Pride is the prize they're playing for

| January 12, 2017 12:00 AM

Four august members of the Coeur d’Alene Press All-Star Pigskin Prognosticators have a shot at winning first place. Leader Mark Koerner went out on a limb last weekend and picked the feeble Lions to upset Seattle. Didn’t happen, and as a result, Koerner’s lead over Steve “Dabo” Griffitts is down to one game.

But what many Press readers are following is not just the championship quest. It’s the ongoing battle between the players who have been paired up quite intentionally by League officials. In fact, with just seven games left in the 2016-17 season, all but one of these personal races has now been decided.

Here’s how the pairs fare.

Furniture dudes: Koerner has clobbered his counterpart, Jeff Runge, leading by 20 games. Runge has been a complete gentleman throughout, unless you count his private missives to League offices.

Hizzoners: Hayden’s Griffitts will win — he’s up by 10 games — but Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes has sure put up a fight down the stretch. Rumor around The League: Holmes will demand a recount.

Coaches club: Post Falls football coach Blaine Bennett has beaten Lakeland’s leader, Tim Kiefer. Kiefer has slipped to the point that he and Jeff Conroy are mathematically eligible to finish last.

Charitable souls: Speaking of Conroy, his organization, St. Vincent de Paul, is likely to receive free Press advertising because his opponent, Boys & Girls Club boss Ryan Davis, is one of the leaders. Conroy’s so lucky, he wins when he loses.

Auto execs: Driving a Chevy, Eve Knudtsen could’ve felt sorry for Nissan driver Rob Smith, who took over last place for his predecessor in midseason. Instead, Eve just hit the gas pedal. Smith has proved to be a great sport, but Knudtsen leads by an insurmountable dozen car lengths.

UP FOR GRABS: Real estate moguls Duffy Smock and John Beutler are waging the only battle that’s still up in the air. After leading for much of the season, Beutler has seen the youngster sprint past him. Let’s look at Page B2 and see if the cagey veteran has a trick or two up his sleeve.