Last fall was a special one for Southeast Idaho football.

Highland, Snake River and West Side all dominated their competition and won state titles, while Blackfoot and Aberdeen reached the final game.

We witnessed Tristen Hoge finally hoist a championship trophy before he left for Notre Dame as the Rams soared to a 10th state title, joining Snake River with the most Idaho football championships ever.

But now, it’s time to look ahead. The prep season starts later this month. Some of the best rivalry bookings are slated for early in the season, so we’re breaking down the top five non-conference games (District 5) for the 2015 season.

No. 5: Firth at West Side, Aug. 28

The defending champs host fellow 2A powerhouse Firth in Week 1, marking the sixth straight opening-week showdown between the schools.

Either the Pirates or Cougars have made a title game appearance every year since 2010. West Side took down Firth 14-8 to start last season and has a 3-2 advantage in Week 1 games with the Cougars.

The Pirates return all-state seniors Peyton Brown (quarterback) and Josh King (defensive lineman), but lost three other all-state selections and 2A Player of the Year Neils Stegelmeier.

Firth’s 2014 season ended with an early playoff exit at the hands of Aberdeen, and the Cougars lost their four all-state players to graduation.

Can Firth regain its dominant form of 2012-13? Or will West Side continue to showcase its reign over 2A football in east Idaho?

No. 4: Snake River at Shelley, Sept. 4

Nothing like a good old-fashioned rivalry game.

Defending champion Snake River takes on non-conference foe Shelley in Week 2. The matchup features schools that have accounted for each of the last four 3A state titles.

Both teams should be talented, but they lost a combined 15 all-state players from last season.

Snake River will have reigning 3A Player of the Year Wyatt Vogler in the backfield and all-state lineman Porter Thomas anchoring the blockers.

Shelley’s nine all-state players from 2014 were seniors. The Russets have a new head coach in Jake Monahan, who takes over for two-time state champion skipper Travis Hobson.

Shelley is 3-2 against the Panthers in their last five matchups, but Snake knocked off the Russets twice last season including the state semis.

No. 3: American Fork (Utah) at Highland, Aug. 29

Everyone wants to see if Highland can do it again.

The defending 5A state champs open their 2015 campaign against Utah’s American Fork, the 5A state runner-up from a season ago. The Rams will have an offense full of new personnel and a defense loaded with Division I talent.

Incoming senior quarterback Connor Harding is Highland’s lone returning offensive starter. He played receiver last year and steps in for Dakota Tillotson, a first-team all-state selection and the Journal’s All-Area Player of the Year. Harding recently committed to play basketball for BYU.

But the Rams have multiple terrors along the defensive line.

Senior Wayne Kirby has committed to BYU and helped the Rams hold opponents to 12.9 points per game last season.

Fellow senior Hunter Eborn didn’t start last year but has already garnered attention from several D-1 programs. He’ll help fill holes left by the departed Kyler Manu (Washington) and TJ Togiai (Carroll). And sophomore Tommy Togiai, brother of TJ, was a starter last season and has Division I potential.

Plus, Highland gets senior Greg Gwinn back in the secondary. Gwinn missed all of last season with a knee injury but has been a starter since his freshman year.

American Fork returns its leading tackler, receiver and quarterback from an 11-3 campaign. Senior QB Tanner Smith led the Utah ranks with 3,188 passing yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

No. 2: West Side at Rich County (Utah), Sept. 4

It’s a tradition. A battle of state champions.

West Side ran the table for a 12-0 record and a 2A state title last season, and the Rebels of Rich County won their second 1A state championship in six years.

Both schools have dominated their classifications in recent seasons. Rich County has appeared in six title games in eight years and the Pirates have made three of the last five.

Plus, West Side and Rich County have faced off in all but one season since 1992. The Pirates own a 13-9 advantage in that span and won 8-6 last fall, marking the lowest point total and smallest margin of victory all year for West Side.

If only these two could ever play for a state title.

No. 1: Coeur d’Alene at Highland, Sept. 25

You can bet both teams have this one circled on their schedules.

Two of the best squads in Idaho square off for the sixth time in four years. The Rams squeaked past Coeur d’Alene 13-10 en route to a 5A state title last season, but the Vikings knocked Highland out of the playoffs in the 2012 semis and again in the 2013 championship game.

Coeur d’Alene has won three of the last five 5A crowns and has five total championships, second-most in the 5A ranks. The only school with more is Highland with 10.

The Vikings return all-Inland Empire League quarterback Austin Lee and all-league receiver Jonny Plum. Lee scored the game-winning touchdown to vault Coeur d’Alene to the state title over Highland in 2013.

Tradition versus tradition. Strength versus strength. Another potential playoff preview should be one of the best games of 2015.