Border battles aplenty this week in prep football
It’s the first of a few weeks of Inland Empire League vs. Greater Spokane League matchups.
Coeur d’Alene faces Gonzaga Prep for the second straight year — but for just the fourth time ever. And it will be the Vikings’ first game on Prep’s on-campus field.
Lake City, which traveled to eastern Idaho last week, makes another road trip this week — albeit a much shorter one, to Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane to face Lewis and Clark.
And Post Falls takes on Mead in a 5 p.m. Friday tilt at Whitworth University, a game originally scheduled for Albi.
Prep, LC (the Spokane LC) and Mead were the top three teams in the GSL last season. Prep went 9-3 and reached the state 4A quarterfinals, Mead 7-4 with a first-round loss in the 4A playoffs, Lewis and Clark 7-3.
Most Idaho schools played their season openers last week.
This week is the season opener for all Washington schools.
In the first week, Jason went 9-0 — correctly picking the winner of all five high school games and all four college clashes. Mark went 7-2, picking Lakeland to beat Blackfoot and Boise State to lose to Florida State.
Obviously he forgot the Willie Taggart factor. After his Seminoles wore down at home vs. the Broncos, the second-year FSU coach suggested his players should have started hydrating earlier than they did before the game.
Uh, duh!
HIGH SCHOOL
All games Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted
Lake City (0-1) vs. Lewis and Clark (0-0) at Joe Albi Stadium, Spokane
NELKE: Last week’s devastating loss by Lake City — fumbling the ball away on a kneel-down play, and losing to Madison — could linger with the Timberwolves all season. Or, Lake City could build off the good that happened in the game’s first 47 minutes.
Lake City, 26-24
ELLIOTT: Lake City was really close to getting its first win of the year last Friday. The Timberwolves find a way this week.
Lake City, 21-19
Coeur d’Alene (1-0) at Gonzaga Prep (0-0)
NELKE: In each of the first three meetings between the two schools, it’s always been G-Prep’s opener, and Coeur d’Alene has always had a game under its belt. Not that the Vikings need any advantage.
Coeur d’Alene, 28-14
ELLIOTT: Should be a good game between both schools. With Coeur d’Alene having that first one over with, they might have a slight advantage this week.
Coeur d’Alene 28-24
Post Falls (1-0) vs. Mead (0-0) at Whitworth University, Spokane, 5 p.m.
NELKE: Post Falls scored 49 points last week in its opener. Let’s see what the Trojans, also with a game under their belts, can do on an artificial turf field at the Pine Bowl.
Post Falls, 49-28
ELLIOTT: Post Falls looked pretty quick on offense last week. Expect another shootout.
Post Falls, 42-35
Rogers (0-0) at Lakeland (0-1)
NELKE: The Hawks showed they could move the ball against Blackfoot last week at Holt Arena, and have a week to work on the defensive boo-boos that help cause them to allow 47 points to the Broncos.
Lakeland, 27-7
ELLIOTT: Lakeland should be fired up to play at home this week.
Lakeland, 28-14
Timberlake (0-0) at Freeman (0-0)
NELKE: Coming off their first trip to the state 3A semifinals since 2012, the Tigers have high hopes this year.
Timberlake, 26-20
ELLIOTT: If Timberlake wants to challenge for a state 3A title, the Tigers need to win this game.
Timberlake, 28-20
Medical Lake (0-0) at St. Maries (1-0)
NELKE: Breaking in several new starters last week, the Lumberjacks struggled on offense, but pitched a shutout on defense at Kellogg.
St. Maries, 14-0
ELLIOTT: Defense will travel. For St. Maries, since its at home ...
St. Maries, 20-14
Clark Fork (0-1 North Star League, 0-1) at Lakeside (0-0)
NELKE: After Clark Fork was handled by Mullan-St. Regis last week, we’ll see how Lakeside stacks up among the now three-team North Star League football hierarchy.
Lakeside, 36-28
ELLIOTT: Lakeside returns a lot of guys from last year’s team. Clark Fork played a lot tougher in the second half last week at Mullan.
Clark Fork, 44-40
COLLEGE
Central Washington (0-0) at Idaho (0-1)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
NELKE: Not often do the Vandals get a game where they get a chance to put a whuppin’ on somebody. Idaho had better take advantage of the opportunity.
Idaho, 49-21
ELLIOTT: Idaho wouldn’t schedule a team in its opener it couldn’t beat, right?
Idaho, 38-28
Northern Colorado (0-1) at Washington State (1-0)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
NELKE: The second of two scrimmages for the Cougars before next week’s test vs. some other Cougars from Houston.
WSU, 58-7
ELLIOTT: The good news is that if WSU does what it should, you can still catch kickoff of the Vandal game in Moscow.
WSU, 60-10
Marshall (1-0) at Boise State (1-0)
Friday, 6 p.m.
NELKE: Congrats to Boise State on its victory last week over The Artist Formerly Known As Florida State — now losers of 8 of its last 13 games. Still, an impressive outing by the Broncos and their true freshman QB. Running the table is now certainly in play.
BSU, 52-14
ELLIOTT: The last Thundering Herd to hit the Boise area was at the breakfast buffet line at JB’s in Meridian. Those guys aren’t playing this weekend.
BSU, 48-24
Lindenwood (0-0) at Eastern Washington (0-1)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
NELKE: The good news for Eastern — only its pride took a beating in last week’s loss to the Huskies.
EWU, 48-20
ELLIOTT: Eastern will look like the team that finished the 2018 season in the FCS Championship Game, if for just one day.
EWU, 56-17