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October 27, 2021

FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW (FIRST ROUND) Everything you need to know ahead of the opening weekend of the football postseason Published: 10/27/2021 4:13:40 PM Keller Sherman Blogger

CLASS 1AD1

#12 Wallace (3-4) at #5 Oakley (7-1)
4:00 PM Friday (at Salmon River HS)

Wallace won the Kansas City Tiebreaker on Monday against Lakeside to win their conference.  They'll face the defending 1AD1 state champion Oakley Hornets.  Oakley had a perfect season derailed and a conference title denied with a 22-16 loss at Raft River last week.  The Hornets still have everything they need to get back to the state championship game, but there will be multiple teams that they'll have to navigate through to get there.  While the Miners may seem like an easy opponent, they cannot be overlooked.  They'll meet at Salmon River High School in Riggins which sits about an hour and a half closer to Wallace, despite Oakley holding the larger seed.

#11 Clearwater Valley (3-5) at #6 Lapwai (6-2)
7:00 PM Friday

In the only non-neutral site game in the first round of the 1AD1 playoffs, two conference foes will clash.  Clearwater Valleytravels to Lapwai for the second time this season looking to avenge a 44-22 defeat at the hands of the Wildcats earlier in the year.  Lapwai's losses came to quality Oakley and Prairie teams and the Wildcats have the potential to make noise in the playoffs.  The Rams will come in with revenge on their minds so Lapwai will need to keep their focus and not overlook a team they already beat convincingly if they are to avoid a major upset.

#10 Potlatch (5-3) at #7 Grace (4-4)
2:00 PM Friday (New Plymouth HS)
Listen Live

Grace started out 0-3, but then reeled off four straight wins to go into the regular season finale with Butte County with a conference title on the line.  The Pirates made short work of the Grizzlies in a 48-6 defeat.  Grace will now head into the playoffs looking to rebound and get past the first weekend.  Potlatch either overwhelmed their opposition or got overwhelmed by their opposition in every game this season.  Every game for the Loggers, win or lose, was decided by at least 14 points.  The two teams will meet at neutral site New Plymouth on Friday afternoon.

#9 Genesee (6-2) at #8 Murtaugh (5-3)
3:00 PM Friday (Weiser HS)
Watch Live

Genesee feels it has unfinished business.  They were expected to be the team out of the White Pine League to knock off Prairie, but the Bulldogs were ultimately on the wrong end of an 84-50 offensive showcase by the Pirates.  Murtaugh was not as competitive against top competition, either, as they were shut out by both Oakley and Raft River, while allowing at least 50 points to both squads.  Both teams enter as third place finishers in the respective conferences and have a lot to prove.  With every game from this point forward being win or go home, these evenly matched teams should leave it all on the field, but only one will play next week.