respect between coaches and players. Gonna have to be better than that next week Declo.
Did you even watch the game against West Side? There were multiple personal fouls on both teams. West Side and Declo has become a big rivalry over the years so there are going to be chippy plays on both sides. I watched Duncan shove a kid out of bounds as any normal player would do and get called for a personal foul. If you were a coach would you get mad at your players for playing the game of football? The refs were very picky of Declos play because they are an elite program. And even with all their penalties they still beat west side 61-28 with most of West Sides touchdowns scored with the Declo JV in. I think Declo walks away with this championship easily. Nothing against NF or their program but I don’t think they have what it takes to shut down Duncan and the rest of the hornets... they are way too powerful
@Footballfan216 Yes I was at the West Side game which is why I made the comment. My comment wasn’t to complain about the referees, it was meerly an observation about the Declo coaches and how differently they treat their players. I watched Duncan and Brasheers commit three 15 yard penalties in one drive and cost their team a touchdown and get high fives from coaches when they returned to the sideline. Later in the game, their wide receiver committed a hold that resulted in him getting chewed out and sat on the bench for the rest of the game. Declo is by far the most penalized team I have watched over the last five years which is from a lack of equal discipline. Yes they are a very tenacious team and I love that in football. Yes aggressive high school players will make a few mistakes. When I have a problem with it is when the kids get treated differently by coaches. By the way, I also think Declo will beat North Fremont by three or four scores but only if Declo doesn’t beat themselves with undisciplined penalties. Mark my words, if NF goes up early, Declo does not know how to play from behind.
@IdahoJoe Declo was losing to sugar-Salem and then Lost Duncan and still came back how’s that not knowing how to play from behind
IdahoJoe I could not agree more. I am a huge Husky fan this week! Coach Lenz and his staff run a great program. They are intense competitors, play very physical, and do it with good sportsmanship and class! I have nothing but respect for their players and coaches.
Coach Duffin
I think coach Duffin is still a little upset on week 2.......or his most recent loss
@IdahoDave
We also lost to North Fremont in week 3. The difference is when the game was over I had nothing but respect for North Fremonts coaches and players for their sportsmanship and class. Declo..... not so much.
@jeffduffin33 what did declo do that made them so bad to play against
While this Friday’s matchup should be an exciting title game, I think many members of this forum are seeing Declo as one dimensional. They are more than just Duncan and personal fouls. Their backfield is loaded with underrated talent and their tiny receive caught all kinds of passes on us. Even after losing their left gaurd and defensive tackle to injury, the hornets line has remained explosive both ways. After watching them handle us (West Side) they are undoubtably a force to be reckoned with. I’ve followed this team all year and have been impressed with the sheerness athleticism these players display. Reared by Kelly Kidd and an extensive coaching staff, NF should not be favored in this game.
Nice try nice alias, Mr. DukeofHazzard from Declo. ;)
It will take a near perfect game and maybe a little luck for NF to get past Declo, but it could happen. Based on strength of schedule, Declo may overlooking them big time, already ordering championship shirts, hats and rings.
However, Declo's scheduling strategy is paying off. That was evident in their game against West Side. Declo had obviously played a lot of tough teams this season, and beat them. And from what I was told, they beat Sugar Salem without Duncan. And they beat Kimberly and Fruitland handily. But I don't think they've seen anyone who runs the option better than Hawkes and the Huskies.
I think Duncan left at half vs Sugar. But yes they beat them down Duncan for a half which is impressive still.
It’s a lot easier for Declo to schedule whoever for non-league games because they have only 1 league game. 5th and 6th district have a lot less room where that is concerned. There is no reason to have a district with 2 teams. That is an issue across the board in all sports when it comes to qualifying for State tournaments.
@fostsusan that may be true, but I have heard that Declo and Wendell have tried to join District 5 and have been shut down on every attempt to do so. So yes, there is no reason for a two team district, but what other option is there when District 5 refuses a merger?
I too think that this championship game will be exciting; at least for the first quarter. Think about what college schools still use "Option Offense:" Army, Air Force, and Georgia Tech are a few that come to mind. What do all of these teams have in common? These teams are trying to compete with the big boys on a big stage with inferior talent. Trickery and deception can only be deployed for a limited time. Eventually, talent (the Jimmys and Joes) beats illusions (the X's and O's).
I don't see the option as a illusion and deception offense, its an offense that makes whatever the defense does wrong. If you consider that a trickery offense then you are mistaking. Trickery is reverses, statue of liberty, flea flickers ect. Triple option has 3 place it can go and teams invite your to stop it. Not very trickery to me.
We are talking about high school kids who aren't making a living on football. Your Alabama and New England comment is silly. High School is a completely different game than college and the NFL. I stand by my earlier post, North by 3 scores.
@idwash12 @daytondude option also takes great athletes to make it successful. So it kind of validates both of your points.
@idwash12 does Declo not have a defense?
Option offense is a little more common then you think. Most of the top schools even in the bigger divisions run it down here. I mean look at #1 5A Columbine are running a variation of it...
Talk to me Coach Newell when Alabama and the New England Patriots start running the option.
Talent > Gimmicks
I assure you...No hats or rings are being ordered. There is no overlooking of NF, only intense preparation. I find it funny that so many like to compare scores and then make predictions on the next game when each game is its own event. Declo crushed WS and NF did the same to Grangeville. Did anyone see those wins being that easy going in? Probably not. It is about match ups people. Question 1. Can you stop what the other team wants to do? Neither WS or Grangeville stopped option 1. End of story. Question 2. Can your team adjust though out the game? West Side tried and Grangeville...well not quite sure if any adjustment was made. Both of these sides have great coaches. Question 3. It will come down to this. With those adjustments do you have the people to carry out those assignments?