Games of the Week

As football got off to a hot start for teams around the state with the first two weeks of games along with fires affecting locations and times, this week is a full slate of top tier games. Here are our picks for the top games of the week and the stars who are playing in them.   Eagle vs West Linn   Eagle takes on a power from Oregon in West Linn who were the state runner up last season in Oregon's biggest classification. The Mustangs are up for the challenge though with a ton of talent returning on both sides of the football. A potent run game, with a super athletic defense will help Eagle contain West Linn's ability on offense and defense.   Top Players:    Burnham continues to stack dominant performances together where he had a big day against Meridian last week. A player with elite vision, speed, power and a willingness to pick up the tough yards. He is a special athlete that can do a multitude of different things for the Mustangs whether its in the pass game or run game.     The unquestioned leader of the Mustang defense, the senior linebacker can be seen all over the field making plays in the backfield and then covering in the back end. A quick trigger and ability to diagnose plays quickly is what really separates him from his teammates. Should be big time this week for the Mustangs and will be a top player on the scouting report.    Rocky Mountain vs Chiawana   One of the top programs in the entire state of Idaho takes on a team from Washington that was ranked in the top 20 in the entire state. Rocky boast one of the best rosters from top to bottom in the state with multiple high-level college offered athletes. Their defense might be the shining star in the state with a secondary full of ball hawks, athletic hard-hitting linebackers, and a pass rush that can create problems for the best offensive lines.   Top Players:    Rovig had a monster day for Rocky in his debut as the starter after moving over from Timberline. The senior quarterback has settled in and showed why he started as a sophomore. A strong arm with good timing and ability to move the pocket. He is going to be a major player in why Rocky is successful on offense this season.     Rupp is a dominant player and is going to be the week as it is his effort that will help Rocky corral the opposing offense. A player with elite tools and ability to be a game wrecker at any point. Strong at the point of attack with a quick first step allows him to shoot gaps and split double teams. Should be a player to key for any opposing offensive line coach.    Minico vs Bishop Kelly   Minico and Bishop Kelly face off this week in a match up in the 5A ranks. Both teams come in with winning streaks and it should be a great matchup. Bishop Kelly is the defending state champ and Minico is looking to continue improving every year.   Top Players:    Avella runs the show for Bishop Kelly and the junior does a great job of distributing the football all around the yard. Strong in the pocket with the ability to be hyper accurate, he is a prototype pocket passer that is able to pick defenses apart.     One of the top linebackers in the state, Sachse shows it week in and week out with his fanatical effort on the field. A player who can run sideline to sideline and hold up in the box. He shows his skill every week     One of the top athletes in the class of 2025 the senior from Minico is going to be a game wrecker on both side of the football. At running back he is a powerful with great balance and on defense he is able to make plays all over the field.     Wayment is a really good defensive back where he is able to really move in the backend. A long safety that is extremely rangy in the backend with his ability to cover. Great ball skills that allow him to intercept the football and has great reaction along with route recognition.    Sandpoint vs Post Falls   Sandpoint takes on Post Falls in a matchup of different classifications. Sandpoint now a 5A team comes with a great pedigree of winning with great offense and solid defense. Post Falls brings playoff experience back from last year but will have to replace some top end talent that led to the best offense in the state.   Top Players:    Lehman has the ability to really impact the game on every possession where he can go win the 50/50 balls and win down the field. He is a great route runner with the ability to get separation from defensive backs and then is able to go up over the top.     McElroy is might not be the biggest player on the field, but he is someone you should keep an eye on every single play. His football IQ allows him to make plays all over the field along with being crafty when it comes to slipping blocks. A player that everyone should be keying on every single play for who to make sure gets blocked.     McKeown had a big year for Post Falls as a junior, but the senior is looking to build off of what he did last year. A dual threat player that can hurt you with his legs or his arm but is really able to get the ball out quickly. His quick strike ability allows his top players to get the ball and make plays for him but watch out as he is in complete command of what they do on offense.     Click is a disruptive force at his defensive line spot where he can really play on the edge or in the middle. A strong strike that allows him to get knock back and disrupt blocking schemes. He is able to really make an impact in the run game where he can beat double teams and make tackles for loss.    Mountain View vs Meridian   The rivalry between these two schools adds another chapter this Friday where the series has been in favor of Meridian, who has knocked the Mavericks out of the playoffs the last three years. This game has all the hype and even more emotions as Meridian is boasting a three-year starter at quarterback on his last ride and Mountain View bring young talent to the field. Should be a barn burner and the bragging rights are up for grabs once again   Top Players    Martinez is a staple in Idaho High School football where he is going on his third year as a starter for one of the top programs in the state. One of the best-off script passers we have seen, with his ability to make plays outside of the pocket and keep plays alive. He is a stout runner with the ability to pick up tough yards in the run game and his toughness shows up every single game.     Martinez comes back to lead a Meridian defense that pride itself on its ability to physically dominate its opponent. Martinez is able to do a multitude of different things for the Meridian defense where he is an effective blitzer, great open field tackler and has the ability to match up in the passing game.     Nelson is one of the premier passers in the loaded class of 2026 quarterbacks in the state of Idaho. The junior is able to get the ball out to all levels and shows off an extremely strong arm with great balance in the pocket. His ability to spread the football around the field is what makes the Mavericks offense one of the most effective in the state.     Mutua is coming along after playing as a sophomore, but the junior is already showing why he was able to get reps early on in his high school career. His ability to rush the passer is what really separates him from many of the top players to come from Mountain View in the past couple of years. He is a name to watch as a potential break out player in the SIC.

As football got off to a hot start for teams around the state with the first two weeks of games along with fires affecting locations and times, this week is a full slate of top tier games. Here are our picks for the top games of the week and the stars who are playing in them.