THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE, Sept. 18, 2014

This group of seniors would have been in the fifth grade the last time Lake City High started a football season so well.

But after routing Central Valley 57-21 last Friday, Lake City is off to its best start to a season since starting 5-0 in 2007 - the year after Lake City went 12-0 and won the state 5A title.

"Lovin' it - every minute of it," Lake City senior running back/free safety Connor Newby said of the 3-0 start.

And with good reason.

Lake City has totaled more than 400 yards of offense in each of its three games, and is averaging 471 yards and 41.7 points per game. And after yielding 37 points in their opener, the Timberwolves have allowed only three touchdowns the last two games, all last week - and one came on a 3-yard "drive" following an interception, and one came in late with the outcome long since decided.

Lake City forced five CV turnovers last week.

"Our defense is really starting to fly to the football, and we're starting to get physical," Lake City coach Van Troxel said. "And, as a coach or as a spectator, it's got to be fun to watch Newby and Jerry (Louie-McGee) run around. How can you not like that part of the game - those two little scatbacks, they just fly around."

Newby has rushed for 337 yards and six touchdowns in three games, and caught one touchdown pass. Louie-McGee has caught 16 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns, has run for one TD and returned an interception for another score.

And quarterback Michael Goggin has been efficient, completing 82.5 percent of his passes - 33 of 40 - for 490 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception.

"Goggin is doing a real nice job ... " Troxel said. "I'm excited about both quarterbacks (Goggin and junior Colin Hunter), and I really like what Mike's done, reading and throwing the ball to the open guy."

Lake City has a task on its hands this week, when Brett Rypien, the record-setting passer and Boise State recruit, and the Shadle Park Highlanders come to town on Friday.

Still, it's not too soon to look ahead to Oct. 17, when Coeur d'Alene (also 3-0) plays host to Lake City. Coeur d'Alene is ranked second, Lake City third in this week's 5A media poll. The winner will likely capture the 5A Inland Empire League title. But the loser will also still likely make it into the state playoffs, which have been expanded from eight teams to 12 this year.

That wouldn't have been the case last year, when only the league champion advanced to the playoffs. And that would be even more of a shame than it was last year, when Lake City stayed home with a 6-3 record.

* Today is a Coeur d'Alene vs. Lake City day on the calendar, with a boys soccer game at Coeur d'Alene, a girls soccer game under the lights at Lake City, and a volleyball match at Coeur d'Alene.

Both boys soccer teams are 6-0-0, 1-0-0 in the 5A Inland Empire League, both with league wins over Lewiston. It's the first meeting of the year for the girls teams.

Coeur d'Alene's volleyball team won 3-0 at Lake City a couple of weeks ago.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.