Gridiron Guesses Nov. 8, 2024: Vikings vs. Vikings, and Trojans vs. Trojans in state 6A quarterfinals
Gridiron Guesses 2024
It could have been a rematch of last year’s state 5A championship game.
Instead, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings (7-2) will begin their playoff journey tonight at 7 p.m. at home against the Middleton Vikings (6-4), who knocked off visiting Highland (6-4) of Pocatello 6-3 in a first-round game last week.
Coeur d’Alene clinched a first-round bye when the Vikings beat the Post Falls Trojans 21-0 on Oct. 18 to win the 6A Inland Empire League title.
Coeur d’Alene wrapped up the regular season the following week with a 49-12 triumph over Raymond (Alberta), then was idle last week.
Tonight, Coeur d’Alene will face a Middleton squad that unveiled a double-wing offense in the second half against Highland last week, and prevailed in a battle of field goals in a game tied 3-3 at the half.
Middleton used the double-wing to drive to the Highland 2 in the third quarter, then settled for the go-ahead field. Another drive out of the double-wing helped the Vikings salt the game away.
Drew Holman ran for 95 yards on 18 carries for Middleton, and Tyker Harker ran for 84 yards on 15 carries.
Middleton moved up to 5A in 2022, and made the playoffs each of the past two seasons in the state’s largest classification. The Vikings reached the quarterfinals two years ago, and lost in the first round to Rigby last year.
Coeur d’Alene, which lost to Highland in last year’s title game, is in the playoffs for the 15th time in 16 seasons.
The Coeur d’Alene-Middleton winner will play the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal game pitting Madison (9-1) of Rexburg at Eagle (7-2) in the semifinals next week. If Coeur d’Alene wins, it would host.
• In August, Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett tuned into the game between Rigby and Coeur d’Alene at Viking Field.
The Trojans coach knew he would be facing Coeur d’Alene later in the season.
Little did he know that, two months later, he would be preparing to face Rigby.
Post Falls (7-3) travels to Rigby (8-1) tonight at 6 p.m. PST in another state 6A quarterfinal in eastern Idaho.
“Oh yeah, they’re very talented,” Bennett said. “Everybody knows Rigby; they’re a great team. Great tradition, and they play well at home, and it’ll be a great challenge for us.”
Rigby, which has won eight straight since that season-opening loss at Coeur d’Alene, averaging just over 43 points a game, had a bye last week.
Last week, Post Falls beat Borah of Boise for its first playoff victory since 2018. A win tonight would propel Post Falls into the state semifinals for the first time since 1995, and for just the fifth time in school history.
Post Falls played Rigby in the regular season in 2020 and ‘21, losing both meetings.
• Last week, Lakeland won a playoff game for the first time since 2007. If the third-seeded Hawks (8-2) can beat sixth-seeded Vallivue (7-2) of Caldwell tonight at 7 p.m. at Corbit Field in Rathdrum, Lakeland will advance to the semifinals for the first time in 17 seasons.
“It’s a little bit of a cliche, but we’ve got to take it one game at a time,” Schroeder said. “We’re happy we have two home games, and we’ve got to take advantage of it. That’s why the playoff system is set like that in Idaho. We’ve been on the road, and it’s challenging to win on the road. So we’ve got to take care of business and use the advantage to our benefit.”
Vallivue defeated 11th seed Bonneville of Idaho Falls 28-6 in the first round last week.
Junior Onix Carson has rushed for 1,378 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Falcons.
Vallivue is coached by Shea McClellin, the former Boise State great and the pride of Marsing High.
McClellin, the 19th overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2012, played five seasons in the NFL, including a Super Bowl title with New England in the 2016 season.
• In 1A, Wallace (8-1), in the playoffs for the first time in three years, plays at Carey (8-1) today at 3 p.m. PST in a quarterfinal game.
Wallace, which had a first-round bye last week after winning the North Star League two weeks ago, is seeded eighth of the eight remaining teams in 1A, and Carey is seeded first.
Senior Preston Wood has thrown for 1,033 yards and 19 touchdowns with one interception for Carey. Wood is also the Panthers’ leading rusher with 693 yards and 16 touchdowns.
As for the picks, Mark Nelke, Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald each went 2-0 last week.
For the season, Mark is 57-15, Jason 52-20, Josh 50-22.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Middleton (6-4) at Coeur d’Alene (7-2), 7 p.m.
NELKE: If, much like Olivia Newton-John did in 1981, Middleton says “Let’s get physical,” Coeur d’Alene is pretty good on defense, allowing 14.3 points per game. Coeur d’Alene is pretty good on offense too, averaging 27.8 per game.
Coeur d’Alene, 28-14
ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene rolls at home.
Coeur d'Alene, 42-14
McDONALD: The biggest threat to Coeur d'Alene returning to the title game is itself. Middleton's best chance to win is if they catch Cd'A on an off night. Easier said than done.
Coeur d'Alene, 35-18
Post Falls at Rigby, 6 p.m. PST
NELKE: Post Falls looks to have fixed the turnover issues that plagued it in its losses. Good thing, because this one might be a shootout.
Rigby, 42-35
ELLIOTT: Post Falls is bound to win one eventually on the road.
Post Falls, 42-35
McDONALD: Post Falls was finally able to get over the first-round hump, but there are a couple of common opponents that make me really concerned about this matchup against Rigby. Rigby has only gotten better since the 10-point loss to the Viks in their season opener and then two weeks later they beat a Moses Lake team that trounced Post Falls by 49 points.
Rigby, 24-13
Vallivue (7-2) at Lakeland (8-2), 7 p.m.
NELKE: Vallivue has won seven of its last eight, the Falcons’ only setback a 21-14 loss to Bishop Kelly, the fourth seed in 5A. Vallivue is allowing 9.2 points per game. But Lakeland seems to be on a mission.
Lakeland, 28-14
ELLIOTT: Hopefully the refs won't need to wear bread bags to keep the rain out of their shoes this week. Lakeland looked pretty tough last week.
Lakeland, 28-24
McDONALD: 9.6.
That’s the average amount of points the Hawks have allowed since Sept. 26. I think the Hawks are the best team in 5A. On paper, the Falcons could be a fun matchup, but if Lakeland really clamps down like we’ve seen over the past month, they might be the only one having any fun.
Lakeland, 30-13
Wallace at Carey, 3 p.m. PST
NELKE: As you would expect from playoff teams in eight-man football, both teams can score — Carey is averaging 57.5 points per game, Wallace 54.2 in winning an entertaining North Star League. But Carey is allowing just 14.5 points per game, Wallace 30.4.
Carey, 58-42
ELLIOTT: Wallace is young. Carey has a lot of experience.
Carey, 44-20
McDONALD: I have not picked against the Miners once this year. But Carey will easily be the best team they’ve faced all season. My heart says Go Wallace — from a Kellogg guy, this is a big deal — but my brain says Panthers take this one.
Carey, 55-35