Gridiron Guesses Nov. 1, 2024: Post Falls, Lakeland open playoffs tonight
Gridiron Guesses 2024
Prior to clinching its playoff spot last week, Post Falls had dropped three of four games.
And the Trojans’ biggest problem was turnovers.
Particularly in losses to Moses Lake (69-20) and Coeur d’Alene (21-0).
“We hadn’t played very well the last two weeks. We had to regroup, and refocus and come together as a team,” ninth-year Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “You can’t turn the ball over five times against a good team, it just magnifies everything.”
Post Falls (6-3) committed just one turnover last week in a 28-6 win at Lake City.
The Trojans play host to Borah (5-4) of Boise tonight at 7 at Trojan Stadium in a state 6A first-round playoff football game.
Post Falls is in the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons, but are just 1-6 in the postseason during that time. The Trojans’ last playoff win came over Skyview of Nampa in the 5A first round in 2018.
After winning five straight, Borah has dropped three in a row, including one last week to Capital, who the Lions beat earlier in the season. The previous week, Borah lost 35-22 to Eagle, the No. 2 seed from the 6A Southern Idaho Conference behind Rocky Mountain.
Borah has passed for 1,573 yards and rushed for 436 yards this season, according to MaxPreps stats. Senior Dylan Leukenga has thrown for 1,545 yards and 12 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Mason Monteleone has 37 catches, six for touchdowns.
"Our confidence level up front is better, our running back confidence is good, our quarterback (three-year starter Isaac McKeown) is playing the best he’s played all year,” Bennett said. “And he’s got that good senior leadership, and a lot of game experience.”
Lakeland is in the playoffs for the fifth straight year, but will be playing at home for the first time since 2016. The Hawks (7-2) play host to Shelley (3-6) in a state 5A first-round game tonight at 7 at Corbit Field in Rathdrum.
Lakeland comes in on a four-game winning streak, capped by a 34-14 win at Lewiston, a team which defeated Coeur d’Alene and Lake City.
Senior Lovie Weil has rushed for 1,454 yards and 23 touchdowns this season for the Hawks. Senior Haydon Benson has passed for 1,190 yards and seven TDs, with two interceptions. Jace Taylor has 64 catches for 556 yards and two scores.
"The pressure is on us to defend our home territory," third-year Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. "But we'll be prepared to play."
Shelley is 1-4 vs. teams in the 5A playoffs, but three of the losses have been fairly close, including 29-6 vs. top-seeded Skyline of Idaho Falls.
Coeur d’Alene (7-2) won the 6A IEL to qualify for the state playoffs for the 15th time in 16 seasons. The Vikings have a first-round bye, then play host to tonight’s winner pitting Highland (6-3), last year’s state 5A champion, at Middleton (5-4) next weekend.
Wallace, which won the North Star League, earned a first-round bye in the state 1A playoffs. The Miners, in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, play next weekend vs. a team to be determined, at a site to be determined.
The Wallace-Lakeside game turned out to be a play-in of sorts to the 1A playoffs, as Lakeside, ranked 11th by MaxPreps, did not receive an at-large berth. The Knights missed by one spot as Cascade, ranked 10, nabbed the last of the seven at-large berths.
Wallace and Deary, which also qualified by winning its conference, were ranked 12th and 13th, respectively.
Timberlake, despite finishing second in the Intermountain League, missed the state 4A playoffs by one spot as well. The Tigers were ranked 13th by MaxPreps. Teton, ranked 12th, earned the final at-large berth. Timberlake had made the playoffs in 20 of the last 21 seasons.
As for the picks, Mark Nelke went 8-0, Josh McDonald 7-1 and Jason Elliott 5-3.
For the season, Mark is 55-15, Jason 50-20, Josh 48-22.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Both at 7 p.m.
Borah (5-4) at Post Falls (6-3)
NELKE: Getting to the playoffs hasn’t been the issue for Post Falls lately. Winning is.
Post Falls, 21-12
ELLIOTT: If weather becomes a factor, and you just never know, Post Falls seems to have the guys to grind one out.
Post Falls, 28-24
McDONALD: The Trojans have been solid this year. But against their best competition, they struggled. The Lions are 2-4 against playoff teams this year, but all those losses were in competitive games. Post Falls gets the edge for hosting.
Post Falls, 31-28
Shelley (3-6) at Lakeland (7-2)
NELKE: This MIGHT be a little closer than 7-2 vs. 3-6 would suggest. Maybe, though Lakeland is playing really well of late and figures to be pumped up, playing at home in the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Lakeland, 36-18
ELLIOTT: Lakeland seems to have things rolling on defense lately.
Lakeland, 34-14
McDONALD: The Hawks have been one of the better teams in Idaho for the past month. Shelley did exactly what it needed to do to qualify for the playoffs, but this one shouldn't be close ... at all.
Lakeland, 41-10
STANDINGS
6A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Coeur d’Alene 2 0 7 2
Post Falls 1 1 6 3
Lake City 0 2 4 5
Friday’s Game
Borah at Post Falls
Coeur d’Alene has a first-round bye
5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Lakeland 2 0 7 2
Lewiston 1 1 5 4
Sandpoint 0 2 3 6
Friday’s Games
Shelley at Lakeland
Sandpoint at Hillcrest
Lewiston at Twin Falls
INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Moscow 2 0 7 2
Timberlake 1 1 3 6
Bonners Ferry 0 2 4 5
Friday’s Game
American Falls at Moscow
CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Grangeville 4 0 6 3
Priest River 3 1 6 2
Kellogg 2 2 3 6
St. Maries 1 3 1 7
Orofino 0 4 1 7
Saturday’s Game
Priest River at Aberdeen
Grangeville has a first-round bye
NORTH STAR LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Wallace 5 1 8 1
Lakeside 4 2 6 2
Coeur du Christ 3 3 3 5
Clark Fork 0 6 0 7
Friday’s Game
Wallace has first-round bye