POCATELLO — Is this the year that the Thunder end Highland’s reign of dominance in the “Black and Blue Bowl”? That will be decided Friday.

Pocatello (1-3, 0-0) has not beaten the Rams (4-1, 1-0) since 2010, though the two teams battled in a tightly contested game last year, ending in a 28-18 victory for Highland.

The Thunder have gotten off to a sluggish start. Entering the Week 5 showdown, Pocatello has suffered back-to-back lopsided losses, against Blackfoot (41-12) and Sandpoint (56-15).

As they have through the first month of the season, head coach Dave Spillett and the Thunder will lean heavily on seniors Houston Himmerich and Hunter Cordell. But it will be the defense that faces the toughest challenge.

Highland’s offense is led by junior running back Cedric Mitchell, who averages

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