Gridiron Guesses Sept. 21, 2023: Heavy hearts, but 'Jacks look to finish the right way

By Press staff

St. Maries will no doubt be thinking of former Lumberjacks coach Craig Tefft when they take the field Friday night in Spirit Lake.

“They’ve got a really good attitude and it’s one of those teams that can take everything in stride and respond really well. This week, it’s a little tougher and we’ve been a little flat, but we’re trying to keep them focused,” first-year St. Maries head coach Greg Rouse said of Tefft, who died Tuesday following a battle with colon cancer.

Tefft, 47, was the Lumberjacks head coach for 13 seasons, guiding them to the 2016 state 2A title.

"We just keep thinking about what would he want us to do?" Rouse said. "We've talked in practice about the things we've learned from him. They're a little off right now, and that's the reality. Some kids were closer to him than others, and you can tell how important this is to them to come out and play hard for him."

2A St. Maries (1-3) plays at 3A Timberlake (3-2) tonight at 7.

Coeur d’Alene gets the prep football week off to an early start tonight, traveling to unbeaten Woodinville (Wash.), a 4A school near Vancouver. Coeur d’Alene beat the Falcons 28-14 at home last year.

Lake City plays host to Moscow, facing the third of four straight 4A schools.

And Post Falls plays host to Lakeland in what used to be known as the “Battle of the Prairie,” but is now more like the “Battle of the Housing Developments.”

Kootenai, citing a shortage of players, canceled Friday’s North Star League game at Wallace. But the Miners were able to replace the Warriors with Troy (Mont.), which was on a bye, on short notice.

As for the picks, Mark Nelke and Jason Elliott each went 8-0, and Josh McDonald went 6-2, and we’re all tied at 26-12. It’s looking much like the AL wild-card race, with a little more winning — of late.

THURSDAY’S GAME

Coeur d’Alene (3-1) at Woodinville (Wash.) (3-0), 6 p.m.

NELKE: You might think the Vikings, on a short week and following a long bus trip, might not be able to keep up with the host Falcons. It could happen, but the Vikings certainly don’t think that way.

Coeur d’Alene, 22-20

ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene's defense keeps it close on the road.

Coeur d'Alene, 24-22

McDONALD: Let's see if the Viking offense can continue to roll while the defense slows down one of Washington's best.

Coeur d'Alene, 31-21

FRIDAY’S GAMES

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

NELKE: Lake City is 9-0 vs. Moscow all-time, including wins the past two seasons after the series took a 16-year hiatus.

Lake City, 24-14

ELLIOTT: Lake City is a few plays away from being 3-1 right now.

Lake City, 27-20

McDONALD: The Timberwolves recently finished up back-to-back with some of the best 4A schools in the state. I think they get back on track this week against a game Moscow squad.

Lake City, 28-21

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

NELKE: Post Falls won its first outright league title since 1995 last year, but one of its losses was to Lakeland — the Hawks’ first victory over the Trojans in 10 years. But Lakeland is depleted by injuries this year.

Post Falls, 42-14

ELLIOTT: Post Falls, 48-20

McDONALD: The Hawks found themselves on the wrong side of a brutal shutout last week. Post Falls appears to be the class of the IEL, but this is a rivalry game so I'll let Lakeland get a couple of scores.

Post Falls, 45-14

St. Maries (1-3) at Timberlake (3-2), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Emotion aside, St. Maries is coming off a win over Kellogg in its Central Idaho League opener. Timberlake is coming off a win at Moscow that stopped a two-game skid.

Timberlake, 38-24

ELLIOTT: Timberlake just has too much for the Lumberjacks on a night where the outcome will be the furthest thing from either team's mind.

Timberlake, 34-20

McDONALD: The Lumberjacks have a tank playing running back for them in Trey Gibson. But Timberlake is looking the part of a 3A contender this year.

Timberlake, 45-21

Orofino (0-2, 0-0 Central Idaho League) at Kellogg (0-4, 0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Both teams are looking for their first win. We’ll go with the home team to get it here.

Kellogg, 32-16

ELLIOTT: Orofino, 28-20

McDONALD: Why not ... it's gotta happen at some point ... right?

Kellogg, 35-14

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

NELKE: Kudos to the Trojans of Montana — not to be confused with the Trojans of District II in Idaho — for stepping in on their bye week and helping out the Miners.

Wallace, 22-20

ELLIOTT: Wallace, 24-20

McDONALD: Wallace was originally supposed to host Kootenai, but injuries have decimated the Warriors' roster. However, the Trojans stepped up on short notice to take a game. Gimme the Miners and a clean sweep for the Silver Valley in week five!

Wallace, 34-18

Lakeside (3-1) at Lewis County (0-3), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Knights are on a roll offensively, scoring 131 points in its last three games. Meanwhile, the Highland/Nezperce co-op has been shut out twice in its three games.

Lakeside, 48-12

ELLIOTT: Lakeside seems to have found something with its ground game.

Lakeside, 44-12

McDONALD: The Knights have been a pleasant surprise this season and they should extend their winning streak to four after Friday night.

Lakeside, 55-12

Clark Fork (2-2, 2-2 NSL) at Mullan-St. Regis (4-0, 3-0), 3:30 p.m.

NELKE: Mullan-St. Regis won 20-6 at Clark Fork in the season opener.

Mullan-St. Regis, 38-18

ELLIOTT: Mullan-St. Regis, but close.

Mullan-St. Regis, 30-24

McDONALD: A mid-day rematch from a zero-week grinder. Give me the Tigers.

Mullan-St. Regis, 42-20

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Post Falls 0 0 3 1

Coeur d’Alene 0 0 3 1

Lake City 0 0 1 3

Lewiston 0 0 2 2

Thursday’s Game

Coeur d’Alene at Woodinville (Wash.)

Friday’s Games

Moscow at Lake City

Lakeland at Post Falls

Lewiston at Sandpoint

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lakeland 0 0 3 2

Moscow 0 0 1 3

Sandpoint 0 0 1 3

Friday’s Games

Lakeland at Post Falls

Moscow at Lake City

Lewiston at Sandpoint

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Timberlake 0 0 3 2

Bonners Ferry 0 0 1 3

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Timberlake

Bonners Ferry at East Valley

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

St. Maries 1 0 1 3

Grangeville 0 0 1 3

Orofino 0 0 0 2

Kellogg 0 1 0 4

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Timberlake

Orofino 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 3 0 4 0

Lakeside 2 0 3 1

Clark Fork 2 2 2 2

Wallace 1 3 1 3

Kootenai 0 3 0 4

Friday’s Games

Lakeside at Lewis County

Kootenai at Wallace, canceled

Troy (Mont.) at Wallace

Clark Fork at Mullan/St. Regis