THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: At-large berths, and streaks

The question came up last week, with the realization that, based on the 5A’s format for determining the two at-large teams, the loser of Friday’s Coeur d’Alene-Lewiston football game was not going to make the state playoffs.

The winner was going to be in, having finished second in the 5A Inland Empire League and claiming the North’s second automatic bid to the state playoffs.

The loser was going to be third, thrown into the mix of others statewide who didn’t automatically qualify. The format for deciding the two playoff teams — winning percentage in games vs. other 5A schools statewide, or games against teams from other states with 5A enrollment figures (1,281 students and above in grades 9-12).

Coeur d’Alene came into Friday’s game with a 2-4 record vs. 5A (or 5A-sized) schools. Lewiston was 2-2.

The only teams who had a chance at the at-large bid had records over .500 vs. other 5A (or 5A-sized) schools.

The question — should you schedule easier 5A-type schools in nonleague, to give you a better chance at an at-large berth, if it comes down to that?

Well, we know what Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos would say to that — if you don’t play good teams, how do you know what you need to improve on?

This year, he scheduled his first two games against Rigby and Rocky Mountain, two of the top teams in Idaho.

And in past years he’s played teams from Utah, California and western Washington.

Here’s an idea — maybe find a way to factor in games vs. strong 4A teams, like Sandpoint and Lakeland. Teams get more out of playing those games than playing weaker 5A teams. Sometimes the 5A vs. 4A games in North Idaho aren’t competitive, but when they are, the 5As shouldn’t be punished by playing them — especially when those games are often needed to fill schedules.

Here’s another idea — just win at least two of your three league games.

ONE IMPRESSIVE streak came to an end last week.

You already know of Coeur d’Alene’s streak of 13 straight years in the state football playoffs, which came to an end last Friday when the Vikings lost 40-6 at Lewiston.

That was a pretty remarkable 13 years — which started in 2009, and included that memorable semifinal game in the snow vs. Eagle.

During that span, Coeur d’Alene played in six state title games, winning three of them — in 2010, ’11 and ’13. The Viks were also in the title game in 2012, ’17 and ’20 — the most recent trip being that 57-56 double-overtime game vs. Rigby at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

In addition to the six title game appearances, Coeur d’Alene reached the semifinals three other times.

Lake City had a streak of 16 state playoff appearances from 1997-2012, which included four trips to the state championship game, and two state titles.

With Coeur d’Alene and Lake City missing the playoffs this year, that’s the first time that’s happened since 1996, when Coeur d’Alene finished 4-5, and Lake City was 3-6 in its third year as a school.

The following year, Amos took over as Coeur d’Alene coach, and Lake City began its playoff streak.

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE streak continued.

Despite losing in the first round of the state 3A girls soccer tournament for a second straight year, the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy was able to come back and bring home a trophy from state for the 10th straight season.

The Panthers were upset by Timberlake in the first round last Thursday, marking only the third time in that 10-year run that Charter did not reach the championship game.

The Panthers beat Timberlake for the state title in 2014 under coach Dave Baxter, then lost to Weiser in the state title game the following season.

Stacy Smith took over as coach in 2016, and led Charter to five straight state titles.

Baxter started the program in 2012, the only year Charter didn’t make it to state. He then led them to a consolation title, a state title and a runner-up trophy before stepping down.

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.