THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE, Nov. 2, 2014
If you're a fan of North Idaho teams, you have to like the expanded 12-team state 5A and 4A playoffs so far.
Coeur d'Alene, which wouldn't have made the 5A playoffs under the old eight-team format, snapped a two-game losing streak with a 55-33 victory at Meridian in its first-round game.
Post Falls, which got in as the No. 2 seed - which is no guarantee every year - nearly pulled off the upset. But the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter was called back on a penalty, and the Trojans lost 35-21 at Eagle.
Sandpoint, which made the 4A playoffs as the No. 2 seed - out of a league where only the league champion traditionally advances - pummeled visiting Century of Pocatello 56-7 to move on to the quarterfinals.
Lake City, which earned a first-round bye for winning the 5A Inland Empire League, will host Capital of Boise next week in the quarterfinals.
Lakeland, which received a first-round bye for winning the 4A IEL, will host Rigby next week in the quarterfinals.
THE ONLY drawback is that most of the playoff games involving North Idaho teams will be played on the road this year.
Coeur d'Alene, which travels back down to Meridian to play Rocky Mountain this week, will have to win three road games to reach the championship game.
Had Post Falls won, the Trojans would have traveled to Pocatello to play Highland. If Coeur d'Alene beats Rocky, the Vikings will travel to play Highland or Eagle in the semifinals.
Even Lake City would not be immune from hopping on a bus. If the Timberwolves beat Capital this week, they would travel to play either Mountain View of Meridian or Madison of Rexburg in the semifinals.
If Lakeland wins this week, the Hawks would travel to either Bishop Kelly of Boise or Skyview of Nampa in the semifinals.
However Sandpoint, if it can knock off unbeaten Blackfoot, would host a semifinal game.
Due in part to the luck of the bracket, Timberlake could play three straight playoff games at home. The Tigers, who beat Payette on Saturday, will host Fruitland next week in the quarterfinals, and would host a state semifinal game.
IF FANS want to see a state 5A title game at the Kibbie Dome, root for a Lake City/Coeur d'Alene rematch. If only one of them makes it, the title game would be in Boise if Mountain View, Eagle or Rocky Mountain were the opponent, or in Pocatello if Highland was the opponent.
In 4A, Lakeland could play a title game at the Kibbie Dome if the opponent was from Boise; if it was from eastern Idaho, it would be at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
In 3A, Timberlake would play a title game in the Kibbie Dome, no matter the opponent.
But first, most of these teams would need to take the long road to get there.
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@CdAPressSports.