Cd'A, Lake City face Calif. teams
Coeur d'Alene High has a couple of players who could be playing college football next fall in quarterback Chad Chalich and wide receiver/defensive end Deon Watson.
Football fans will be able to see at least three other players who have already committed to Division I schools when the inaugural Idaho Football Classic unfolds Saturday at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
Coeur d'Alene (3-0) and Lake City (2-1) are the two local teams competing in the event.
Lake City takes on Rio Linda (1-1) of the Sacramento area at 5 p.m. Coeur d'Alene, ranked No. 1 in 5A in Idaho, faces Whitney (2-0) of Rocklin, Calif., in the nightcap at 8.
In earlier games, Idaho schools Salmon River and Tri-Valley play an eight-man game at 11 a.m. Highland (3-0) of Pocatello, ranked third in 5A in Idaho, faces Vanden (2-0) of Fairfield, Calif., at 2 p.m.
Whitney has two players who have verbally committed to Pac-12 schools in quarterback Jake Rodrigues (Oregon) and tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (USC).
Vanden wide receiver/David Buccannon has verballed to Washington State.
Rio Linda junior quarterback Cole Farrow is already attracting college interest, according to Matt Williams, promoter of the game.
Rio Linda is riding a bus to Moscow. The other two California teams are flying.
“They (Lake City) look pretty good on film,” Rio Linda coach Mike Morris told the Sacramento Bee. “They look very physical and very well coached.”
Rio Linda, which missed the playoffs last year after eight straight appearances, beat Antelope 40-35 last Friday. Junior running back Lamar Bible rushed for 213 yards and four touchdowns.
Whitney has won its first two games 39-0 and 48-34. Rodrigues has passed for 449 yards and eight touchdowns in two games, and rushed for 104 yards and four TDs. Cope-Fitzpatrick has seven catches for 147 yards and one TD.
Chalich has passed for 901 yards and eight touchdowns in three games, and rushed for 203 yards and five scores. Watson has 16 catches for 252 yards and three TDs. Bubba Duran is the Vikings’ top receiver with 21 receptions for 259 yards and one score.
Other games:
Post Falls (2-1) at East Valley (1-1): The Trojans are looking to bounce back from a subpar performance in a 30-13 loss to Madison in Rexburg last week. East Valley lost 31-17 at Lakeland last week.
Timberlake (2-1) at Lakeland (2-1): Since Timberlake opened in 1998, Lakeland leads the series 9-4, including a 27-26 victory at Spirit Lake last year. However, the series is tied 4-4 over the last eight matchups.
Bonners Ferry (0-3) at St. Maries (0-3): It’s the Intermountain League opener for both teams. Bonners has been outscored 125-7 in its first three games, and its head coach resigned after the first game to return to his family in Salmon.
Lakeside (3-0, 3-0 North Star League) at Wallace (2-0, 2-0 NSL): This game, and the rematch Oct. 21 in Plummer, will help determine the lone playoff representative in 1A Division I from District 1. Wallace has beaten Kootenai 64-14 and Clark Fork 50-0; Lakeside has beaten Clark Fork 50-0, Kootenai 46-0 and Mullan 62-14.
Wallace is ranked fourth in 1A Division I; Lakeside received votes.
Kootenai (0-3, 0-2 NSL) at Mullan (0-2, 0-2 NSL): It’s Kootenai’s first game vs. a 1A Division II opponent in league; Mullan lost to Clark Fork 48-20 on Sept. 2.
Standings
5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Coeur d’Alene 0 0 3 0
Post Falls 0 0 2 1
Lake City 0 0 2 1
Lewiston 0 0 1 2
Friday’s Games
Post Falls at East Valley
Lewiston at Pullman
Saturday’s Games
Rio Linda (Calif.) vs. Lake City at Kibbie Dome, Moscow
Whitney (Calif.) vs. Coeur d’Alene at Kibbie Dome, Moscow
4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Lakeland 0 0 2 1
Sandpoint 0 0 1 1
Moscow 0 0 1 1
Friday’s Games
Timberlake at Lakeland
West Valley at Sandpoint
Clarkston at Moscow
INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Timberlake 0 0 2 1
Bonners Ferry 0 0 0 3
Priest River 0 0 0 2
St. Maries 0 0 0 3
Kellogg 0 0 0 2
Friday’s Games
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
Timberlake at Lakeland
Kellogg at Salmon
Deer Park at Priest River
NORTH STAR LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Lakeside 3 0 3 0
Wallace 2 0 2 0
Clark Fork 1 2 1 2
Mullan 0 2 0 2
Kootenai 0 2 0 3
Friday’s Games
Kootenai at Mullan
Lakeside at Wallace
Clark Fork is idle
Prep football
All times 7 p.m. except where noted
Friday's Games
Post Falls at East Valley
Timberlake at Lakeland
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
Lakeside at Wallace
Kootenai at Mullan, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Lake City vs. Rio Linda (Calif.) at Kibbie Dome, Moscow, 5 p.m.
Coeur d'Alene vs. Whitney (Calif.) at Kibbie Dome, Moscow, 8 p.m.