POCATELLO — Sugar-Salem’s offense played as advertised Friday night at Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome. The state’s top 4A offense moved the ball up and down the field freely against a normally stingy Snake River defense. The quarterfinal showdown ended in a nearly identical fashion to the two teams’ early-season matchup — which the Diggers won, 41-6, at Snake River.
With a 42-7 victory, Sugar-Salem advanced to the semifinals of the 4A State Football Championships. Head coach Tyler Richins said he was especially happy with his team’s performance given its extended rest. The Diggers have played just once since an Oct.
11 victory at South Fremont. “Our kids were itching to get back out onto the field, and there’s no better time for football than in November,” the coach said. “The kids played hard, executed well and did a great job.
” Sugar-Salem got on the board to finish it first possession, marching 80 yards in 5-1/2 minutes to take a 7-0 lead out of the gate on a 16-yard touchdown run from senior wide receiver Kooper Mace. The Diggers scored again on their second possession, when senior quarterback Jackson Gardner hit junior wideout Ace Clark for a 38-yard catch and run and a 14-0 lead. Snake River did its best defensively to stay in the game, intercepting a Gardner pass then forcing a three-and-out on the next two Digger possessions.
But the Panther offense had its own issues, gaining just 38 yards combined on its first four possessions. Those issu.