Gridiron Guesses Oct. 1, 2026: Much on the line as Coeur d'Alene plays host to defending state 6A champion Rigby tonight

Thursday night football in the NFL often elicits a yawn and a "why?" 

But Thursday night football in Idaho high school offers up a tasty treat tonight, when Rigby (5-0) visits Coeur d'Alene for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Viking Field in Coeur d'Alene. 

Rigby has won two straight state championships, and five of the last seven. 

Coeur d'Alene, which has made the playoffs in 16 of the last 17 seasons, was on the losing end of one of Rigby's state titles, a 57-56 double-overtime victory in 2019 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. 

The teams have met seven times since 2018, with Coeur d'Alene winning four of those. The teams have met in each of the last four years, each winning two. 

Rigby won last year at home, 38-7. Only two of the games have been played in Coeur d'Alene, with the Vikings winning both, including 24-14 in 2024. Two of the games were played at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, one at the Kibbie Dome. 

In past years, the game was mostly an entertaining nonleague game between two of the state's best, usually early in the season, a measuring stick that let the teams know what their strengths — and more importantly, their weaknesses — were. 

Now, thanks to MaxPreps, the game also has postseason implications. 

The top four seeds in the 6A playoffs — which included the 6A Inland Empire League champ and the 6A Eastern Idaho champ — earn first-round byes. 

But in past years, they were placed in predetermined spots in the bracket for the quarterfinals, with predermined hosts 

Effective this year, MaxPreps rankings determine where the top four seeds land in the bracket. And now, through the semifinals, the higher seed hosts. 

As of the last MaxPreps rankings update on Sunday, the top three teams in 6A are thisclose — No. 1 is Rocky Mountain (70.46 rating), No. 2 is Rigby (70.17) and No. 3 is Coeur d'Alene (69.80). 

Should all the top seeds win their quarterfinal games, the No. 3 seed would travel to the No. 2 seed for a semifinal. 

Elsewhere ... 

Lake City (4-2) is idle this week, then plays host to Post Falls on Oct. 9 in the 6A Inland Empire League opener. 

Post Falls plays host to Moses Lake (3-1), which took a 42-7 beating from Coeur d'Alene three weeks ago at Viking Field. 

Since then, Moses Lake has scored 115 points in a pair of wins. Last week, Elijah Burns of the Mavericks rushed for 309 yards and four touchdowns in a 58-22 win at Wenatchee. 

As for the picks, Josh McDonald went 9-0 last week. Mark Nelke and Jason Elliott each went 7-2. 

For the season, Josh, Mark and Jason are all 34-12.

THURSDAY'S GAME 

Rigby (5-0) at Coeur d'Alene (6-0), 7 p.m.  

NELKE: No one knows exactly how the MaxPreps algorithm works, but obviously a win tonight would be especially helpful this year. 

Coeur d'Alene, 28-20 

ELLIOTT: I remember a few of those games in Missoula ... learned a lot about both teams those nights.

Coeur d'Alene, 34-28

McDONALD: This game being played on a Thursday is a travesty.  But I digress ... These teams have traded wins over the past few years and I'm pretty sure it's the Vik's turn to take the W. I would guess this isn't the only time these teams cross paths this year.  

Coeur d'Alene, 31-30

FRIDAY'S GAMES 

Moses Lake (3-1) at Post Falls (0-5), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Moses Lake didn't have a very enjoyable visit the last time the Mavericks played in Kootenai County. This might go better, but Post Falls can score points too. 

Moses Lake, 36-34 

ELLIOTT: Post Falls was fighting like crazy to get back into last Friday's game at Eastmont. Moses Lake just might have too much.

Moses Lake, 28-22

McDONALD: The Trojans have another tall task in front of them. 

Moses Lake, 24-14

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

NELKE: A chance for the Tigers to bounce back after a rough one last week vs. Lakeland. 

Timberlake, 28-24 

ELLIOTT: Timberlake played pretty well on the road a few weeks ago in Kellogg. 

Timberlake, 34-22

McDONALD: The Tigers get back to .500 headed into the most critical month of the season.  

