THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Bad weather for state not restricted to North Idaho

Watching the flag blow at a 45-degree angle at Bonneville High as Lake City’s girls take on Rocky Mountain for third place in the state 5A soccer tournament Saturday.

That reminded me of two years ago, when state soccer was last in North Idaho.

Seven inches of snow fell on Friday. Teams played in the snow, but some of Saturday’s games were either canceled or moved elsewhere in the state, on another day, because of the weather.

Except on the artificial turf at The Fields at Real Life in Post Falls, where they simply plowed the snow off the field Saturday morning, and the 3A teams played on a somewhat frozen — but snowless — field.

“THAT’S WHY YOU CAN’T HAVE OUTDOOR STATE TOURNAMENTS IN NORTH IDAHO!” the rest of the state shrieked for the umpteenth time.

Uh huh.

Yes, at the state 4A boys and girls soccer tournament on Friday at The Fields, the teams played in the rain. But it was windy and/or rainy at tourney sites in Twin Falls and eastern Idaho this past weekend as well, for the state soccer tournaments held there. Even the Boise area was expected to get rain on Saturday.

So get over it.

TWO REASONS for Idaho’s turnaround in football this season, under first-year coach Jason Eck — buy-in, and a little more talent.

“Credit to our seniors,” Eck said earlier this week. “I really felt coming in here that we were going to turn this program around. I had a five-year contract, but (seniors) Fa’Avae (Fa’Avae), (Nate) DeGraw (from Post Falls High), Logan Floyd, Connor Whitney, Roshaun Johnson don’t have five years; they’ve only got one year. I’m happy that we could get a big win like that (at Montana last week) for them, a good legacy for their senior class, and we have a lot more to accomplish this year.”

Talent helps too for the Vandals, now 5-2, 4-0 in the Big Sky. Especially the players Eck and his staff have brought in.

Receiver Jermaine Jackson, a transfer from College of San Mateo, came to Moscow and immediately became Idaho’s top receiver. Other transfers have helped too, including linebacker Paul Moala (Notre Dame).

And two true freshmen — running back Anthony Woods and receiver Jordan Dwyer — have made an immediate impact, though Dwyer has been out with an injury in recent weeks.

AND, IN addition to the aforementioned seniors, some of the other returnees are playing better, including quarterback Gevani McCoy.

Though he played some last year, McCoy is still technically a freshman, because he played in the required four or fewer games to retain his redshirt.

McCoy showed signs as a passer last year, as a true freshman, thrown into the mix almost as a necessity (the other option at QB was a converted running back).

“Just happy for our players,” Eck said. “Just happy for the guys we inherited, who did a good job of buying into what we have asked them to do, and also the new guys, like Paul (Moala), the Bertram brothers (Mathias and Ben, transfers from New Mexico), Juliano (Falaniko, a transfer from USC), they’ve bought into the vision. And some of the young guys on offense… Anthony Woods, Ayden Knapik, as a true freshman tackle, walk-on. They’re doing what we’re asking them, and we’re having results, and so the buy-in is even stronger.”

However …

“Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back,” Eck said. “We have to step up and continue to have success.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.