Gridiron Guesses Oct. 13, 2023: Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene play for control of 5A IEL

By Press staff

Who runs the North?

In high school football, anyway?

Years ago, it was Lake City.

For most of the last decade-plus, it’s been Coeur d’Alene.

Last year, it was Post Falls’ turn.

Along the way to their first outright league title since 1995, the Trojans beat the Vikings last season. Coeur d’Alene then lost the next week at Lewiston, snapping a string of 13 straight state playoff appearances.

Tonight, the two 1-0 teams in the 5A Inland Empire League collide when Post Falls (5-2) plays at Coeur d’Alene (5-2) at 7 p.m. The winner takes the upper hand in the race for the league title, a first-round bye in the playoffs and a home game in the quarterfinals.

Last week, in the first week of league play, Post Falls won 42-21 at Lewiston, and Coeur d’Alene triumphed 31-7 at Lake City.

Coeur d’Alene has won four of its last five.

“I think a lot of kids have stepped up in a lot of different ways,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos. “We’re finally getting a little more healthy on the O-line; we’ll finally have all of our starters back (this) week that we started against Rigby. We’ve been cycling through offensive tackles; we can’t keep ’em healthy, and (this) week we’ll have all of our guys back.”

As for the motivation of Coeur d’Alene overturning last year’s 21-6 loss at Post Falls …

“I think our motivation is to get to the playoffs,” Amos said. “We’ve got step one done; we’ve got two more steps, and Post Falls is next … Our kids are motivated to get back to the playoffs.”

“Coeur d’Alene is an excellent team and very well coached,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “They’re going to be a challenge for us with the way they play defense. Offensively, they do a good job of moving the ball and mixing it up. We’ll have to prepare this week.”

In the other 5A IEL game, Lake City (2-5, 0-1) is home vs. Lewiston (3-4, 0-1).

In the 4A IEL, Sandpoint (4-3, 1-0) can wrap up the top seed and a first-round home game in the playoffs with a win tonight at Moscow (1-5, 0-0). Lakeland (3-4, 0-1) is home vs. Timberlake (4-3) in a nonleague game, then plays host to Moscow next week.

In the (2A) Central Idaho League, St. Maries (2-5, 1-1) is idle. In the only league game, Kellogg (2-5, 1-1) tries to keep its playoff hopes alive tonight at Grangeville (3-3, 2-0).

Some things could be settled in the North Star League today/tonight, with Lakeside (3-4, 2-2 NSL) vs. Mullan/St. Regis (6-1, 5-0) this afternoon in Mullan, and Wallace (3-3, 2-3) at Clark Fork (2-3, 2-3) tonight.

Or, the battle for the two berths to the 1A Division II playoffs could get even more jumbled up.

As for the picks (such as they were), Mark Nelke and Josh McDonald each went 3-4, Jason Elliott 4-3, and all three are tied at 40-20 for the season.

HIGH SCHOOLS

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Post Falls (5-2, 1-0 5A Inland Empire League) at Coeur d’Alene (5-2, 1-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Post Falls has had the most success against Coeur d’Alene among league teams in recent years, winning eight of 20 meetings since 2004, including the last two. But most of the time, the Trojans have been the underdog; last year was probably the first time in years Post Falls was expected to win. As for tonight …

Post Falls, 26-22

ELLIOTT: If Coeur d'Alene's run defense can slow Post Falls running back Tevin Burns down, the Vikings have a shot to take control of the league. Post Falls has some dudes, though.

Coeur d'Alene, 24-21

McDONALD: It’s homecoming for the Viks, who will be looking for a measure of revenge from last year’s 21-6 loss to the Trojans.

Coeur d’Alene, 30-24

Lewiston (3-4, 0-1 5A IEL) at Lake City (2-5, 0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Lewiston, 28-24

ELLIOTT: Lewiston, 28-20

McDONALD: The Bengals got the better of the T-Wolves in a shootout last year. This year it feels like the game will be competitive once again, but in the other direction.

Lake City, 18-14

Timberlake (4-3) at Lakeland (3-4), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Lakeland has won the last four meetings with its in-district rival, seven of the last eight, and 12 of the last 14.

Lakeland, 28-21

ELLIOTT: Lakeland needs some momentum going into next week's game against Moscow, where the Hawks could be fighting for a postseason bid.

Lakeland, 28-24

McDONALD: The Tigers have had two weeks to stew on the beatdown they received from Sugar Salem. Meanwhile, the Hawks are still finding their way back from a season’s worth of injuries.

Timberlake, 34-30

Kellogg (2-5, 1-1 Central Idaho League) at Grangeville (3-3, 2-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Grangeville beat St. Maries 54-26 last week; Kellogg beat St. Maries 30-18 earlier in the season.

Grangeville, 54-26

ELLIOTT: Grangeville is a tough place to play in October, or so I've been told.

Grangeville, 44-20

McDONALD: What can I say, I’m a homer.

Kellogg, 30-28

Wallace (3-3, 2-3 North Star League) at Clark Fork (2-3, 2-3), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Clark Fork beat the Miners 20-14 at Silverton five weeks ago. Wallace stayed in the playoff hunt by upending Lakeside 22-20 at home last week.

Clark Fork, 20-14

ELLIOTT: Clark Fork just might be a little better at home.

Clark Fork, 28-22

McDONALD: This was a tight one a month ago when the Wampus Cats took a 20-14 win over the Miners — feels like the Miners could return the favor.

Wallace, 22-16

Lakeside (3-4, 2-2 NSL) vs. Mullan/St. Regis (6-1, 5-0) at John Drager Field, Mullan, 3 p.m.

NELKE: Mullan/St. Regis beat Lakeside 54-32 two weeks ago in Worley. If nothing else, this has been a fun league to watch all season, with four capable teams fighting for two playoff spots.

Mullan/St. Regis, 56-24

ELLIOTT: Mullan/St. Regis coach Stetson Spooner bagged his buck earlier on Thursday. He'll get a North Star League title today.

Mullan/St. Regis, 44-30

McDONALD: Important mid-October games played at mid-afternoon times are the Mullan/St. Regis specialty. It’s the Tigers’ ideal setting to lock up another North Star League championship.

Mullan/St. Regis, 50-24

STANDINGS

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Post Falls 1 0 5 2

Coeur d’Alene 1 0 5 2

Lewiston 0 1 3 4

Lake City 0 1 2 5

Friday’s Games

Post Falls at Coeur d’Alene

Lewiston at Lake City

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Sandpoint 1 0 4 3

Moscow 0 0 1 5

Lakeland 0 1 3 4

Friday’s Game

Timberlake at Lakeland

Sandpoint at Moscow

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Timberlake 0 0 4 3

Bonners Ferry 0 0 2 5

Friday’s Games

Timberlake at Lakeland

Orofino at Bonners Ferry

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Grangeville 2 0 3 3

St. Maries 1 1 2 5

Kellogg 1 1 2 5

Orofino 0 2 0 5

Friday’s Games

Kellogg at Grangeville

Orofino at Bonners Ferry

St. Maries is idle

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Mullan/St. Regis 5 0 6 1

Lakeside 2 2 3 4

Wallace 2 3 3 3

Clark Fork 2 3 2 3

*Kootenai 0 3 0 4

Friday’s Game

Lakeside vs. Mullan/St. Regis at Mullan

Wallace at Clark Fork

*Kootenai canceled its season, citing low numbers, in late September