The spotlight in 3A football has rarely shined on West Jefferson - but that narrative might be about to shift. Friday night presents the Panthers' chance to crash the party when No. 25 Ririe (6-0) hosts West Jefferson (5-0) at Ririe High School in a collision of unblemished records that will test whether the Panthers belong among the classification's elite. Ririe has rolled through six straight opponents without breaking a sweat.
How to watch West Jefferson (ID) at Ririe (ID): Live stream, kickoff time for 3A undefeated showdown originally appeared on The Sporting News
The spotlight in 3A football has rarely shined on West Jefferson - but that narrative might be about to shift.
Friday night presents the Panthers' chance to crash the party when No. 25 Ririe (6-0) hosts West Jefferson (5-0) at Ririe High School in a collision of unblemished records that will test whether the Panthers belong among the classification's elite.
Ririe has rolled through six straight opponents without breaking a sweat. The Bulldogs reached the state quarterfinals last season and somehow look even sharper this fall with the second-best offense (39.67 ppg) and third-ranked defense (8.50 ppg) in the classification.
West Jefferson's path here has been decidedly less glamorous. The Panthers stumbled to 1-3 in conference play last year and went winless in league action the season before that. Their last campaign with at least five victories came back in 2021, and though they squeezed into the playoffs last year thanks to conference strength of schedule, they bowed out immediately in the play-in round against North Fremont.
Flash forward to 2025, and suddenly everything looks different for the Panthers. They've stormed to 5-0 for the first time since capturing the program's only state championship in 2007, and they're doing it with staggering statistical dominance - leading 3A in scoring at 41.20 points while surrendering a classification-best 8.20 per game.
STREAM: West Jefferson vs. Ririe, live on the NFHS Network (Sign up today!)
The Panthers' turnaround has been fueled by a dominant backfield tandem of seniors Justus Burtenshaw and Mac Hall.
Burtenshaw rumbles for 138 yards per game while Hall chips in 132, and together they've punched in 19 rushing scores. That ground assault has bulldozed every opponent so far, though none of West Jefferson's victims sport winning records - and one has since canceled its varsity season entirely.
Friday brings a significant step up in competition. Ririe counters with Kolter Lewis, the state's second-leading rusher with 887 yards and tops in the classification with 16 rushing touchdowns. Lewis shredded Firth for 236 yards and three scores last week as the Bulldogs improved to 6-0 for the first time in more than two decades.
The game plan won't require complex X's and O's. Both teams live and die by the ground game, meaning Friday's victor will likely be determined by whichever defense can best contain the opposing backfield. It's old-school, smashmouth football at its finest - line up and prove you're tougher than the guy across from you.
The contrast couldn't be starker. Ririe arrives battle-tested and ranked, having announced their arrival among 3A's premier programs. West Jefferson brings untested perfection, statistical superiority, and a burning desire to prove their hot start wasn't a mirage against soft competition.
Can the Panthers shock the classification and validate their remarkable turnaround? Or will Ririe expose the gap between impressive numbers and legitimate championship pedigree? Friday night provides the answers.
Here's everything you need to know about West Jefferson at Ririe, including live stream information.
How to watch West Jefferson at Ririe football today
Live Stream: Watch on the NFHS Network (Sign up today!)
West Jefferson at Ririe will air live on the NFHS Network. You can subscribe to the NFHS Network on a monthly basis or an annual subscription.
West Jefferson at Ririe start time
Date: Friday, Oct. 3
Time: 7 p.m. MDT
First kick is set for 7 p.m. MDT on Friday, Oct. 3. The game will be played at Ririe High School in Ririe.
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