The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT September 11, 2010
After listening to all the hype about the Boise State Broncos and the national championship for most of the summer, it felt nice to finally get the game with Virginia Tech under way.
It wasn't pretty, but after the Broncos beat the Hokies on Labor Day, a lingering question will remain over the Broncos, and will remain until late November.
"Are they deserving to play for a championship?"
MONDAY'S GAME started with the Broncos taking advantage of some Virginia Tech mistakes to build a 17-0 lead. Whether it was getting out of rhythm on the sidelines or Tech starting to play like it was capable of, that lead soon became smaller and smaller until the Hokies eventually took the lead.
Boise State rallied late to win 33-30 after a late pass fell out of a Tech receiver's hands on fourth down. Whether they proved anything by winning on Monday remains to be seen - as they'll need a better performance against Oregon State in a few weeks if they want to at least stay in the conversation for a national title.
Meanwhile, the Idaho Vandals not so quietly rolled in their home opener last Thursday. The Vandals' next test comes today when they travel to Lincoln to face the No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Should the Vandals find a way to win the game - and it could happen with experienced quarterback Nathan Enderle returning to his home state coupled with a few breaks.
Regardless, the weeks leading up to that night in November when the Vandals and Broncos meet at the Kibbie Dome will be worth the wait.
LOOKING BACK on those games in the first week of the prep football season - there is a good chance the race for the 5A Inland Empire League football champion will come down to the final weekend, much like in 2009.
Three of the four teams (Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Lewiston) won games last week. Both Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls take the field today in rare Saturday contests at Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.) and Centennial Secondary School of Coquitlam, British Columbia (in Ellensburg, Wash.), respectively.
Lake City lost 32-7 to Capital High of Boise on Friday night at Bronco Stadium.
A lot will have to happen in the coming weeks, as most teams are just settling into playing again each Friday — but soon enough, the conference schedule begins for these schools.
LOCAL TEAMS have been practicing for weeks in preparation for a run toward the state playoffs. Even though nonleague games the next three weeks won’t matter for playoff seeding — how they come out of these early season tests will go a long way in who’s playing in those championship games in November.
No matter who you’re rooting for — it’s bound to be a good season of football in the state of Idaho this fall.
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.