The Valley Channel will air its final Game of the Week on Friday, concluding a broadcast run that has spanned 39 years. The final broadcast is scheduled to feature the Ridgeline-Highland 4A state football playoff game.
This farewell follows nearly a millennium of coverage, including approximately 1,000 high school sporting events and more than 100 collegiate productions.
The Game of the Week began its run on November 20, 1987, with the first broadcast being the Mountain Crest-Sky View 3A state football championship. Since 2004, Eric Olsen has served as the play-by-play announcer, working alongside analyst Leigh Vaughn.
Station owner Earl Rouse stated that the initiative was never about money, noting that the focus is on doing it for the kids. While the Game of the Week is ending, Rouse said The Valley Channel is not going anywhere, as the station's focus remains on showcasing Cache Valley.
In collegiate sports, Utah State opened its basketball season on Monday night in Logan with a 94-58 win over Idaho State. It was the first win for Ben Jacobson as the head coach of the Aggies.
Kingston Tosi contributed 26 points off the bench, including 11 made shots out of 16 attempts, five rebounds, and three steals. Will Hornseth added 16 points, while Solomon Callaghan recorded 14 points. Utah State held a 37-29 lead at halftime before outscoring the Bengals by 28 points in the second half.
The Monday night victories for Utah State occurred alongside wins for BYU and Utah. No. 25 BYU defeated Ohio State 94-83, led by 33 points from Rob Wright III, while Utah edged Long Beach State 66-63. The women's teams also saw success, with Utah State winning 61-45 over Westminster.
The local community also saw the reopening of the William A. Burnard Warming Center in Logan on Monday night. This marks the fifth winter season for the center, which provides food, water, warm clothing, and overnight refuge for people experiencing homelessness.
Looking ahead, Utah State is scheduled to host Omaha on Saturday. Idaho State is scheduled to visit Wyoming on Friday.
