Potato Bowl Football Challenge

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (FIPB) and Optimist Youth Football (OYF) program join in hosting the seventh annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Football Challenge, July 14-15 at the Optimist Youth Sports Complex in Boise. The 2017 football challenge will include varsity and junior varsity 7-on-7 passing tournaments, a lineman challenge and a tug-of-war competition, making the two-day challenge a full team event.

The FIPB Football Challenge donates all net proceeds to the OYF “Financial Assistance Program” aiding over 125 children each year who would not otherwise have the opportunity to play youth football. The 2016 event raised nearly $8,000 for the program.

OLD QUOTE: “This event is such a wonderful way to help the Optimist Youth Football program provide opportunities for children in the valley to play football,” said Jerron Moore, Director of Coaching and Player Safety at Optimist Youth Football. “This has become a premiere high school event in the Northwest and provides excellent competition for area high school programs.”

The 2017 event will include 45 regional high school teams and more than 600 athletes competing in varsity and junior varsity levels of the passing tournament and lineman challenge. A single elimination tug-of-war event is slated in the midst of Saturday’s action for additional competition.

The 7-on-7 passing tournament, which features 15-minute halves, no pads, no defensive rushes and a 3.5-second time limit for quarterback passing, will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s 7-on-7 passing tournament will consist of single elimination championship play for both varsity and junior varsity teams, beginning at 9 a.m. The junior varsity championship game is slated for 11 a.m., while the varsity championship game will wrap up the weekend’s events at 12 p.m.

In its sixth season, the Lineman’s Challenge will be held Saturday, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Competitors will take part in seven events: a tire flip relay, spud carry relay, five-man truck push, kneeling medicine ball throw, pro agility shuttle, bench press and obstacle course.

All 2017 Football Challenge events will be played at the Optimist Youth Sports Complex (9889 W. Hill Road, Boise) maintained by Boise Parks & Recreation, a partner of OYF. Parking and admission are free. For more information contact the OYF office at (208) 573-0665.

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS PARTICIPATING:

Bishop Kelly, Boise, Boarah, Capital, Centennial, Cole Valley, Eagle, Emmett, Fruitland, Gooding, Highland, Jerome, Kuna, McCall , Melba, Meridian, Mountain View, Nampa High, Pocatello, Ridgevue,  Rocky Mountain, and Skyview.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Friday, July 14

• 9 a.m. - 7-on-7 Passing Tournament Pool Play Games (ending around 4 p.m.)

Saturday, July 15

• 9 a.m. – 7-on-7 Passing Tournament Single-Elimination Games begin

• 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.– Lineman’s Challenge (East of Field)

• 12:30 p.m. – Tug-of-War - Lineman Teams (Single Elimination)

• 12:40 – 7-on-7 Passing Tournament JV and Varsity Championship Games

• 1:45 p.m. – Awards Presentation

7-on-7 SCORING:
Touchdown = 6 points
Extra Point 15yd Line = 2 points
Extra Point 5yd line = 1 point
Interception = 3 points
Defensive stops = 1 point