GRIDIRON GUESSES Oct. 19, 2023: Playing for everything, or nothing at all

By Press staff

When you hit the final week of the regular season in high school football, everything’s decided … and nothing’s decided.

Take the 5A Inland Empire League.

Coeur d’Alene (6-2, 2-0 5A IEL) can wrap up the outright league title and a first-round bye in the state playoffs by beating Lewiston (4-4, 1-1) at home on Friday night.

And Post Falls, handled by Coeur d’Alene last week, can secure the 5A IEL’s second berth to the playoffs with a win over visiting Lake City tonight.

“We have to move on pretty quick,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said after the loss to the Vikings. “It’s a short week for us. I already told the players, ‘We have to move on, and get over this.’”

But … if Lewiston upsets Coeur d’Alene, and Post Falls wins, a three-team Kansas Tiebreaker would be played, and all three teams could make the playoffs, depending on how it plays out.

Or … if Lake City upsets Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene wins, then Lake City, Post Falls and Lewiston would play off for the second automatic berth.

And then, if … aw, never mind.

In the 12-team 5A playoffs, the 12th seed is an at-large berth to the team with the best MaxPreps ranking that didn’t already earn one of the 11 dedicated spots in the field.

In the 4A IEL, Sandpoint has secured the league’s automatic berth to state. Lakeland (4-4, 0-1) can solidify a berth in the 16-team field with a win over Moscow (1-6, 0-1) tonight.

In the Intermountain League, Timberlake (4-4) travels to Bonners Ferry (3-5) for the league’s lone berth to the 14-team 3A playoffs.

In the Central Idaho League, Grangeville (4-3, 3-0 CIL) is idle and will be the lone league team advancing to the state 2A playoffs.

St. Maries and Kellogg will wrap up their seasons tonight.

The game with the biggest intrigue in the area might be in Clark Fork, where Lakeside (3-5, 2-3) and the Wampus Cats (3-3, 3-3) clash for the North Star League’s second berth to state, besides league champ Mullan/St. Regis (7-1, 6-0).

As for the picks, Jason Elliott went 6-0 last week and leads at 46-20 overall. Mark Nelke was 5-1 and is 45-21; Josh McDonald went 2-4 and is 42-24.

THURSDAY’S GAME

Lake City (2-6, 0-2 5A Inland Empire League) at Post Falls (5-3, 1-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Trojans bounce back, and the Timberwolves head into the offseason knowing the program has made progress under first-year coach and Lake City alum Byron Hout.

Post Falls, 36-12

ELLIOTT: Post Falls gets back into the playoffs with a strong ground game. This game might be a lot more interesting next fall.

Post Falls, 44-20

McDONALD: This is a rebound and retool for the Trojans after last week and are still getting the IEL's second playoff bid.

Post Falls, 48-13

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Lewiston (4-4, 1-1 5A IEL) at Coeur d’Alene (6-2, 2-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Lewiston officially ended Coeur d’Alene string of 13 straight state playoff appearances with a 40-6 romp at home last year. The Bengals need a win to have a shot at the playoffs. But the Vikings start a new playoff streak this year.

Coeur d’Alene, 40-6

ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene just seems on a different level right now. Lewiston ran it pretty well against Lake City last Friday, but this isn't the same defense.

Coeur d'Alene, 38-20

McDONALD: Gimme the Viks by a lot on senior night.

Coeur d'Alene, 42-16

Moscow (1-6, 0-1 4A IEL) at Lakeland (4-4, 0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Even down some players to injury, the Hawks figure to hand the Bears their seventh straight loss.

Lakeland, 31-13

ELLIOTT: Lakeland wins easily, then we'll see where the Hawks wind up.

Lakeland, 34-20

McDONALD: It's a win and you're in kinda thing for the Hawks, who might've been league champs if they had stayed healthy.

Lakeland, 28-14

Timberlake (4-4, 0-0 Intermountain League) at Bonners Ferry (3-5, 0-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Last year, the Badgers beat the Tigers to win the two-team league, and hosted a first-round playoff game. This year, it’s Timberlake’s turn.

Timberlake, 34-18

ELLIOTT: Timberlake, 44-20

MCDONALD: Tigers win the IML by a country mile.

Timberlake, 55-8

St. Maries (2-5, 1-1 Central Idaho League) at Orofino (0-6, 0-2), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Lumberjacks end an emotional year on a winning note.

St. Maries, 42-6

ELLIOTT: St. Maries, 44-14

McDONALD: This one will not be pretty. I think Clubber Lang said it best. Pain.

St. Maries, 52-0

Priest River at Kellogg (2-6), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Spartans, fortunate to scrape together a football program after their levy didn’t pass, has played just two varsity teams and the rest JV squads.

Kellogg, 32-12

ELLIOTT: Kellogg, 34-28

McDONALD: The Wildcats get a gimme-win on senior night.

Kellogg, 48-8

Lakeside (3-5, 2-3 North Star League) at Clark Fork (3-3, 3-3), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Lakeside beat Clark Fork 37-16 five weeks ago in Worley. Aside from a couple close losses to Mullan/St. Regis, that was the Wampus Cats’ only other league loss.

Clark Fork, 24-20

ELLIOTT: Clark Fork seems to be tough at home this season.

Clark Fork, 34-30

McDONALD: Another win and you're-in game. The one is a rematch though. Give me the Wampus cats on senior night in a cold North Idaho battle.

Wallace (3-4, 2-4 NSL) vs. Mullan/St. Regis (7-1, 6-0) at John Drager Field, Mullan, 3 p.m.

NELKE: Mullan/St. Regis, 48-12

ELLIOTT: Mullan/St. Regis, 36-28

McDONALD: The Tigers will probably jump on the Miners early, but Mullan/St. Regis coach Stetson Spooner won't risk injury in the second half and will let the younger guys finish it out.

Mullan/St. Regis, 56-30

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Coeur d’Alene 2 0 6 2

Post Falls 1 1 5 3

Lewiston 1 1 4 4

Lake City 0 2 2 6

Thursday’s Game

Lake City at Post Falls

Friday’s Game

Lewiston at Coeur d’Alene

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Sandpoint 2 0 5 3

Lakeland 0 1 4 4

Moscow 0 1 1 6

Friday’s Games

Moscow at Lakeland

Lethbridge (Alberta) Collegiate Institute at Sandpoint

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Timberlake 0 0 4 4

Bonners Ferry 0 0 3 5

Friday’s Game

Timberlake at Bonners Ferry

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Grangeville 3 0 4 3

St. Maries 1 1 2 5

Kellogg 1 2 2 6

Orofino 0 2 0 6

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Orofino

Priest River at Kellogg

Grangeville is idle

Priest River is playing a JV-only schedule in football this year

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Mullan/St. Regis 6 0 7 1

Clark Fork 3 3 3 3

Lakeside 2 3 3 5

Wallace 2 4 3 4

*Kootenai 0 3 0 4

Friday’s Games

Lakeside at Clark Fork

Wallace vs. Mullan/St. Regis at Mullan

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