POCATELLO — Right after Marsh Valley’s defense made a key fourth-down stop, Sugar-Salem answered with a series of game-changing plays.

With the Eagles pinned at their own 7-yard line after losing 14 yards on their first three offensive plays, the Diggers blocked their fourth-down punt. Dylan Pope dove on the loose ball in the end zone in what was the first of five unanswered touchdowns by the Diggers in Friday’s 35-0 win at Holt Arena in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs.

Marsh Valley’s costly early miscue came moments after the team’s defense made a crucial stop on fourth down to end Sugar-Salem’s game-opening, 13-play drive. The Eagles got the ball at their own 21-yard line and went backwards on two of their next three plays.

The series of events was a microcosm of the game for Marsh Valley (3-6), which could never quite punctuate its positive progress.

“We had turnovers in the first quarter and dug ourselves a hole,” Eagles coach Doug Armstrong said. “Offensively, we had some drives stall out and had trouble sustaining them.”

The Eagles’ offense didn’t cross midfield until the third quarter, when Marsh Valley opened the frame with 14 run plays in a row to inch down to Sugar-Salem’s 5-yard line. But on fourth-and-2, the Eagles were flagged for delay of game and got pushed back to the 10.

Eagles quarterback Damon Kelly threw an incomplete pass to end the drive with a turnover on downs. Marsh didn’t get closer to scoring than Sugar’s 49-yard line the rest of the game.

“It was a long drive, and it’s a conversion we needed,” Armstrong said. “And we stalled out inside the red zone.”

Even if Marsh Valley had scored, it may have been a moot point.

Sugar-Salem (7-2) was ahead 21-0 already, and the clock was working in the Diggers’ favor. Sugar scored 10 seconds into the second quarter on a 65-yard burst by Hadley Miller to increase the lead to 14-0, and scored again after Kelly threw a pick on Marsh’s next possession. The Diggers moved the ball upfield with well-timed, read-option plays and snuffed out Marsh Valley’s attempts at trickery.

Kelly was sacked three times and completed 1 of 8 passes for 13 yards.

The Diggers, led by sophomore quarterback Tanner Harris, outgained the Eagles 186-7 in the first half and 323-98 for the game. Harris filled in for starting QB Hayden Crapo, who was out with an injury.

Marsh Valley hadn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 24 points this season, and entered the game on the strength of a defense allowing 14 points per game.

“Defensively, for the most part, we played pretty good,” Armstrong said. “We just got out to a real rough start with the turnovers and one missed assignment on a long run, and next thing you know you dug yourself a 21-0 hole.”

Friday’s matchup was nothing like Sept. 15’s regular-season tilt. The Diggers needed a fourth-quarter fumble return touchdown to escape Arimo with a 13-7 win after playing the Eagles to a scoreless tie at halftime. It was one of three consecutive games the Eagles lost by six points or fewer.

Friday was Marsh Valley’s first playoff game since 2011, when the Eagles marched to the state semifinals. The Eagles’ postseason trek that year started with a 42-7 drubbing of Sugar-Salem at Holt Arena.

In neither sense did history repeat itself Friday night.

Sugar-Salem advances to play defending champion Fruitland next week in the 3A quarterfinals. For Marsh Valley, it’s back to the drawing board to continue Armstrong’s rebuilding project.

SUGAR-SALEM 35, MARSH VALLEY 0

Marsh Valley 0 0 0 0 — 0

Sugar-Salem 7 14 0 14 — 35

Scoring summary

First quarter

SS — Dylan Pope recovers blocked punt in end zone (Luke Terry kick), 2:47

Second quarter

SS — Hadley Miller 65 run (Terry kick), 11:50

SS — Chadler Pincock 21 pass from Tanner Harris (Terry kick), 9:51

Fourth quarter

SS — Jacob Christensen 16 pass from Harris (Terry kick), 5:29

SS — Ethan Warner 17 pass from Simeon Rydalch (Terry kick), 0:26)

Individual stats

Rushing — Marsh Valley: Payton Campbell 21-82, Damon Kelly 5-(-31), Caden May 9-23, Cody Goodworth 2-(-6), Aaron Marshall 4-21, TEAM 2(-2). Sugar-Salem: T. Harris 12-48, Kyle Ostermiller 8-25, Pope 3-11, Miller 4-72-1, Sam Parkinson 1-0, Cole Mace 1-5, TEAM 1-3.

Passing — Marsh Valley: Kelly 1-8-13-0-1. Sugar-Salem: Harris 8-13-123-2-0, Rydalch 2-3-36-1-0.

Receiving — Marsh Valley: Isaac Bowman 1-13. Sugar-Salem: Pope 3-38, Christensen 4-64-1, Pincock 1-21-1, TEAM 1-19, Warner 1-17-1.