PREP FOOTBALL: Coeur d'Alene opens playoffs tonight at home

by MARK NELKE
Sports Editor | October 28, 2016 9:00 PM

After this month’s record rainfall, a tarp was used to cover the football field at Coeur d’Alene High this week.

What kind of shape the field is in will be revealed tonight, when Coeur d’Alene (5-3) plays host to Borah (5-4) of Boise at 7 at Viking Stadium in the first round of the state 5A playoffs.

Coeur d’Alene, the No. 2 seed from the 5A Inland Empire League, is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season. The Vikings had a first-round bye last year, then lost at home to Madison of Rexburg in the quarterfinals. Borah, the No. 3 seed from the West “B” pod, lost at Eagle in the first round last year. The Lions lost to Highland in the quarterfinals in 2012. Had they won, they would have faced Coeur d’Alene.

The five teams Borah beat had a combined record of 15-30. None had a winning record, and only one made the playoffs — and that was Kuna, the 12th and wild-card seed.

Coeur d’Alene and Borah last met in the state playoffs in 1993, with the Lions winning.

This is the third year the state 5A (and 4A) playoffs have been expanded to 12 teams.

The Borah-Coeur d’Alene winner will travel to Eagle (9-0) in the quarterfinals next weekend.

Lewis County (5-3, 3-2 White Star League) at Lakeside (4-4, 2-3): Tonight’s 7 p.m. kickoff in Plummer marks the season finale for both teams.

Melba (5-3) at St. Maries (8-0): The Lumberjacks, in the state 2A playoffs for the fifth straight year, host a first-round game for the second straight year when the Mustangs visit for a Saturday 1 p.m. tilt.

St. Maries has won its last two first-round playoff games. Melba lost to eventual champion Grangeville in the quarterfinals last year.

Saturday’s winner will play host to the winner of tonight’s game pitting Wendell (0-8) vs. North Fremont (5-3) at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

Lakeland, Timberlake idle: Lakeland (5-4), the 4A IEL champion, earned a first-round bye and will play host to Blackfoot (7-3) in a quarterfinal game next weekend. Blackfoot beat Minico 27-23 on Thursday night at Holt Arena.

Timberlake (3-6), the Intermountain League champions, received a first-round bye as well, and will open the state 3A playoffs at home next weekend. The Tigers will face the winner of tonight’s game pitting Homedale (5-3) at Gooding (5-4).