The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT October 6, 2010

It didn't take long for the phone to start ringing on Sunday afternoon with some reaction toward the biggest football news to come out of the Northwest.

Whether you love them or hate them - the Boise State Broncos slipped a bit in the AP polls following a 59-point win, causing a sense of frenzy among some of my friends in the Bronco nation.

AFTER SCORING 52 points at home on Saturday against the ninth-ranked Stanford Cardinal, the Oregon Ducks were able to fly over the Broncos - the Broncos fell to fourth after a 59-0 win at New Mexico State.

The news didn't come as a shock to me - Oregon beat a tougher team.

To date, that Boise State win over Virginia Tech on Labor Day has started to look like a win over a good ACC team - instead of the early season national title contender most expected them to be.

Oregon had wins against smaller programs earlier in the season - but wins against Stanford and at Tennessee will go a long way toward helping them secure a BCS game if they remain unbeaten.

Boise State has done all it can by beating those teams on its schedule, but as the Broncos' ranked opponents fall, so does the strength of schedule.

Oregon, which plays in the Pac-10 Conference, likely will face a few more ranked teams during the regular season.

Boise State could see a ranked opponent as long as Nevada continues to play well, but should the Wolf Pack drop off - it's just as likely that the Broncos will be on the outside looking in once again this season when the BCS bids are announced.

WITH LESS than a month remaining in the regular season in high school football, it seems like a good time to make a statement.

After watching the 5A top-ranked Rocky Mountain Grizzlies of Meridian fall to Coeur d'Alene on Friday night, a few thoughts came to mind.

Should both teams continue on their current level of play, they could collide in the state 5A title game. If that were to happen, it will be played at the Kibbie Dome.

Following the game, both coaches had varying opinions on the possible rematch.

“From where we’re at, it’d have to be in the state championship game,” Rocky Mountain coach Jason Warr said. “They were a good test for us and if it came to that, we’d take a rematch with them.”

A rematch for Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos isn’t the main concern right now for the 4-1 Vikings.

“We play in such a tough league, it’s hard to think about that,” Amos said. “We’ve got a long way to go from here.”

Coeur d’Alene travels to Vallivue of Caldwell on Friday for a nonleague game, before opening the 5A Inland Empire League schedule next Friday at Lewiston.

Whoever you cheer for — remember, these roads get a little more slick sooner or later.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.