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More than just another game

by MARK NELKE
Sports Editor | September 14, 2012 9:00 PM

Many are wondering whether the Coeur d'Alene High football team can hang with Pacific Northwest football power Skyline (2-0) of Sammamish, Wash., when the two teams square off Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow in the finale of the four-game Idaho Football Classic.

For their part, the Vikings (3-0) are just trying to play better than they did last week vs. Mercer Island.

Yes, it's a big game, but Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos is trying to keep it all in perspective.

"It is the next game, but we're excited to play a team of this caliber," Amos said. "It will be a good measuring stick of where we are - or where we aren't."

For Skyline, playing out-of-state teams is getting to be old hat. Since Matt Taylor took over as head coach in 2008, the Spartans have played Oregon teams Lake Oswego, Jesuit and Sheldon, and in 2009 played Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, Calif., which was quarterbacked by Nick Montana - son of you know who.

Just last week, Skyline traveled to Murray, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, and beat Cottonwood High 57-25 in a game arranged and televised by ESPNU.

So where does a game with a little ol' team from Idaho fit in on the Skyline schedule?

“It’s a big deal,” Taylor said. “It’s not a hard sell. You have to strap it up because you’re playing a team with a 24-game winning streak. And you don’t have a 24-game winning streak by chance.”

Of concern to Taylor is the Viking defense, technically a 3-5 with five linebackers, though two of the linebackers can also drop back and play safety in passing situations.

It’s a defense Skyline hasn’t faced, he said, the funky part being “the different kids they can bring in different directions.”

Taylor describes Max Browne, Skyline’s 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback, as “very humble” despite all the attention he gets. When he verbally committed to USC last spring (Alabama and Oklahoma were the other “finalists”), Taylor asked him if he wanted him to arrange a press conference to make a big deal of the announcement.

Browne said no, he just wanted to let USC know, get it over with and go on.

“He is probably the best leader I’ve ever had,” Taylor said of Browne, who is in his third season as starting QB.

Browne is 42 of 64 for 696 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception, in two games this season. Skyline’s top receiver is Nic Sblendorio, who has 10 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown. But three others have five or more catches, and 12 players all told have caught passes in the two games.

With ESPN picking up the tab, Skyline flew to Utah last Thursday and returned Saturday. With administrators not wanting them to miss too much school time, Skyline will leave on a bus early Saturday for Moscow.

“It’s not optimal,” Taylor said of the travel plans.

Taylor said eight Skyline starters missed the Bothell game for various reasons. Three of them returned for the Cottonwood game, and the rest should be back this week.

Amos said Skyline is more than just Max Browne. One of their linebackers, Peyton Pelluer, has committed to Washington State, and the Spartans have other skilled players scattered throughout the roster.

“They’re as good on defense as they are on offense,” Amos said. “They’ve got a number of good receivers, and they run to the ball on defense. He’s just one of many things they have.”

Still ...

“They want to throw the ball,” Amos said. “If we let them play catch, it’s going to be a long night.”

W.F. West (2-0) vs. Lake City (0-1-1): The Bearcats, a class 2A team in Chehalis, Wash., has beaten Port Angeles (33-0) and Pendleton, Ore. (21-17) so far this season.

“The No. 1 thing is, they know how to win,” Lake City coach Van Troxel said, noting that coach Bob Wollan previously had a successful stint coaching at Pullman High.

“For us, it’s really the biggest game of the year — we desperately need a win,” Troxel said.

Lake City, idle last week, came from 21 points down two weeks ago to tie Kennewick (Wash.) 27-27. Troxel is trying to build off the momentum of that comeback. He said it’s only the third time in his coaching career one of his teams came back from 21 down. The last time was in 1997 when Lake City beat Lewiston and went on to reach the state playoffs for the first time in school history. They’ve made the playoffs every year since.

“The other teams that came from 21 points down were pretty good football teams,” Troxel told his squad, “so you’ve got a chance to be a pretty good football team.”

Lake City and W.F. West play Saturday at 5 p.m. in the third of four games at the Idaho Football Classic.

