Friday, November 13, 2009

Showdown pits Carey, Mackay tonight at ISU

Holt Arena semi-final football game


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Two of Idaho's best eight-man football programs will collide tonight, Friday on the indoor turf at Idaho State University's Holt Arena, Pocatello.

Defending State 1A Division 2 champion Carey (9-1) will clash with top-ranked and undefeated Mackay (10-0) in the semi-finals of the eight-school Idaho High School Activities Association small school meet.

Game time is 7:45 p.m. The winner advances to the Milk Bowl championship game set for the same Holt Arena turf over the Nov. 19-21 weekend.

Tonight's winner will play the winner of Saturday's 1 p.m. semi-final game matching host Salmon River of Riggins (6-3) and Kootenai (10-0). Kootenai is shooting for its second straight title game appearance, and Salmon River won it all in 2007.

Carey defeated Kootenai 46-12 in last year's state title game in Moscow. Two years ago, Salmon River beat Carey 46-42 in the championship game at Boise's Bronco Stadium. And Carey beat Salmon River 50-20 for the 2006 title at Holt Arena.

Prior to the 2006 title game victory, Carey defeated Mackay 36-28 in the Holt semi-finals. Carey has enjoyed much success at Holt, with a 9-0 mark since 1991 including title game triumphs in 1994, 1998 and 2006.

And tonight, the Panthers will try to nail down their fourth consecutive state championship game appearance. It will be a big challenge.

Led by senior QB Kole Krosch, 2005 state champion Mackay (53-10 over 5 seasons) is a formidable opponent. Krosch rallied Mackay from a 22-0 deficit to beat Carey 26-22 Sept. 18 at Mackay and snap Carey's 15-game winning streak.

Carey's ninth-year coach Lane Kirkland (74-17) said after Saturday's 36-12 playoff victory over North Gem, "Our goal for four years has been to go to Holt Arena. I'm proud of the kids for making it there again."

He thinks Carey has a speed advantage over Mackay, but he also said he remembers his Panthers "panicked" in the face of Mackay's rally during the 26-22 loss back on Sept. 18.

"Mackay has good kids and a great quarterback. We'll have to shut down their running game and force him to throw. And we have to get to him and cover the underneath stuff," said Kirkland.




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