Bothell has Vikings' attention
By MARK NELKE
Sports editor
It's the season opener for their opponent, so the Coeur d'Alene Vikings had to look at last year's game tape to study up on Bothell (Wash.), whom the Vikings play Saturday at 4 p.m. at Husky Stadium in Seattle in the third of four games in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
But last year's tape was quite enough to get the Vikings' attention.
"They're good," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said. "They played Skyline down to the wire last year. They're just a really good football program - solid in all areas."
Bothell finished just 6-5, with a loss to Bellarmine Prep in the first round of the state 4A playoffs. But one of those losses was by just 33-21 to Skyline of Sammamish, Wash., in the season opener. Skyline beat Coeur d'Alene 71-20 two weeks later.
Bothell junior quarterback Ross Bowers is already attracting interest from some of the bigger FBS programs, including Florida, LSU and Texas, and Washington State, Oregon, Washington and USC on the west coast.
Amos said Bothell ran out of the "I" formation and out of the spread, so "you have to be prepared" for both.
The Vikings started slow last week in its opener at West Linn (Ore.), trailing 28-6 in the second quarter before reeling off 43 straight points en route to a 49-35 victory.
"But then our kids answered the bell, and really put on quite an impressive display in the second half," Amos said.
Part of the reason for the slow start, Amos said, was possibly because his son and quarterback, Gunnar Amos, had missed five practices leading up to the game with what the Vikings believe was strep throat.
"That played a little bit into it," Shawn Amos said. "But we just need to come out ready to roll."
Coeur d'Alene can scout its next opponent in person as Skyline, the defending Washington 4A champ, plays Bellevue (Wash.), the reigning 3A champion, right after Coeur d'Alene's game, at 7 p.m. at Husky Stadium. That game can be seen on Root Sports.
Cd'A plays host to Skyline on Sept. 13.
Tonight's Game
Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.) at Post Falls (0-1): The visitors from Graham, Wash., make their second trip to Post Falls in as many years, as part of a season opener/team building trip. Post Falls won last year's game 27-17.
Friday's Games
Lake City (0-1) at Kennewick (0-0): The good news - Lake City's new spread offense produced 41 points in last week's season opener at Rocky Mountain of Meridian. The bad news - the Timberwolves gave up 63 points.
In last year's game at Lake City, the Timberwolves and Kennewick played to a tie - the first tie in the high school coaching career of Van Troxel, in his 20th season as Lake City coach, and 35th year overall as a high school coach.
Lewiston (0-0) at Lakeland (0-0): Lakeland gave Lewiston a strong game last year in Lewiston before falling 20-7 in the opener. Both teams have new starting quarterbacks this year, with Tyrel Derrick taking over for Lakeland, and Drew Melton at QB for Lewiston - though Melton played quite a bit of QB last year subbing for the injured Cole Zacha.
Timberlake (0-0) vs. Riverside (0-0): Originally scheduled for Chattaroy, Wash., Riverside opted to move this home game to the Kibbie Dome in Moscow as the second game of a doubleheader, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Troy and Council are scheduled to play in the first game.
Timberlake won last year's game over Riverside, 45-35 in Spirit Lake.
St. Maries (1-0) at Medical Lake (0-0): St. Maries walloped Kellogg 48-7 in its season opener last week. Last year, Medical Lake triumphed 39-32 at St. Maries.
Kootenai (0-1) at Lakeside (0-0): The game marks the head coaching debut of the Knights' Chris Dohrman, a longtime assistant under Ron Miller. Kootenai opened last week with a 74-40 loss to Wallace.
Prep football
n Thursday's Game
Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.) at Post Falls, 6 p.m.
Friday's Games
All 7 p.m.
Lake City at Kennewick
Lewiston at Lakeland
Timberlake vs. Riverside at the Kibbie Dome, Moscow
St. Maries at Medical Lake
Kootenai at Lakeside
Saturday's Game
Coeur d'Alene vs. Bothell at Husky Stadium, Seattle, 4 p.m.