Familiar foes from distant places facing off
These days, Coeur d’Alene and Highland should be about as familiar with each other as they are with their respective league teams.
The Vikings and Rams have met seven times in the last six seasons. Highland has won four of them, including both regular-season matchups at Coeur d’Alene — in 2012 and ’14. Two of Coeur d’Alene’s wins came in the state 5A playoffs — a semifinal victory in 2012 at Holt Arena in Pocatello, and a win in the state title game the following year at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
Five of the seven games have been decided by a touchdown or less.
In 2012 and ’13, the teams met twice — in the regular season and in the playoffs. That could happen this year, too.
As for the picks, Jason Elliott and I started the week tied and ended the week tied. We picked the same winners in each game, and went 5-2 on the high school games, 1-1 on the college games. For the season, we’re both 27-11 overall. I am 18-10 on high school games and 9-1 on college games; Jason is 19-9 and 8-2.
We differ on a few games this week, so there could be some movement.
HIGH SCHOOL
All games Friday at 7 p.m.
Highland (4-0) at Coeur d’Alene (4-0)
NELKE: Though most of the main actors are gone, the Vikings still remember last year’s 14-8 loss to Highland in the state title game at Holt Arena. The Rams put on a tremendous defensive show to slow down high-scoring Coeur d’Alene. Can they do it again?
Coeur d’Alene, 31-24
ELLIOTT: Coeur d’Alene has been pretty impressive in wins over Gonzaga Prep, Mead and Eisenhower, but had to find a way to win at Rigby to start the season. With the No. 1 team in the state in town ...
Highland, 28-24
East Valley (0-3) at Lake City (1-3)
NELKE: Both teams have faced Lakeland — East Valley lost to the Hawks 27-7, and Lake City won in Rathdrum 40-27 last week, which gave the Timberwolves a much-needed confidence boost. The Knights have scored 20 points in three games.
Lake City, 26-7
ELLIOTT: Lake City figured things out last week to get its first win of the season. Why stop now?
Lake City, 28-14
Post Falls (1-3) at Lakeland (2-1)
NELKE: Lakeland could have beaten Lake City last week, but committed too many penalties and ultimately couldn’t stop the T-Wolves when the Hawks had to. Post Falls is coming off a tough three-game stretch (vs. Mead, University and Moses Lake), all losses.
Post Falls, 34-27
ELLIOTT: This one could come down to which team learned the most from a setback last week. In a rivalry game like this ...
Lakeland, 34-30
Timberlake (3-1) at St. Maries (3-1)
NELKE: 2A St. Maries pounded 3A Timberlake each of the past two seasons. Timberlake, which has won three straight, already has two more wins than it had all of last year.
Timberlake, 34-28
ELLIOTT: Timberlake has been playing some good football as of late, with St. Maries dropping one at Deer Park two weeks ago. Since the Lumberjacks are at home ...
St. Maries, 28-27
Lakeside (1-3) at Kootenai (2-1)
NELKE: So much for comparing scores. Kootenai won by 42 points over Wallace, which beat Lakeside by 38. Something tells me Kootenai isn’t going to beat Lakeside by 80 points. Clark Fork beat Kootenai by 36 points and beat Lakeside by 34. Go figure ...
Kootenai, 40-34
ELLIOTT: This used to be a Battle on the Trail spirit rivalry game in basketball. What happened to that thing?
Kootenai, 48-38
COLLEGE
Washington State (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at USC (1-2, 0-1)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
NELKE: The Pac-12 likes these non-Saturday games because, unlike Saturdays, it’s the only college football game on TV at that time. Nice for WSU fans — bad for high school football fans, who have to choose between staying home, or DVR-ing the WSU game. DVR the game. USC has played the tougher schedule so far, but hasn’t looked good in losses at Stanford (17-3) and Texas (37-14). Here’s a chance for the Cougars, who are still finding themselves, to kick the Trojans while they’re down.
WSU, 30-27
ELLIOTT: Is Washington State good again? USC doesn’t seem to be.
WSU, 38-28
Idaho (1-1) at UC Davis (2-1)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
NELKE: Idaho hasn’t won a Big Sky Conference football game since 1995 — of course, the Vandals haven’t been in the Big Sky since ‘95. UC Davis beat San Jose State, which was blanked by WSU, and played Stanford to a 30-10 loss last week.
UC Davis, 31-24
ELLIOTT: Idaho has had a week to think about this one. Hopefully kicker Cade Coffey of Lakeland High fame eats his Wheaties before the game, because he’ll be a busy guy.
Idaho, 31-27
Cal Poly (1-2) at Eastern Washington (2-1)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
NELKE: Eastern was the preseason pick to win the Big Sky; Cal Poly was picked to finish at or near the bottom. The Mustangs lost by just a touchdown two weeks ago in a nonconference game against Weber State, and has given the Eags fits in the past with their option offense. Still ...
EWU, 48-20
ELLIOTT: Eastern should roll in this one with its passing game allowing them to run away and hide.
Eastern, 44-17