Gridiron Guesses Nov. 6, 2026: Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland, Wallace, Coeur du Christ enter playoff fray
Gridiron Guesses 2024
The Coeur d'Alene Vikings' opponent tonight in the quarterfinal round of the state 6A football playoffs is already quite familiar with the 6A Inland Empire League.
The Boise Brave opened the season with a 14-13 victory over Lake City at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.
Three weeks later, Boise traveled to Post Falls and defeated the Trojans 53-17.
Tonight, the eighth-seeded Brave (8-1) return to North Idaho to take on the top-seeded Vikings (9-0) at 7 p.m. at Viking Field.
During the season, Boise lost 28-8 at Eagle, which is the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, and won 21-19 at Rocky Mountain, which is the No. 3 seed.
"Boise has had a great season," said Shawn Amos, in his 30th season as Coeur d'Alene coach. He has the Vikings in the state playoffs for the 17th time in the past 18 seasons.
Boise went for two and the win in beating ninth-seeded Kuna 22-21 last week in the Round of 12 at Dona Larsen Park. Sophomore quarterback Wayne Bower took the shotgun snap and ran it in for the win.
Bower has thrown for 2,361 yards and 20 touchdowns, with four interceptions.
Senior Logan McDonald has rushed for 879 yards and 13 TDs. William Sanders (35 receptions, five TDs) and Max Walters (32 catches, five TDs), both juniors, are the top receivers.
"They have an athletic quarterback who is a run threat," Amos said. "Their running back (McDonald) is tough and they have a big tight end (the 6-foot-5 Saunders) who can be a matchup problem. They take care of the ball also, with only six turnovers for the season."
Coeur d'Alene senior quarterback Tannar Stern has thrown for 2,302 yards and 28 touchdowns, with three interceptions. He's also rushed for 657 yards and 12 scores. Senior Gibson Comstock, who earlier this week committed to NAIA Carroll College in Helena, Mont., has 44 receptions for 881 yards and 13 TDs.
"Defensively they bring a lot of pressure," Amos said of Boise. "They have good speed and run to the ball well."
Coeur d'Alene is 9-0 for the first time since 2018, when the Vikings reached the state semifinals before losing to Rocky Mountain.
Also tonight, No. 4 seed Lakeland (5-4) plays host to No. 5 Lewiston (5-5) in a state 5A quarterfinal at 7 p.m. at Corbit Field in Rathdrum.
And in 2A, the fifth-seeded Wallace Miners (8-1) play host to the fourth-seeded Oakley Hornets (7-2) in a quarterfinal tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Sather Field in Silverton.
On Saturday, the fourth-seeded Coeur du Christ Saints (9-0) play host to the No. 5 Council Lumberjacks (7-2) at 1 p.m. at Lake City High in Coeur d'Alene.
Lakeland, for winning the 5A Inland Empire League, had a bye last weekend, while Lewiston defeated No. 12 seed Pocatello 31-13 in the Round of 12.
Lakeland, in the state playoffs for the seventh straight year, won 28-27 in overtime at Lewiston last year in the first round.
Lakeland's Griffin Tamagni has rushed for 1,429 yards (in eight games) with 16 touchdowns.
The Hawks have won five straight after an 0-4 start.
Oakley beat Idaho City 38-6 last weekend in the Round of 12, while Wallace had a bye. The Hornets have allowed 24 points in their last four games, with two shutouts.
Though Oakley is the higher seed, Wallace earned the right to host by being among the top four district champions statewide, which also earned the Miners a first-round bye.
Coeur du Christ, in its third year as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association, is in the playoffs for the second straight year.
Council defeated Mackay 36-14 last week in the first round, while Coeur du Christ had a bye. Junior Jim Tucker has rushed for 701 yards and nine touchdowns for the Lumberjacks, and has thrown for 627 yards and five TDs. Council averages less than 100 yards through the air.
Junior Grant Clemens has passed for 2,748 yards and 42 touchdowns with three interceptions for Coeur du Christ, which lost to eventual champion Carey last year in the quarterfinals, in the first state playoff game in Saints' history. Junior Beckett Beyer has 61 catches for 1,202 yards and 20 TDs for the Saints.
Lacking its own home field, Coeur du Christ has played most of its home games 28 miles away, at the Marimn Health Coeur Center in Worley.
"It's hard to get games local during the season," Coeur du Christ football coach/athletic director Kellen Clemens said. "I just reached out to (Lake City) and asked if it was possible once the regular season was over, and they were kind enough to oblige. I appreciate Lake City (was) willing to host the game."
As for the picks, (or pick, as it were), Mark Nelke and Josh McDonald went 1-0 on last week's lone playoff game, and Jason went 0-1. For the season, Josh is 59-16, and Mark and Jason are 58-17.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Boise (8-1) at Coeur d'Alene (9-0), 7 p.m.
NELKE: Coeur d'Alene has played at home in the quarterfinals in each of its last eight trips to the playoffs, going 7-1. Boise could make this a close game, but ...
Coeur d'Alene, 35-14
ELLIOTT: Boise looked pretty good offensively against Post Falls on its previous visit to Kootenai County in a 53-17 win over Post Falls on Sept. 11. Coeur d'Alene is just a different animal.
Coeur d'Alene, 38-20
McDONALD: Boise gambled big time last week against Kuna and it paid off. But the difference between the Kavemen and the Vikings is significant. I don't think this will be all that close.
Coeur d'Alene, 42-17
Lewiston (5-5) at Lakeland (5-4), 7 p.m.
NELKE: Lakeland was one touchdown better than both Lewiston and Sandpoint when they met during the regular season.
Lakeland, 21-14
ELLIOTT: If Lakeland runs it well ...
Lakeland, 28-27
McDONALD: Might be the best game of the weekend. The Hawks have been on a roll since starting 0-4 and one of those was a tough road win over Lewiston. The Bengals' season has been mixed, but they thumped Pocatello last week, so they have a little momentum of their own.
Lakeland, 24-21
Oakley (7-2) vs. Wallace (8-1), 5:30 p.m. at Sather Field, Silverton
NELKE: Oakley's losses have come to the No. 1 seed (Hagerman) and the No. 3 seed (Raft River) in the 2A playoffs, by a combined 10 points.
Oakley, 48-42
ELLIOTT: Wallace has the ability to keep it close, and maybe grind out a win.
Oakley, 44-40
McDONALD: Of all the games this week, this one feels like it has the tightest margin. Both teams have been solid but also lost the biggest games on their schedules. But considering the Hornets have to make a 500-mile trip, I think I'll give the Miners the edge here.
Wallace, 45-42
SATURDAY'S GAME
Council (7-2) vs. Coeur du Christ (9-0), 1 p.m. at Lake City High
NELKE: Both teams have played at Salmon River. Council won 28-6 two weeks ago; Coeur du Christ won 40-18 in Riggins in late September.
Coeur du Christ, 40-28
ELLIOTT: Coeur du Christ, 44-30
McDONALD: Statistically, Grant Clemens is the best quarterback in Idaho 8-man football leading one of 1A's most potent offenses. On the other side, Council boasts a defense that has only allowed an average of 12.6 points per game over the past six games. Something's gotta give.
Coeur du Christ, 38-26