Timberlake, 28-21

St. Maries (1-4, 1-1 Central Idaho League) at Grangeville (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Grangeville, 36-6 

ELLIOTT: Grangeville, 36-12

McDONALD: The Lumberjacks got a last-minute win last week, meaning they won't finish dead last in the CIL. Grangeville waxed Kellogg and moved one step closer to a league championship.   

Grangeville, 45-12

Potlatch (3-2) vs. Coeur du Christ (5-0) at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley, 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The Loggers have a pretty good resume. They lost by two to Wallace, but lost by 22 to Salmon River, a team Coeur du Christ beat by 22. The Saints are coming off a short week, after a big road win in Riggins against another ranked foe. 

Coeur du Christ, 50-28 

ELLIOTT:  Coeur du Christ puts itself into a pretty good spot with a win on Friday.

Coeur du Christ, 44-28

McDONALD: Fresh off their big win last weekend, the Saints get a chance to knock off a solid 2A squad. 

Coeur du Christ, 50-28

Lakeside (1-4) at Entiat (Wash.) (2-2), 4 p.m. 

NELKE: Entiat, 28-14 

ELLIOTT: Entiat, 34-20

McDONALD: Entiat, 35-24

Kellogg (0-5) at Thompson Falls (Mont.) (4-1), 6 p.m. PDT 

NELKE: If the weather holds, perhaps there's time for a quick nine at River's Bend Golf Course before the game. 

Thompson Falls, 28-14 

ELLIOTT:  Thompson Falls, 34-20

McDONALD: A bit of a border clash as the Wildcats make the trip up the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene River to take on the Blue Hawks. Hopefully the Purple and Gold can generate some offense.

Thompson Falls, 30-16

Deary (2-3) vs. Wallace (5-0) at Sather Field, Silverton, 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The Mustangs are pretty good, despite their record, but ... 

Wallace, 58-22 

ELLIOTT: Last week was the first time in a while I've been at Sather Field in Silverton. Perfect place to watch a game.

Wallace, 54-30

McDONALD: The Miners are really rolling right now.   

Wallace, 56-24

PREP FOOTBALL   

6A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE   

                League      Overall   

W    L    W    L   

Coeur d’Alene    0    0    6    0    

Lake City         0    0    4    2    

Post Falls        0    0    0    5  

Thursday's Game  

Rigby at Coeur d'Alene  

Friday’s Game  

Moses Lake at Post Falls  

Lake City is idle  

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE   

                League      Overall   

W    L    W    L   

Sandpoint     0    0    4    2    

Lewiston     0    0    3    3    

Lakeland    0    0    2    4   

Friday’s Games  

Moscow at Sandpoint  

Lakeland, Lewiston are idle  

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE   

                   League      Overall   

W    L    W    L   

Bonners Ferry     0    0    3    3   

Timberlake     0    0    2    3   

Moscow        0    0    1    4  

Friday’s Games  

Timberlake at Colville  

Moscow at Sandpoint  

Bonners Ferry is idle  

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE   

                 League      Overall   

W    L    W    L   

Priest River    1    0    3    1   

Grangeville     1    0    4    1   

Logos        2    1    5    1  

St. Maries         1    1    1    4    

Orofino         0    1    0    5   

Kellogg         0    2    0    5   

Friday’s Games  

St. Maries at Grangeville  

Orofino at Priest River  

Logos at Medical Lake (Wash.)  

Kellogg is idle  

SCENIC IDAHO CONFERENCE  

League      Overall   

W    L    W    L   

Wallace        0    0    5    0   

Lakeside        0    0    1    4    

Friday’s Games  

Lakeside at Entiat (Wash.)  

Deary vs. Wallace at Sather Field, Silverton  

NORTH STAR LEAGUE   

                League      Overall   

W    L    W    L   

Coeur du Christ    1    0    5    0    

Clark Fork        0    1    2    3   

Friday's Game  

Potlatch vs. Coeur du Christ at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley  

Clark Fork is idle