Gridiron Guesses: Pigskin prognostications begin a week earlier this season

By MARK NELKE

and JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writers

Lakeland and Preston likely weren't thinking of the lyrics of a Partridge Family song — "I'll meet you halfway ... that's better than no way" when they decided to open their football seasons tonight against each other in Butte, Mont.

But there they will be, on the artificial turf at Montana Tech, roughly halfway between Rathdrum and Preston — at least via Interstate 90 and I-15.

“I think we’ll match up really well against them,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. “They’re a spread team, and so are we, with a lot of new faces along the offensive line. They’ve struggled a little in the past few years, and so have we. It might be kind of a feel-it-out kind of game in the first half, then we’ll slug it out in the second half.”

The prep football season in Idaho begins in earnest next Friday. But there are a handful of games statewide scheduled tonight — and Lakeland vs. Preston is the only one involving a North Idaho team.

“More than most years in our opener, this is going to be a game that’s going to answer a lot of questions,” Kiefer said. “More than last year (at Lake City), we’re really looking forward to getting some answers. It’s nice to get the chance to play a game before facing Lake City (Aug. 27 in Rathdrum).”

Looking ahead to next week's season openers, on Friday it's Lake City at Lakeland, Sandpoint at Post Falls, St. Maries at Kellogg, Wallace at Kootenai, Timberlake at South Fremont and Lewis County at Lakeside.

On Saturday, it's Coeur d'Alene vs. Lehi (Utah) at the Rocky Mountain Rumble at Madison High in Rexburg.

As for tonight's tilt, Lakeland is coming off a 3-5 season, which included two tough losses (30-22 to Moscow at the Kibbie Dome, and 6-0 to Sandpoint in the snow). The Hawks made the 16-team state 4A playoffs as a No. 14 seed, and pushed No. 3 Century of Pocatello to the limit in a 17-14 loss in the first round.

Preston is coming off a 3-5 season, and did not qualify for the playoffs. Among the Indians' losses was a 61-24 setback to Century.

Neither team received votes in this week's media preseason poll.

Butte is roughly 240 miles from Rathdrum, and 270 miles from Preston.

Mark and Jason return for another season of Gridiron Guesses, and your comments on the games — and our picks — are always welcome.

Now, then ...

Tonight

Lakeland (0-0) vs. Preston (0-0)

4 p.m. PDT at Butte, Mont.

MARK: The Hawks have a stud receiver in Alden Waddington, and word is that quarterback Devon Suko, who started last season, has had a strong offseason. Let's see if Lakeland can start this season strong ...

Lakeland, 28-21

JASON: Lakeland has some pretty fast kids in the backfield as well. Have to think that eventually, the Hawks will start flying tonight.

Lakeland, 34-20