Viks open league vs. ailing Bengals

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

Shawn Nilsson is midway through his second year of rebuilding the Lewiston High football program.

The progress so far?

"I think if we were healthy, I think we'd be getting close," Nilsson said. "I think we're a year or two from getting the numbers to compete with big boys consistently. It's become a bigger process than I anticipated."

Quarterback Drew Melton, who did not play in last week's 50-7 loss to Richland (Wash.) because of a concussion suffered the week before, could possibly be cleared to play tonight. Without him, the Bengals had difficulties fielding the snap from center.

And standout receiver kick returner Andres Nunez played a few snaps last week because of injury.

Nilsson said Lewiston has roughly 32 players on varsity - and that includes some who swing between junior varsity and varsity - and around 60 between the two teams. Ideally, he said he'd like to have around 50 on the varsity, 95 for the two teams.

He said large turnouts at both feeder junior highs bode well for the high school program's future.

But for the present, that makes tonight's task all the more daunting, when Lewiston (2-2) travels to Coeur d'Alene (2-3) in the 5A Inland Empire League opener for both.

"You need all your weapons when you play against those guys," Nilsson said. "They've got it rolling up there."

Otherwise, it's a light week, as Lake City, St. Maries and Kootenai are all idle this week.

Lakeland (2-2) at Post Falls (2-3): The Battle of the Rathdrum Prairie has continued to be a battle in recent years, despite Post Falls, at 5A, being one division above Lakeland.

Lakeland won last year at home, ending a string of four straight victories by Post Falls. Before that, Lakeland won two straight.

This year, both have played East Valley, Lakeland winning 26-16 at home, and Post Falls triumphing 21-15 at East Valley.

Moscow (3-2) at Timberlake (2-2): It's the second game in a row against a 4A school for the 3A Tigers, who lost 21-14 at Sandpoint last week. Both have played Grangeville this year, Moscow winning 21-14, Timberlake winning 27-24.

Timberlake and Moscow did not play last year, but played every year from 2004-11, splitting their eight matchups.

Priest River (2-1) at St. Maries (2-2): St. Maries is coming off a 19-12 loss to Kellogg, a team it beat 48-7 earlier. Priest River has beaten Kettle Falls (33-7) and Chewelah (28-20), and lost to Newport (37-6).

Lakeside (0-4) at Clark Fork (1-2): In a scheduling oddity, this is the only game among North Star League teams this week, as Kootenai, Wallace and Mullan are all idle.

Prep football

Tonight's Games

All at 7 p.m.

Lewiston at Coeur d'Alene

Lakeland at Post Falls

Moscow at Timberlake

Priest River at St. Maries

Lakeside at Clark Fork