Gridiron Guesses: Coeur d'Alene braces for upset-minded Sandpoint

By MARK NELKE

and JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writers

There was a time when Coeur d'Alene vs. Sandpoint — or Sandpoint vs. Coeur d'Alene, depending on which county you resided — was THE rivalry in high school sports in North Idaho.

A few people have coached at both schools, including the legendary Carl S. "Cotton" Barlow.

The schools had met annually in football since, perhaps, the days of the leather helmet.

But the annual series between Coeur d'Alene, a 5A school, and Sandpoint, one classification below in 4A, took a breather, shall we say, following the 2011 game, an 88-12 Coeur d'Alene win in Sandpoint — the Vikings' eighth win in 10 meetings over the Bulldogs.

The series resumed in 2020, in part because of COVID-19, both teams were scrambling for games because the Washington schools opted not to play until the spring (though we were told Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene originally tried to schedule a game last year pre-COVID, but the dates didn't work out).

Anyway, Coeur d'Alene won last year's game 55-0, in the Vikings' opener and the Bulldogs' second game. Both teams eventually advanced to the semifinals of their respective state playoffs.

This year, Sandpoint is coming off an impressive 35-7 win at Post Falls — only the Bulldogs' second win over the 5A Trojans in the past 16 meetings — while Coeur d'Alene failed to score an offensive touchdown in a 30-7 loss to a strong Lehi (Utah) squad in the Rocky Mountain Rumble at Madison High in Rexburg.

"They looked pretty good in their game (against Post Falls)," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said of Sandpoint. "We get to go play up there on their turf; they’ll be excited. It’s certainly going to be a challenge, and we certainly have enough stuff to work on that it really doesn’t matter who we’re playing; we’ve got plenty to deal with. We have to take care of our own house first."

Lake City (1-0) has a bye this week, after its scheduled opponent pulled out, and apparently Bishop Sycamore was unable to fit the Timberwolves into its busy schedule.

As for the picks, it was another rough week. Mark went 2-5, and is 2-6 on the season. Jason was 3-4, and is 3-5 overall.

Another week like that, and we might have to enlist the help of animals again.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Coeur d’Alene (0-1) at Sandpoint (1-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: If last week was somewhat of a statement win for Sandpoint, a win this week would REALLY be a statement win for the Bulldogs — in front of their fired-up fans, on the artificial turf at Barlow Stadium.

Coeur d'Alene, 28-17

ELLIOTT: Sandpoint looked pretty impressive in its opener against Post Falls. Coeur d'Alene just might have a few more athletes than the Bulldogs, but it could be a pretty good matchup to watch if you're going.

Coeur d'Alene, 38-28

Post Falls (0-1) at Rigby (1-0), 6 p.m.

NELKE: Rigby has played in the state title game the past two seasons, and opened this year with a 43-6 win over Sky View of Utah. Rigby won 42-40 at Post Falls last year.

Rigby, 42-14

ELLIOTT: Post Falls, with another week of practice, will hopefully be able to keep things interesting.

Rigby, 34-20

Lakeland (0-2) at Columbia (0-1), 6 p.m.

NELKE: The teams were supposed to meet last year in Rathdrum, but COVID. Columbia lost 41-6 to Skyview last week, while Lakeland has scored just nine points in two losses. The Hawks have to get it together one of these weeks, don't they?

Lakeland, 10-6

ELLIOTT: Lakeland's offense has struggled to put some points on the board so far this season. Maybe a stop to KJ's, the former JB's for a pregame meal in Meridian en route to the game might help get them moving a bit.

Lakeland, 24-17

Shadle Park (0-0) at Timberlake (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Highlanders of Spokane went 5-0 during Washington's "intramural" spring season last year. Whether that's enough against a team already with a game under its belt ...

Timberlake, 20-16

ELLIOTT: Timberlake gets it going in its home opener against a team playing its first game of the season.

Timberlake, 28-20

Lakeside (Wash.) (0-0) at St. Maries (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Eagles of Nine Mile Falls went 5-1 last spring and return eight starters, including a third-year starter at QB.

Lakeside, 28-12

ELLIOTT: Could be another tough game for the Lumberjacks after the Wildcats of Kellogg shut them out to open the season last Friday.

Lakeside, 34-20

Kootenai (0-1) at Kendrick (1-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Kootenai showed it's on the right track last week in a 46-42 loss to Wallace in Jake Pfeiffer's debut as head coach at his alma mater. But Kendrick is ranked third in 1A Division II this week by the state's media.

Kendrick, 48-20

ELLIOTT: Kendrick hit the road and got a big win last weekend against Lighthouse Christian. Kootenai is building things back up.

Kendrick, 44-20

Lakeside (1-0) at Deary (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Deary is perennially one of the better 1A Division II teams in District 2, but lost to Troy 36-18 last week. Still, could be a statement game for the Knights.

Lakeside, 32-24

ELLIOTT: Building off what sounded like an exciting win last week, Lakeside improves to 2-0.

Lakeside, 44-36