Fearless Semi-Final predictions

BLACKFOOT — The state football quarter-finals have wrapped up with both of the remaining Bingham County teams surviving tough match ups to advance to this weeks semi-final round.
Blackfoot took to the road once again, traveling to Bishop Kelley where they emerged victorious 27-14 and will now tangle with the Twin Falls Bruins on Friday evening.
Shelley, gutted out a nail biter in Holt arena, downing conference rival Salmon and will now set their sights on the Wolverines of Weiser.  Here is a breakdown of Friday nights games and of course, my best look into the crystal ball.  READER OPINION: What do you think?  Will the Broncos and Russets move on to the championship games or will one go, not the other or neither?

Blackfoot (9-1) vs Twin Falls (6-4) 7 P.M. Friday @ Twin Falls

For Blackfoot,  this may look like a break from the last several games that they have played.  Twin Falls, while playing their best ball of the year, sports just a  6-4 overall record with the six wins coming against teams that have a combined record of 16-28 on the season, including two games against conference rival Burley (2-7).
Twin Falls did have a nice win over Nampa in last weeks quarterfinal round, downing the Bulldogs 28-21.
In the win, Nampa was able to gouge the Bruin defense on the ground however, as the leading Bulldog rusher tallied 280-yards on the ground.
Offensively, the Bruins did enough to win on their home field showcasing a modest, yet balanced attack with 150-yards passing and 130-yards rushing on the night.
On the season the Bruins have shown steady improvement, after starting the season 1-3 they have won five of their last six ball games and have lost just once all season on their home field, a 14-0 loss to Century at the end of September.
Nampa showed that the Bruins were susceptible to run which I expect them to do with the triple threat of Beau Hoskins, Chris Percy and Anthony Clarke.
Percy showed Blackfoot fans just what he is capable of when healthy last Friday, ripping the Bishop Kelley defense apart with three second half scores.
I expect that this group of rushers will be licking their chops coming into Friday nights game and if the offensive line can avoid the dreaded holding penalties, the Bronco run game should be more than effective against the Bruins.
The Bruins will know that Blackfoot likes to run so eight man fronts will more than likely be employed to try and slow down the Blackfoot attack, which will open the passing game for Julio Flores and Nate Walker.
One fact that may rear it’s ugly head, is the home field advantage that the Bruins have enjoyed this year.  The Broncos are experienced road warriors by now however, as this will be the fifth straight road test for the men in green.
In the end, the Blackfoot defense, currently allowing just 16.1-points per game, will lead the day, forcing three turnovers, as Blackfoot moves on to the championship game.
Blackfoot 35, Twin Falls 7

Shelley (10-0) vs Weiser (7-3) 6 P.M. Friday @ Holt Arena

At the beginning of the 3A state football playoffs there were three teams with undefeated records entering the post season.  At the end of the quarter-final round, only the Shelley Russets remain, carrying a perfect 10-0 record into Holt Arena this Friday night.
Standing in their way of a title game appearance is the Wolverines of Weiser.
Weiser just happens to be one of the teams that turned in opening round upsets, downing an undefeated Buhl team 28-7 on the Indians home field.
Weiser, was one of three teams to finish 3-1 in the Snake River Valley Conference, sharing the regular season conference championship with Fruitland and Payette.  Weiser’s offense averages 24.2-points per contest so the Russet defense will need to continue their solid play on that end of the field.
Defensively, the Wolverines allow just 17.7-points per outing but perhaps most impressivly, the Wolverines held a Buhl team that was averaging 47-points a night to just 7 on their home field.
All that said, there is a reason why Shelley is undefeated and has been ranked number one on the state all season long.  They are good, dang good and an offense that averages 39.3 points per game will come into Holt Arena looking to score in bunches after the wake up call last Friday night.
Aaron Adams has picked up in the post-season right where he left off in the regular season, running rough shod through the opponents secondaries after the massive front line creates a crease.
Adams had over 200-yards last Friday and I expect more of the same on Friday night.
Shelley has been here before with Holt Arena becoming a home away from home for the Russets.  Weiser will have the disadvantage of playing in the dome for the first time leading to a big Russet first half lead and the win.
Russets 27 Wolverines 6

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