POCATELLO - Taysom Hill's stat line for Friday's 35-7 win over Mountain View included 197 passing yards with three touchdown passes, along with another 176 yards and two scores on the ground.

And Highland's senior quarterback wasn't even the star of the game.

"The execution, I don't think, was as sharp as it should have been," Highland coach Gino Mariani said. "I thought we played poorly on offense at times, and we just made way too many mistakes. We can't do that in the future."

Instead, both Hill and Mariani heaped praise on the Rams' defense, which forced two turnovers and limited the Mavericks to 162 total yards in their 5A state semifinal clash at Holt Arena. That suffocating performance compensated for a sloppy second-half showing by the Rams' offense, if anyone could even find fault with a four-score blowout.

Highland, which advanced to the state title game for the sixth time in nine years, will face undefeated Eagle on Nov. 21 in a bid for its first state title since 2002.

"We had some mental errors and did some things we have to fix," Hill said. "But we'll definitely work on that and come back in the state championship game and hopefully get it done."

It quickly became apparent Mountain View's offense, which mustered just a field goal in a 3-0 win over Capital in the quarterfinals last week, would cave in to Highland's defense.

The Mavericks' first play from scrimmage resulted in a crushing sack on backup quarterback Zane Hibbard by Rams lineman Tyler Semons. That set the tone for the rest of the game, as the Rams forced the Mavericks to punt or turn the ball over on downs on six of its first seven possessions - and the lone exception came when Mountain View ran out the clock to end the first half.

The Mavericks finally crept into Rams territory for the first time on its touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, but that only trimmed the Rams' lead to 28-7. Mountain View's next two drives resulted in interceptions by Payton Nash and Jared Erickson. Hibbard, who played because of an injury to Mountain View starter Tyson Percifield, managed just one passing yard in the first half and finished 8-for-18 with 74 yards.

"Our defense played spectacular," Hill said. "It's sweet as an offense to come out and see your defense play that well. It takes a lot of pressure off us."

It sure showed in the Rams' sizzling-hot first half. Hill engineered touchdown drives in every way imaginable. Highland's first touchdown came on a 12-play, 52-yard drive in which Hill pounded Mountain View with seven carries for 17 yards, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

Hill capped the Rams' next scoring touchdown drive by firing a 57-yard laser to Buck Buchanan to double their lead. Hill later connected with Jerry Castillo and Jace Hansen for scores and completed the scoring with a 71-yard dash in the fourth quarter.

Hill tortured Lake City in a similar way in Highland's 42-28 quarterfinal win last week, piling up 270 yards and five scores on the ground and firing another touchdown pass.

"I just prefer to score," Hill said. "Getting points up on that board is the most important. However way we can do it, we're going to do it."

Hill's night was tarnished only by an interception and a lost fumble in the span of three drives in the second half, but the Rams' defense responded to the two turnovers by forcing a three-and-out and intercepting Hibbard, respectively.

With the way the Rams' defensive unit sparkled Friday, Hill didn't need to be at his sharpest.

"Our defense stepped up to the challenge and played well," Mariani said. "I think a lot of that had to do with the way we worked for it."

Highland 35, Mountain View 7

Mt. View 0 0 0 7 - 7

Highland 7 14 7 7 - 35

Scoring summary

First quarter

H - Taysom Hill 1 run (kick good)

Second quarter

H - Buck Buchanan 57 pass from Taysom Hill (kick good)

H - Jerry Castillo 14 pass from Taysom Hill (kick good)

Third quarter

H - Jace Hansen 16 pass from Taysom Hill (kick good)

Fourth quarter

MH - Josh Jones 20 pass from Zane Hibbard (kick good)

H - Taysom Hill 71 run (kick good)

Individual statistics

Rushing: Highland - Jerry Castillo 12-62, Taysom Hill 19-176. Mountain View - Josh Jones 4-26, Zander Miles 8-23, Zane Hibbard 5-(-1), Davion Trask 5-40.

Passing: Highland - Taysom Hill 14-22-197-3-1. Mountain View - Zane Hibbard 8-18-74-1-2, Zander Miles 0-2-0-0-1.

Receiving: Highland - Andy Livermore 1-7, Joseph Rasmussen 3-52, Buck Buchanan 3-75, Jerry Castillo 3-17, Justin Allen 3-30, Jace Hansen 1-16. Mountain View - Trevor Bartlett 1-1, Peter Canamella 2-45, Ryan Seibold 1-11, Josh Jones 1-20, Zander Miles 1-1, Justin Luttmer 1-(-4).