State title game rematch tonight
Prep football
Tonight's games
All at 7 p.m.
Highland at Coeur d'Alene
Lake City at Tumwater (Wash.)
Post Falls at Lakeland
Pullman at Timberlake
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
Lakeside at Kootenai
Greater Spokane League or no GSL, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings were still interested in scheduling regular-season games with Highland of Pocatello starting a couple years back.
Good thing, because the longtime power in Idaho high school football (Highland, with nine state titles all-time) and the current beast of the state Coeur d'Alene, with three state titles in the last four seasons, and five state titles all-time) have forged quite the entertaining rivalry of late.
That rivalry continues tonight, when top-ranked Highland (4-0) visits No. 2 Coeur d'Alene (4-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Viking Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but moved up a day at Highland's request - the Rams' next game is next Thursday.
The teams have met four times in the last two seasons, each winning twice.
In 2012, Highland won 45-26 at Coeur d'Alene, but the Vikings triumphed 45-38 at Holt Arena in Pocatello in the state 5A semifinals.
Last year, Highland rallied to beat the Vikings 24-21 at Holt. But Coeur d'Alene had the last laugh, scoring in the final minute to beat the Rams 31-28 in the state title game at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
Most of Highland's skill-position players from last year have moved on, but the Rams still boast center Tristen Hoge, who has verbally committed to Notre Dame, and linebacker Kyler Manu, who has verballed to Washington.
Last week, quarterback Dakota Tillotson threw four touchdown passes and ran for one TD as Highland defeated 2012 state 5A champion Madison of Rexburg 37-20.
Lake City (4-0) at Tumwater (3-0): Tumwater is a 2A school, in Washington's third-largest classification. Though a smaller school than Lake City, the Thunderbirds have a successful football pedigree - Tumwater played in the last two state title games, and won a state title as recently as 2010.
Tumwater coach Sid Otton, in his 41st season as football coach there, is the winningest high school football coach in the state of Washington. He and Lake City coach Van Troxel are longtime friends, from back in the days when Van was at Hellgate High in Missoula, and both brought their teams to Vandal Football Camp.
Post Falls (2-2) at Lakeland (3-1): Post Falls has won five of the last six meetings in the "Battle of the Prairie,", but Lakeland won 17-14 in 2012, the last year it was in Rathdrum. Post Falls won 28-21 last year at home.
Both have beaten East Valley this year, Lakeland winning 41-10 at EV, Post Falls winning 33-7 at home.
Pullman (2-1) at Timberlake (3-0): Pullman's quarterback is junior Mason Petrino, son of Idaho coach Paul Petrino. He's thrown five touchdown passes this season, three to Micah Lagerquist.
Bonners Ferry (1-3) at St. Maries (3-1): Longtime foes in the Intermountain League now square off in a nonleague game, with St. Maries now in its second year in the 2A Central Idaho League.
Bonners Ferry coach Ed DePriest, a former Lake City assistant coach, resigned two weeks ago, following apparent rumblings from Badger players and parents. Don Alt and Chris Sabin were named co-coaches for the remainder of the season.
Lakeside (1-3, 1-1 White Pine League) at Kootenai (0-3, 0-2): Both teams have played Clark Fork in league play, Kootenai losing 34-6 in its season opener, Lakeside winning 20-14 two weeks ago.
5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Coeur d'Alene 0 0 4 0
Lake City 0 0 4 0
Post Falls 0 0 2 2
Lewiston 0 0 1 3
Friday's Games
Highland at Coeur d'Alene
Lake City at Tumwater (Wash.)
Post Falls at Lakeland
Lewiston at Hermiston (Ore.)
4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Lakeland 0 0 3 1
Sandpoint 0 0 2 2
Moscow 0 0 1 3
Friday's Games
Post Falls at Lakeland
East Valley at Sandpoint
West Valley at Moscow
INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Timberlake 0 0 3 0
Priest River 0 0 2 1
Bonners Ferry 0 0 1 3
Kellogg 0 0 0 4
Friday's Games
Pullman at Timberlake
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
Clarkston at Priest River
Kellogg is idle
CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Grangeville 0 0 3 1
Orofino 0 0 3 1
St. Maries 0 0 3 1
Friday's Games
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
Lake City JV at Grangeville
Orofino at Asotin (Wash.)
1A DIVISION I
Independent
Wallace 2 2
1A DIVISION II
WHITE STAR LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Kendrick 3 0 3 1
Timberline 2 0 3 1
Deary 2 0 2 2
Clark Fork 2 1 2 2
Lakeside 1 1 1 3
Kootenai 0 2 0 3
Mullan 0 3 0 3
Lewis County 0 3 0 4
Friday's Games
Lakeside at Kootenai
Clark Fork at Mullan
Deary at Timberline
Lapwai at Kendrick
Noxon (Mont.) vs. Wallace, Sather Field in Silverton
Lewis County is idle