In the first two games, it’s Clarkston (1-1) vs. Sutter, Calif. (2-0) at 11 a.m., and Sequoia, Calif. (2-0) vs. Lewiston (2-0) at 2 p.m.

All four games will be webcast at www.idahosports.com.

East Valley (2-0) at Post Falls (1-1): The visiting Knights have already beaten two North Idaho teams, downing Sandpoint 42-14 and Lakeland 38-14. The bigger Trojans, who won at East Valley 49-35 last year, should provide a stiffer test for the Knights, who have shown they can move the ball through the air as well as on the ground so far this season. However, star running back Adam Talley has quit the team, SWX reported Thursday.

Cheney (1-1) at Lakeland (0-2): Cheney lost to East Valley of Yakima 12-6 in its opener, then beat Omak 56-0 last week.

Lakeland has scored just two offensive touchdowns in two weeks, and only one of those came against the opponents’ first string.

“It seems to be that, on every play, it seems like it’s something different, and the whole thing hasn’t jelled together yet,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. “One play it could be a hold; the next play could be a false start ... it could be a missed block by one kid on one play and a missed block by another kid on another play. Once we get in sync offensively, good things are going to happen, because I know we have some great weapons on offense.”

Timberlake (1-1) at Colville (1-1): Colville opened with a 20-18 victory over Freeman, and lost to Chewelah 45-21 last week. Timberlake is coming off a 23-7 loss at Grangeville (3-0), ranked No. 1 in 2A in Idaho.

Deer Park (2-0) at St. Maries (1-1): Deer Park has beaten Chewelah 28-18 and Riverside 35-7 this season. The Lumberjacks are coming off a bye.

Clark Fork (2-1) at Kootenai (1-2): Clark Fork has the early advantage among 1A Division II teams in the North Star League, having beaten Mullan 80-34 two weeks ago. The Wampus Cats are coming off a 52-8 loss to Selkirk (Wash.).

Lakeside (0-2) at Lapwai (1-1): Lapwai opened with a 52-6 victory over Lewis County, then lost 60-12 at Potlatch (3-0) last week. Lakeside is looking to get untracked after losses to Kootenai (52-6) and Wallace (44-14).

Prep football

Tonight's Games

All 7 p.m.

East Valley at Post Falls

Cheney at Lakeland

Timberlake at Colville

Deer Park at St. Maries

Clark Fork at Kootenai

Lakeside at Lapwai

Saturday's Games

W.F. West vs. Lake City at Kibbie Dome, 5 p.m.

Skyline vs. Coeur d'Alene at Kibbie Dome, 8 p.m.

STANDINGS

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L T

Coeur d’Alene 0 0 3 0 0

Lewiston 0 0 2 0 0

Post Falls 0 0 1 1 0

Lake City 0 0 0 1 1

Friday’s Game

East Valley at Post Falls

Saturday’s Games

W.F. West (Wash.) vs. Lake City at Kibbie Dome

Skyline (Wash.) vs. Coeur d’Alene at Kibbie Dome

Sequoia (Calif.) vs. Lewiston at Kibbie Dome

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lakeland 0 0 0 2

Sandpoint 0 0 0 2

Moscow 0 0 0 3

Friday’s Games

Cheney at Lakeland

Sandpoint at West Valley

Moscow at Pullman

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Priest River 0 0 2 0

Timberlake 0 0 1 1

Bonners Ferry 0 0 0 3

Kellogg 0 0 0 3

Friday’s Games

Colville at Timberlake

Freeman at Bonners Ferry

Salmon at Kellogg

Priest River is idle

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Grangeville 0 0 3 0

St. Maries 0 0 1 1

Orofino 0 0 0 2

Thursday’s Game

Clarkston JV at Orofino

Friday’s Games

Deer Park at St. Maries

Grangeville at McCall-Donnelly

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Clark Fork 0 0 2 1

Wallace 0 0 2 1

Mullan 0 0 1 1

Kootenai 0 0 1 2

Lakeside 0 0 0 2

Friday’s Games

Clark Fork at Kootenai

Colton (Wash.) at Mullan

Lakeside at Lapwai

Kamiah at Wallace