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krobinett@journalnet.com

POCATELLO -- In the playoffs: That's the only time a high school football team from southeast Idaho can play a team from the Treasure Valley anymore.

Three years ago, schools in the Boise area banded together and said, to help fight rising travel costs, they would no longer venture outside their region to play regular season games.

Because of that, Highland has had to be creative with its scheduling. In the last three years, the Rams have played against opponents from Montana, Utah and California. But no teams from the Boise area.

Highland hasn't faced a team from the Treasure Valley since the semifinals of the 2006 5A state playoffs when it won at Centennial.

Mountain View, by comparison, hasn't ventured further away than Boise State's Bronco Stadium for a game all year.

But that will change today when Mountain View takes on Highland at 8:45 p.m. at Holt Arena. For the first time all season, the Mavericks will take a long bus ride before a playing a game against an opponent they don't know much about.

Considering that Highland does that up to four times a year, the Rams could have a distinct advantage in this matchup.

"The worst thing about it is we don't get to see much film on them. It can be hit or miss. But we're used to that," Highland coach Gino Mariani said. "We play enough schools we don't get to see a lot of that this shouldn't be a problem."

Playing at home doesn't hurt, either.

"They've got to get on a bus and travel for the first time to get to this game," Mariani said. "That's an obstacle they've got to overcome right off the bat that we don't have to deal with."

Highland earned that home-field advantage by going undefeated in District 4, 5, 6 play and winning the No. 1 seed out of its region.

But Mountain View has accomplished quite a bit itself. The Mavericks come into today's game at 8-2 and have won five straight games.

More than dealing with a lengthy bus rid before the game, Mountain View coach Judd Benedick said slowing down Highland quarterback Taysom Hill is what he's most concerned about.

He told the Idaho Press Tribune that Hill reminds him of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow of Florida.

"I have been telling our kids he is the nearest thing we'll see to a Tim Tebow. He is that kind of player," Benedick said. "There's not a scheme I think that will stop him. I think we just have to play sound, kind of even maybe a bend-but-not-break type of deal. ... We probably have to score 28 to be in it."

For Mountain View's offense, that might be asking too much. Last week in a win over Capital, the Mavericks won 3-0.

But their wins have come on defense. The Mavericks are allowing only 15 points a game and have shut out two opponents this season.

Mariani said it will take a solid effort to score in bunches against Mountain View.

"Defensively, they're very good," he said. "They've only allowed 30 points in a game twice all year. That's the strongest part of their game."

But it will be tested against a Rams offense that averages nearly 38 points per game. It's a test that will only be harder on the road, with Highland just one win shy of clinching a spot in the 5A state title game at Holt Arena.

"This is something that the whole team wants," Mariani said. "The kids have worked hard all year for it, and they deserve it."

By Kellis Robinett

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