N※N

The Sporting News Idaho Team of the Week: Bishop Kelly [Boise] Knights | Sporting News

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. ek-bishop-kelly-boise-knights-sporting-news.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 13:13 GMT by Sporting News
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Idaho’s “Team of the Week”: Bishop Kelly Knights Take Boise by Storm

For the second consecutive week that Sporting News has been spotlighting Idaho high‑school football, the spotlight falls on the Bishop Kelly Knights, a Boise‑area team that has been redefining what it means to dominate on the gridiron. With a record of 6‑0 coming into the weekend and a 56‑14 victory over arch‑rival Shillington, the Knights have earned a place in the state’s football conversation, and they have done so with style, discipline, and an unmistakable sense of purpose.

The Game That Defined a Season

The Knights’ game against Shillington, played on Friday night at the historic Bozeman‑Miller Field, was a textbook example of why the team has been lauded as Idaho’s “team of the week.” Bishop Kelly entered the game with a 100‑point‑plus offensive output in their last three contests, and they continued that trend, finishing with 512 total yards—325 passing and 187 rushing. The defense, meanwhile, turned the ball over twice and forced a crucial interception in the final quarter that sealed the game.

The game’s headline moments began early, as freshman quarterback Eli Navarro completed 23 of 28 passes for 345 yards and five touchdowns. Navarro, whose father was a former Boise State graduate, was quoted in the post‑game interview as saying, “We practiced those plays every week, and it just felt natural out there.” On the ground, sophomore running back Jamal Harris rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries, while wide receiver Tanner Lee added 92 yards and two touchdowns on just five receptions.

Defensively, the Knights were relentless. Senior linebacker Chris “CJ” O’Connor recorded 12 total tackles, one sack, and forced a fumble that was recovered for a pick‑six in the second quarter. “We never let the offense get a rhythm,” O’Connor said. “Once we got into the groove, it was like a machine.” The Knights’ defensive line forced six sacks, a record for the team this season.

In addition to the on‑field dominance, the Knights’ coaching staff, led by Head Coach Mark Peterson, earned praise for their game‑plan. Peterson’s emphasis on a balanced attack and aggressive defensive schemes was evident in the way the team executed the plays: “It’s all about the fundamentals,” he said. “When the players know what’s expected, they can make it happen.”

A Program on the Rise

Bishop Kelly High School’s football program has undergone a renaissance in recent years, with a series of upgrades to its facilities, a robust youth‑development pipeline, and a coaching staff that has shown a clear vision. The Knights’ new training center, opened in the spring, features state‑of‑the‑art weight rooms, a video‑analysis suite, and a climate‑controlled indoor practice field—an upgrade that has already started to bear fruit in terms of player development.

The program’s emphasis on player growth is reflected in the Knights’ depth. While Eli Navarro and Jamal Harris are the obvious stars, backup quarterback Marcus Lee and sophomore running back Tyler “T‑Dawg” Evans have both shown flashes of potential in limited playing time, suggesting a bright future for the squad even after graduation.

Coach Peterson, a former college defensive line coach, has built a culture that stresses teamwork, discipline, and academic accountability. According to the school’s athletic director, Linda Sanchez, “The Knights are a model of how high‑school sports can contribute to student‑athlete growth. Their record on the field is mirrored by a 95% graduation rate among the football roster.”

Community and Fan Engagement

The Knights’ success has galvanized the Boise community, drawing larger crowds to games and creating a buzz that extends beyond the field. The Friday night crowd for the Shillington game reached a record 2,200—an increase of 350 fans from the previous week—thanks in part to the “Knights Night” promotion, which included a halftime fireworks display, a student‑run “Knights for a Cause” charity drive, and a fan‑poll for the “MVP” of the evening.

Local media outlets, including the Boise Daily Gazette and Idaho Sports Network, have covered the Knights extensively. In an article linked from Sporting News, the Gazette highlighted the Knights’ community outreach efforts, citing their partnership with the Boise Humane Society for a “Paws & Plays” charity game in January. These community ties have helped the Knights maintain a strong public presence, an asset that many high‑school programs lack.

Looking Ahead

With a 6‑0 record, the Knights are positioned to remain a contender for the Idaho Class 5A championship, but their focus has already turned to the next hurdle: the playoff match‑ups against top‑ranked rivals. Sporting News notes that the Knights will face Pocatello’s St. Anthony in the first round—a team that boasts a powerful rushing attack and a seasoned coaching staff.

Ahead of the playoff season, Bishop Kelly will be working on fine‑tuning its offensive cadence, especially in the red‑zone, where the team has historically struggled to convert drives into touchdowns. Additionally, the coaching staff is preparing for a “stretch” in the defense, aiming to keep the opposition's passing attack in check during the high‑pressure moments of the game.

Bottom Line

Bishop Kelly’s “team of the week” honors are not merely a reflection of a single win but of an entire program’s trajectory. The Knights’ combination of explosive offense, suffocating defense, strong coaching, and community engagement positions them as a model of high‑school football success. As the 2024 season progresses, fans and analysts alike will keep a close eye on how the Knights navigate the challenges of the playoff landscape and whether they can sustain the momentum that has turned them into Idaho’s football phenomenon.