Vikings not resting on laurels

His team is 5-1, ranked second in the state in 5A, and coming off convincing victories in successive weeks over the top-ranked and third-ranked teams in Idaho. It’s lone loss is to a team ranked No. 1 in 4A in Washington.

But Shawn Amos knows that means little as his Coeur d’Alene Vikings begin 5A Inland Empire League play tonight at Lewiston at 7 p.m. at Bengal Field.

“I think we’re playing at a pretty high level,” Amos said, “but the real season starts Friday. I think our kids are ready to play some games that mean something toward the state playoffs. We’ve had a tough schedule, we feel like we’re well tested.”

Amos needs to only remind his team of last year. Coeur d’Alene beat Lewiston in its league opener, but lost to Lake City and Post Falls to finish 1-2 in league and needed to survive a Kansas tiebreaker just to make the state playoffs.

“Last year’s a good example,” Amos said. “We came into league riding pretty high, and we didn’t play at a high level.”

Two weeks ago, Coeur d’Alene knocked off No. 1 Rocky Mountain of Meridian 34-22 at home. Last week, the Vikings won 37-20 at No. 3 Vallivue of Caldwell.

“I think we’re a pretty good football team, and our kids rose to the level of competition (the last two weeks), but it doesn’t really mean anything (in league),” Amos said. “We watched the film of those last two games, and we still have plenty of room to grow.”

Lewiston (4-2, 0-1 5A IEL) lost 24-14 at home to Lake City last week.

Coeur d’Alene junior quarterback Chad Chalich is completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,539 yards and 18 touchdowns, with five interceptions.

Jake Matheson has 28 receptions for 546 yards and five touchdowns. Matheson also has eight interceptions. Matt Lambert has caught six TD passes. Drew Turbin has 24 catches for 360 yards and a score.

Zach Keiser, who missed two games earlier this season due to injury, has rushed for 507 yards and seven touchdowns.

Sandpoint (2-4) at Lakeland (2-5): It’s been an up-and-down season so far for the Hawks, but they’re coming off a 49-27 victory over Pullman last week.

“The kids are buying in and are excited about the game,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. “We are thin, but I think we are going to see some gutty performances.”

Lakeland is looking to return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2007, when the Hawks made it as far as the state semifinals.

“Our point of emphasis all year has been our physical play — our team motto this year has been “Hearts and Hats,” Kiefer said. “Hats having a double meaning of, one, playing physical, blocking hard and gang tackling, etc., and, two, using our heads on and off the field. Some games we have met our expectations and some we have fallen a little short.

“This week, if you can’t get up for this one you better check your pulse.”

Sandpoint started 2-1, but has lost three straight to 5A teams Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and Post Falls by a combined 160-35.

“We’re fortunate in this league, you get a clean slate,” Sandpoint coach Mike Mitchell of the upcoming 4A games against Lakeland and Moscow. “Now we can start over.”

Worse, Bulldogs star running back/kick returner Anthony Gold, who suffered a stinger vs. Post Falls last week, is not expected to play tonight, Mitchell said.

Wenatchee (4-2) at Lake City (4-2): It’s the first of two nonleague games for Lake City, which is off to a 2-0 start in 5A IEL play. Wenatchee is coming off a 31-19 loss to Richland. Wenatchee beat Moses Lake 14-0; Coeur d’Alene beat Moses Lake 31-0 in a game shortened by lightning.

Timberline (1-5) at Post Falls (5-1): It’s homecoming, as well as the final nonleague game for the Trojans, who return to 5A IEL play next week at home vs. Coeur d’Alene. The Wolves from Boise are coming off a 21-14 loss to Boise, and have been outscored 207-86 in their six games, including losses to Capital (45-6), Rocky Mountain (54-6) and Vallivue (54-27).

Timberlake (2-4) at Moscow (4-2): 3A Timberlake has won its last two games, both in Intermountain League play. 4A Moscow handed Timberlake its only loss of the regular season last year, but the teams have split their annual nonleague meetings over the past six seasons.

Christian Heth of Timberlake has rushed for 687 yards and 11 touchdowns.

St. Maries (3-4) at Riverside (4-2): The teams have played three common opponents this year, with Riverside beating Timberlake, Medical Lake and Freeman. St. Maries beat Medical Lake and lost to Timberlake and Freeman.

Kootenai (4-3, 4-2 North Star League) at Lakeside (4-2, 3-2): Kootenai held on to win the first meeting 40-36 in Harrison Flats on Sept. 10.

On the air/web: The Coeur d’Alene-Lewiston game will be carried on KVNI and niwebsports.com. The Sandpoint-Lakeland game will be on IdahoSports.com.