Trojans look for better start
One year ago, Post Falls traveled to Lake City in the 5A Inland Empire League opener for both schools.
The Trojans were 3-1 and full of confidence. Lake City was 0-4.
But on a rainy night, Post Falls lost its quarterback and running back to injuries, and Lake City’s defense stepped up and pitched a shutout (20-0). Lake City went on to win the league; Post Falls lost in a Kansas tiebreaker for a berth in the state playoffs.
One year later, the two teams again meet in the league opener, tonight at 7 at Lake City. Post Falls (4-0) comes in ranked No. 3 in 5A; Lake City is 2-2.
“Hopefully we’re a little drier, a little healthier and a little happier after this game,” Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz said. “Whatever could go wrong in that game did.”
Post Falls has outscored its opponents by a combined 198-39, but has not played the level of competition that Lake City — or Coeur d’Alene, for that matter — has.
“They’re very good,” Lake City coach Van Troxel said of Post Falls. “Coming out of (summer) camp, we thought they were the best team at camp. We’re going in with a 2-2 record, and we think we have a chance to be good. They’re 4-0, and we know they’re good.”
Post Falls, however, hasn’t been good vs. Lake City of late. Lake City has won the last five meetings between the two teams, by an average of 22.8 points.
“Even though our record is a little better than theirs, both of us are 0-0 in league,” Hinz said. “I’m just saying that you have to get the job done on the field, and we haven’t done that against Lake City since 2004.”
Hinz said quarterback Matt Lickfold, who missed last week’s win at Lakeland with a severe bacterial infection, should be back tonight.
“They’re big up front, and they present a lot of problems,” Troxel said of the Trojans. “They haven’t turned the ball over much this year. They’re just a very solid football team.”
Rocky Mountain (4-0) at Coeur d’Alene (3-1): The Grizzlies from Meridian are ranked No. 1 in 5A this week, and have beaten Meridian, Eagle, Mountain View and Timberline by a combined 182-43. Rocky Mountain beat Timberline 54-6 last week; the Associated Press erroneously reported last Friday that Timberline won by that score. The Vikings are ranked fourth this week.
Lakeland (1-4) at West Valley (0-3): West Valley is coming off a bye, after losing to Moscow (50-20), Colville (35-14) and Sandpoint (26-19).
Kellogg (0-4, 0-0 Intermountain League) at St. Maries (2-3, 0-1): St. Maries lost at Bonners Ferry two weeks ago in the only IML game played to date. The teams have played three common opponents this season, with St. Maries beating Orofino, and losing to Grangeville and Freeman.
Priest River (1-3) at Timberlake (0-4): It’s the Intermountain League opener for both schools. Priest River is averaging 10.2 points per game, Timberlake 19. Priest River is allowing 21.5 points per game, Timberlake 38.8. In nonleague games to date, IML teams have gone 3-16.
Kootenai (3-2, 3-1 North Star League) at Mullan (0-4, 0-4): Kootenai won the season opener between the two teams 48-0, and is 2-0 in NSL games between 1A Division II teams. Mullan is 0-2, Clark Fork 1-1.
Clearwater Valley (2-2) at Lakeside (2-2): This is a late addition to Lakeside’s schedule. The Knights were originally scheduled to have a bye this week. The Rams, a 1A Division I team like Lakeside, have wins over Lapwai and Deary, and losses to Lewis County and Kendrick.
On the air: KVNI and SWX are both carrying the Post Falls-Lake City game. The Rocky Mountain-Coeur d’Alene game can be heard at niwebsports.com.