Gridiron Guesses: Lakeland looks to give Post Falls a 'Battle'

By MARK NELKE

and JASON ELLIOTT

sports writers

For many years, the "Battle of the Rathdrum Prairie" was indeed a battle.

From 1987 through 2007, Lakeland won 13 of the 21 meetings.

But since then, it's been all Post Falls.

The Trojans have won seven in a row, and 11 of the last 12 — with Lakeland's only win coming in 2012 at home.

These days, most people probably don't remember that it was called the "Battle of the Rathdrum Prairie" — a more apt name for the annual clash between the schools just 6 miles apart might be the "Battle of the Burgeoning Housing Developments."

Whatever you call it, this year's clash is shaping up as a competitive one — after scoring just nine points total in its first two games, Lakeland has scored 131 in its last three. And Post Falls has scored 81 points in its last two games.

Also tonight, Lake City plays host to Moscow in the schools' first meeting in football since the 2004 season. Lake City is 7-0 vs. Moscow all-time.

On Saturday, Coeur d'Alene will play its third Saturday game out of its four games — and all four games will be on artificial turf.

The Vikings won't play on artificial turf again the rest of the regular season, but could if they reach the playoffs — which they have for 12 straight seasons.

Coeur d'Alene will play Skyview of Vancouver, Wash., at 4 p.m. at Eastern Washington University's Roos Field. The schools have met once before, in 2011, when Coeur d'Alene won 52-14 at home.

The area's only league game sends Lakeside to Silverton to face Wallace tonight in the first of two matchups of the only two football-playing members of the Scenic Idaho Conference.

The last time these two teams met ... well, you remember that freak late-October snowstorm?

Timberlake tried to find a replacement opponent this week when St. Maries canceled due to COVID-19, but the Tigers will end up with an unexpected bye. St. Maries also canceled next week's game vs. Bonners Ferry, and the Oct. 8 Central Idaho League opener vs. Grangeville.

Kootenai has a bye for the second straight week.

As for the picks, Mark went 3-2, Jason 2-3. After five weeks, Mark is 16-11 overall, Jason 15-12.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Moscow (3-1) at Lake City (1-2), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Timberwolves have lost two straight, and are still trying to figure out who is going to play where when the games that count (5A Inland Empire League games) start in two weeks.

Lake City, 21-19

ELLIOTT: It's hard to say which team is going to show up in this game. Lake City won its opener 14-3 over a Lakeland team that has been playing pretty well as of late. Moscow, outside of a loss to Timberlake, looks tough.

Moscow, 24-20

Lakeland (3-1) at Post Falls (1-2), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Maybe the winner earns bragging rights at the new convenience store planned for Highway 41, between the two schools.

Post Falls, 38-36

ELLIOTT: I think Mark might be onto a great idea for a traveling trophy. As for the game ...

Lakeland, 35-34

Lakeside (1-3) vs. Wallace (2-2) at Sather Field, Silverton, 7 p.m.

NELKE: If there's a blizzard tonight, it would be on the scoreboard, not the playing field.

Lakeside, 40-24

ELLIOTT: Wallace's homecoming is tonight. As a Wallace graduate, when I pick against the Miners, mine isn't so cheerful when some of the locals see me in public. Sorry again.

Lakeside, 44-24

SATURDAY'S GAME

Coeur d’Alene (2-1) vs. Skyview (3-0) (Vancouver, Wash.) at Roos Field, Cheney, 4 p.m.

NELKE: The Vikings don't shy away from taking on good teams anytime, anywhere, and this figures to be another entertaining one.

Coeur d'Alene, 43-42

ELLIOTT: It's wild to think that Coeur d'Alene still hasn't played a home game. This one might seem like one.

Coeur d'Alene, 35-30

STANDINGS

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lewiston 0 0 4 0

Coeur d’Alene 0 0 2 1

Lake City 0 0 1 2

Post Falls 0 0 1 3

Friday’s Games

Moscow at Lake City

Lakeland at Post Falls

Lewiston at Sandpoint

Saturday’s Game

Coeur d’Alene vs. Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.) at Roos Field, Cheney

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Moscow 0 0 3 1

Lakeland 0 0 3 2

Sandpoint 0 0 1 2

Friday’s Games

Lakeland at Post Falls

Lewiston at Sandpoint

Moscow at Lake City

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Kellogg 0 0 3 0

Timberlake 0 0 3 1

Bonners Ferry 0 0 3 1

Priest River 0 0 0 3

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Timberlake, canceled, COVID-19

Kellogg at Grangeville

Priest River vs. Manson (Wash.) at Whitworth

Bonners Ferry is idle

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Grangeville 0 0 1 3

Orofino 0 0 0 3

St. Maries 0 0 0 4

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Timberlake, canceled, COVID-19

Kellogg at Grangeville

Orofino at Marsing

SCENIC IDAHO CONFERENCE

League Overall

W L W L

Wallace 0 0 2 2

Lakeside 0 0 1 3

Friday’s Game

Lakeside vs. Wallace at Sather Field, Silverton

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Clark Fork 0 0 3 0

Mullan-St. Regis 0 0 2 1

Kootenai 0 0 0 3

Friday’s Games

Clark Fork vs. Mullan/St. Regis at Mullan

Kootenai is idle