Five Priest River Junior High football players competing in All-State football game

Full caption: From left, Priest River Junior High football players Chase Scott (seventh grade), Beau Roberts (seventh grade), Cayden Martin (eighth grade), Justin Hopkins (eighth grade) and C.J. Runnfeldt (sixth grade) are all currently competing in the 21st annual Idaho All-State Game, which started Wednesday and concludes Saturday at Idaho State University's ICCU Dome in Pocatello. The event pins the best sixth, seventh, and eighth graders (based on the previous academic year) in the Treasure Valley against players from the rest of the state in both 11-on-11 and 8-on-8 competitions, skill sessions, combine evaluations and more. Also competing at the event are Sandpoint's Luke Brewer (eighth grade) and Truman Baker (eighth grade). In the organization's own words, the mission of the annual games is to celebrate the accomplishments of youth athletes while hoping to reward and motivate them to a lifetime of achievement. The Idaho All-State Game, which was established in 2004, also believes in charitable activities. Since it's inception, organizers have partnered with Fostering Idaho, which helps foster children in need — they've raised over $250,000 in backpacks, clothes, and gift cards, with $40,000 of that coming in 2024 alone.