THE FRONT ROW with Mark Nelke July 18, 2013
You could almost do a "Five high school football games to watch" with just Coeur d'Alene games.
The Vikings play a regional schedule, facing five teams this year who reside more than 300 miles from Coeur d'Alene.
But there's some other big games on the local prep schedule which include Lake City, Post Falls, Lakeland and Timberlake.
The first practice is less than a month away, with the regular season scheduled to begin Aug. 30.
Since it's our list, we didn't narrow it down to five games to watch - rather, eight games to watch:
* Saturday, Sept. 7 - Coeur d'Alene vs. Bothell at Husky Stadium, Seattle: This game was supposed to be played at Bothell High, just off Interstate 405 and just northeast of Seattle. But when the teams were offered the chance to play it instead at remodeled Husky Stadium ... well, they didn't have to twist anybody's arm. Coeur d'Alene tight end Chase Blakley, who has verbally committed to the University of Washington, will be playing on his future college's home field. Bothell, in Washington's largest classification (4A), last made the playoffs in 2010. Coeur d'Alene will be coming another long road trip for its season opener, at West Linn (Ore.), outside Portland.
* Friday, Sept. 13 - Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.) at Coeur d'Alene: Skyline trounced Coeur d'Alene 71-20 last year at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. Skyline quarterback Max Browne is off to USC, and several other of last year's key players are gone as well. But, as Viking coach Shawn Amos cautioned in an understatement, "They're still good."
* Saturday, Sept. 21 - Coeur d'Alene vs. Highland at Holt Arena, Pocatello: These teams met twice last year, both winning on the other's home field. Coeur d'Alene rallied to beat Highland 45-38 in last year's state semifinal game at Holt.
When this game rolls around, it will be Coeur d'Alene's third game at Holt Arena in its last six games - the Vikings also played there in the state title game, losing to Madison of Rexburg. Landmarks along I-15 should begin to look familiar to the Vikings by now.
* Friday, Sept. 27 - Lake City at Post Falls: Like most years, this is the first 5A Inland Empire League game of the season. This year, with just one of the four 5A IEL teams advancing to the state playoffs, the loser is going to find it harder to make up ground.
* Friday, Oct. 18 - Timberlake at Lakeland: This game between the two high schools in the Lakeland School District is usually entertaining, even with Lakeland being in 4A, Timberlake in 3A. Lakeland has won the last three meetings, but only by a combined 10 points. The last five games have been decided by 10 points or less.
* Friday, Oct. 25 - Coeur d'Alene at Lake City: Lake City has managed to keep its streak of consecutive playoff appearances alive in recent years, despite losing to Coeur d'Alene in league play the last three years. But, with just one playoff berth on the line this year, Lake City will likely need a win here to make it back to the playoffs for the 17th straight year.
* Thursday, Oct. 31 - Post Falls at Coeur d'Alene: Every other year, when state volleyball is scheduled in Kootenai County, school officials at Coeur d'Alene, Lake City and Post Falls move up that week's football games one night to ease the strain on workers needed the next two days at state volleyball - but we're not complaining either.
Coeur d'Alene, which seemingly travels all over the Northwest for its nonleague games, does not have to leave the city for any of its three league games.
* Friday, Nov. 1 - Lakeland at Sandpoint: These two teams have dominated the 4A IEL in recent years, but Moscow snuck in there last year and earned the league's lone playoff berth.
Sandpoint is said to be much improved after slipping to 1-8 last year, and Lakeland is trying to erase the taste of letting last year's game in Moscow slip away.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.