On to state competition...

For the first time since 2002, the Mountain Home Tigers boys soccer team is heading to state.

It ended up taking them four games in four days, but the Mountain Home Tigers have qualified for this week's state 4A Boys Soccer Tournament in Caldwell

Mountain Home 3, Nampa 1

The Mountain Home Tigers opened their District III 4A Boys Soccer Tournament with a 3-1 win over Nampa a week ago Monday at Eastside Park in Mountain Home.

The Tigers, the number three seed in district, got a goal from Keko Sanchez three minutes into the game, and another goal late in the first half by Alex Dominquez, to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

The sixth-seeded Bulldogs from Nampa scored early on in the second half, but the Tigers got a goal from Paul Rooney later on to make it a 3-1 win. Jack Richelieu had 10 saves on goal as goal keeper.

"It's a great win," said a happy Tiger boys soccer coach Jay Lockett after the game. "We did rest, so we'll try to get the two wins straight, so we can a day off Wednesday, so we can go straight in to the District finals, hopefully!"

Caldwell 2, Mountain Home 1

Mountain Home and Caldwell battled tough for two halves and two 10-minute overtimes, with the Cougars prevailing 2-1 in the district semi-finals at Caldwell Oct. 15.

Keko Sanchez scored the Tigers' lone goal off an assist by Abrahan Salas. Jack Richelieu had two saves.

"The guys played hard, but had nothing left for the final push," said Coach Lockett after the game.

Mountain Home 3, Skyview 1

The loss to Caldwell put the Tigers in the consolation bracket against Skyview on Wednesday at Columbia, where they kept their season alive with a 3-1 win.

Keko Sanchez, Victor Sanchez and Paul Rooney scored goals for the Tigers. Keko Sanchez also had an assist.

Jack Richelieu had eight saves on goal.

"We needed to bounce back from the loss. One more (win) and we go to state!" Coach Lockett said.

Mountain Home 2, Nampa 0

The Skyview win put the Tigers in Thursday's third-place game against six-seeded Nampa, which upset top-seeded Bishop Kelly to make the third-place game.

With 4:53 left in the first half, Keko Sanchez scored to put the Tigers up 1-0.

That was the scoring until 9:32 remained in the ball game, when Victor Sanchez put it in the net to give Mountain Home a 2-0 lead.

It was more than enough for the Tigers, as Jack Richelieu turned back nine attempts on goal by the Bulldogs.

"It was a great win," said a happy Coach Lockett after the game. "It was a tough battle, but we held on to it."

Coach Lockett said his guys were determined to not let the double overtime loss to Caldwell keep them from their goal of making it to state.

"They wanted it! We talked after the game -- this is destiny -- we knew we had it if we had the intensity and hustled 100 percent. All year we told them it's our year, and it's ours to lose it."

Mountain Home opens the state tourney Thursday at 2 p.m. against Preston at Brothers Field in Caldwell. Coach Lockett is optimistic going into the state tournament.

"I think we're ready -- as long as we can get healthy."

In this week's up-close look at the Mountain Home Tigers boys soccer team, we look at two more members of the 2013 Tiger boys soccer team.

Jacob Lucas

Jacob Lucas is a sophomore on the Tigers soccer squad. His parents are Mike and Lisa Lucas.

Jacob is excited about the Tigers making it to state.

"We've finally made it to state," Lucas said. It was our goal to get there and we did. And we aren't going up there (to state) to lose. We have a purpose."

Abrahan Salas

Abrahan Salas is a sophomore member of the Tigers. He is the son of Maria Salas.

Abrahan is excited about their season and how they battled back from their loss to Caldwell to take third and make it to state.

"We came back and held our heads up high and beat Skyview and made sure we won this one, and now we're going to state and we'll go there and give it all we have," he said.