Gridiron Guesses Sept. 29, 2023: Some good matchups for another nonleague week

By Press staff

It’s the week before for 5A, 4A Inland Empire League teams.

The week before league openers.

In the 5A IEL on Oct. 6, it’s Coeur d’Alene at Lake City, and Post Falls at Lewiston. In the 4A IEL, it’s Lakeland at Sandpoint.

But this week, there’s some pretty good games, including …

Post Falls, ranked No. 4 in 5A in Idaho by the state’s media, playing host to Mt. Spokane, ranked sixth in 3A in Washington by The Associated Press.

Post Falls beat Mt. Spokane 23-17 in overtime last year at Union Stadium in Mead. The Wildcats feature Thomas Haberman, one of the top quarterbacks in the Greater Spokane League, and receiver/defender/kick returner Bode Gardner, perhaps the best player in the GSL. He has eight receiving TDs in four games, 11 TDs total, including one rushing TD, one pick-6 and one punt return.

And, Sugar-Salem, ranked No. 1 in 3A and winners of four of the last five state titles, making the 500-mile trip to Spirit Lake to take on Timberlake.

Also, Coeur d’Alene makes its third long bus trip of the season, trekking 390 miles to Vancouver, Wash., to face Union High of Camas, Wash., at 5,980-seat McKenzie Stadium in nearby Vancouver, a stadium Union shares with three other area schools.

Coeur d’Alene lost 40-20 to Union at home last year.

And 5A Lake City plays its fourth straight game against a 4A school, and fifth in six games, when the Timberwolves play host to Sandpoint for the second straight year. Last year, the Bulldogs romped 51-13 at Lake City.

On Saturday, in a Partridge Family special (“I’ll meet you halfway … “), Kellogg and New Plymouth meet at Prairie High in Cottonwood. It’s a 193-mile trip one-way for New Plymouth, and a 185-mile trip one way for Kellogg.

As for the picks, Mark Nelke and Josh McDonald each went 6-2 last week, and are both 32-14 overall. Jason Elliott went 5-3 (and heard about picking Orofino to beat Kellogg), and is 31-15 overall.

HIGH SCHOOL

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Coeur d’Alene (3-2) at Union (Camas, Wash.) (1-3), 4:30 p.m.

NELKE: The Vikings dropped a tough one to an unbeaten team in Western Washington last week. Union was winless until winning last week.

Coeur d’Alene, 27-13

ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene played well at times last week, especially defensively after the half.

Coeur d'Alene, 34-20

McDONALD: The Vikings have had an up-and-down year so far, but this feels like one they should win — even after the seven-hour trip to Vancouver.

Coeur d’Alene, 28-10

Sandpoint (2-3) at Lake City (2-3), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Bulldogs, who lost the bulk of last year’s state semifinal team, won just one of its first three games this year — then opened some eyes by jumping out to a 34-0 lead on Lewiston last week, en route to a 41-22 victory. Lake City is coming off a 34-7 win over Moscow.

Sandpoint, 26-22

ELLIOTT: A win tonight might be a tall task, but one that could happen if Lake City can play its style of game.

Sandpoint, 24-22

McDONALD: Both teams are coming off big wins last week, but I think the Bulldogs are pivoting into playoff mode.

Sandpoint, 35-18

Mt. Spokane (4-0) at Post Falls (4-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: After outscoring a pair of overmatched foes by a combined 124-0 the last two weeks, the Trojans get a good test before heading into league play. Should be a fun game.

Post Falls, 35-31

ELLIOTT: If Post Falls can get control of the game early ...

Post Falls, 42-34

McDONALD: This battle of explosive offenses might just come down to which team can get a stop.

Post Falls, 42-36

Sugar-Salem (5-0) at Timberlake (4-2), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Aside from some of the Fruitland teams in the early 2000s, this might be the best 3A team to visit Spirit Lake. The Diggers boast wins over teams from three different states, have allowed just 34 points in five games, but will be making a lonnnnnnnng bus trip. And no doubt, Timberlake will be fired up to face the defending champs. Could be a fun game.

Sugar-Salem, 28-20

ELLIOTT: If it's pouring rain, it could favor the Tigers.

Sugar-Salem, 33-28

McDONALD: I would love nothing more than to see the Tigers get a huge W here, but the Diggers have been so dominant this year.

Sugar-Salem, 42-14

Bonners Ferry (1-4) at St. Maries (1-4), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Badgers, a state 3A quarterfinalist last year, have just one win this year — via forfeit. The Lumberjacks, the day before their former coach is remembered, need something to smile about.

St. Maries, 16-12

ELLIOTT: St. Maries is going to be fired up for this one.

St. Maries, 20-16

McDONALD: Unless the Badgers are some sort of run-stopping savants, I’d expect the Lumberjacks to continue to do what they do best and grind the ball down the field.

St. Maries, 31-10

Mullan/St. Regis (5-0, 4-0 North Star League) vs. Lakeside (3-2, 2-0) at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley, 7 p.m.

NELKE: A week ago, I was thinking of this one as an upset special. Then I saw Lewis County 48, Lakeside 0, with Gage Crow scoring all seven touchdowns. But still, Lakeside is at home, on senior night …

Mullan/St. Regis, 20-16

ELLIOTT: Mullan/St. Regis has been at the top of the league for a while now. The Tigers-Tigers will show why tonight.

Mullan/St. Regis, 36-32

McDONALD: The Knights got blitzed last week by Lewis County. They might get back on track this season, but it won’t be against the Tigers.

Mullan/St. Regis, 32-30

SATURDAY’S GAME

Kellogg (1-4) vs. New Plymouth (3-2) at Prairie High, Cottonwood, 3 p.m.

NELKE: The Pilgrims own a 52-49 win over Grangeville, whom the Wildcats will face in Central Idaho League play in two weeks. Kellogg got off the schneid last week with a 52-0 win over Orofino.

New Plymouth, 32-30

ELLIOTT: Boy, I sure hear about it when I do this.

New Plymouth, 34-14

McDONALD: Kellogg’s run of postseason appearances is on the line and they need to win all four of their remaining games to try and steal an at-large bid. I just don’t know if they’re up to the challenge.

New Plymouth, 34-28

STANDINGS

PREP FOOTBALL

Through Sept. 24

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Post Falls 0 0 4 1

Coeur d’Alene 0 0 3 2

Lake City 0 0 2 3

Lewiston 0 0 2 3

Friday’s Games

Coeur d’Alene at Camas (Vancouver, Wash.)

Sandpoint at Lake City

Mt. Spokane at Post Falls

Moscow at Lewiston

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lakeland 0 0 3 3

Sandpoint 0 0 2 3

Moscow 0 0 1 4

Friday’s Games

Sandpoint at Lake City

Moscow at Lewiston

Lakeland is idle

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Timberlake 0 0 4 2

Bonners Ferry 0 0 1 4

Friday’s Games

Sugar-Salem at Timberlake

Bonners Ferry at St. Maries

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

St. Maries 1 0 1 4

Kellogg 1 1 1 4

Grangeville 0 0 1 3

Orofino 0 1 0 3

Friday’s Games

Bonners Ferry at St. Maries

Orofino at Grangeville

Saturday’s Game

Kellogg vs. New Plymouth at Cottonwood

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Mullan/St. Regis 4 0 5 0

Lakeside 2 0 3 2

Clark Fork 2 3 2 3

Wallace 1 3 2 3

Kootenai 0 3 0 4

Friday’s Games

Mullan/St. Regis vs. Lakeside at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley

Clark Fork is idle

Wallace is idle

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