MaxPreps is pleased to announce that the
Rocky Mountain (ID) Grizzlies have officially been named to the 11th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, which is in its 11th year honoring football.
This is one of the most prestigious team awards in all of high school sports and it is an exclusive honor reserved for the top 100 teams nationwide. In order to be eligible, a team must win a state championship and be highly ranked in the MaxPreps National Rankings. For football, only 50 of the country's best are invited and with nearly 17,000 competing varsity teams. This puts the Grizzlies ahead of 99.9 percent of their opponents!
Rocky Mountain was listed as the No. 1 early contender in the MaxPreps 2015 Idaho preseason high school football
Fab 5. In 2014 the Grizzlies lost in the Class 5A semifinals to the eventual state champion Highland High School and with 16 returning starters, they were favored to win it all this year.
The Grizzlies stormed their way past Lewiston (65-20) in the first round of the
2015 IHSAA Class 5A playoffs to set up their opportunity for a third semifinal rematch against the Highland Rams. In its third consecutive semifinal appearance, Rocky Mountain avenged two years of disappointment with a 24-7 victory over Highland. This victory also marked the first win over the Rams in program history.
Rocky Mountain was headed to the state championship game for the first time in school history to take on the Mountain View Mavericks. Not only were the Grizzlies playing for the program's first title, but they were also seeking revenge for their only loss of the season against the Mavericks in an early week 2 conference matchup.
Photo Courtesy of Heidi Wetherell
The Grizzlies went into the state finals averaging 37.6 points and 395 yards per game while their defense allowed 14.5 per games. On the other hand, Mountain View had shown dominance on offense and defense throughout the season averaging 50.7 points per game while only allowing 11.8.
On Nov. 21 the Grizzlies totaled 499 yards in their 41-22 win over Mountain View at Albertsons Stadium for their first football state title in school history. Senior running back Jake Roper for Rocky Mountain led the team to its vengeance against the Mavericks with 308 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 32 carries for an average of 9.6 yards per touch. This was also the first football state championship for the Treasure Valley since 2009.
At the end of the season, the 11-1 team finished ranked No. 67 in the nation, No. 1 in Idaho, No. 1 in Division 5A and
No. 15 in the MaxPreps west region rankings. The Grizzlies were also unbeaten in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference.
These incredible season achievements have earned the
Rocky Mountain Grizzlies an invitation to the 11th Annual Tour of Champions.
Please join us as we celebrate with the football team, head coach Scott Criner, students and fans on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 12:30 p.m. during the school assembly in the gym.
For more information about the Tour of Champions, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
Photo Courtesy of Heidi Wetherell
Photo Courtesy of Heidi Wetherell
Photo Courtesy of Heidi Wetherell
