Gridiron Guesses Oct. 22, 2026: From lumps to league titles this weekend
Gridiron Guesses 2024
After taking some lumps earlier in the season — albeit against some larger schools at times — the Lakeland Hawks appear to be hitting their stride in recent weeks.
After starting out 0-4, Lakeland has won four straight games, and has a chance to win the 5A Inland Empire League title when the Hawks (4-4, 1-0 5A IEL) play host to Sandpoint (5-3, 0-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Corbit Field in Rathdrum.
"We'll be ready to play," Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. "It's an exciting game for the community. We've had a few starters out, but we're looking forward to it. It's going to be a typical high school game. We've been on the road the last few weeks, and we're glad we're done with that for now."
The league champion earns the automatic berth to the state 5A playoffs, but the other two teams figure to earn at-large berths, based on MaxPreps rankings.
As of Sunday, Lakeland was ranked fourth, Lewiston fifth, Sandpoint sixth.
This year, the 5A IEL voted to use a point-differential tiebreaker, in event of a three-way tie, rather than a Kansas tiebreaker, which the league used last year.
So far, Lakeland has a seven-point win at Lewiston, and Lewiston has a seven-point win at Sandpoint.
In the 6A Inland Empire League, Coeur d'Alene (8-0, 1-0 6A IEL) can wrap up the league title and a first-round bye with a win Friday at Post Falls (1-7, 0-0). A Viking win would also clinch a playoff berth for Lake City (5-3), which travels to Lewiston on Friday in a nonleague game.
A Post Falls win would create a three-way tie for the league tie, and trigger a Kansas tiebreaker.
In the Intermountain League, Bonners Ferry has wrapped up the league title and a berth in the state 4A playoffs.
In the Central Idaho League, Priest River travels to Grangeville to decide the league title. Logos figures to join them in the state 3A playoffs.
As for the picks, Mark Nelke, Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald all went 5-2 last week. For the season, Mark and Jason are both 52-15, and Josh is 51-16.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
All scheduled for 7 p.m.
Coeur d'Alene (8-0, 1-0 6A Inland Empire League) at Post Falls (1-7, 0-1)
NELKE: Kudos to Post Falls for winning on the road last week. The Trojans will come out fired up, especially on senior night, but we've seen what Coeur d'Alene can do this year.
Coeur d'Alene, 42-14
ELLIOTT: A few years ago, I witnessed Post Falls get past Coeur d'Alene in a game like this using the ground game. But this Coeur d'Alene team starts too fast.
Coeur d'Alene, 42-14
McDONALD: Happy that the Trojans finally got a win, but their reward comes in the form of Idaho’s best unit.
Coeur d'Alene, 42-14
Lake City (5-3) at Lewiston (4-4)
NELKE: Both teams try to stay sharp (and/or healthy?), with both likely headed for the playoffs next week.
Lewiston, 21-14
ELLIOTT: Lake City bounces back from last week's game vs. Coeur d'Alene.
Lake City, 28-20
McDONALD: The Timberwolves get back on track ahead of the playoffs.
Lake City, 30-21
Sandpoint (5-3, 0-1 5A Inland Empire League) at Lakeland (4-4, 1-0)
NELKE: The Hawks win a league title few though was possible a few weeks ago.
Lakeland, 28-21
ELLIOTT: Who loves chaos? Not these teams.
Lakeland, 34-30
McDONALD: The Hawks come into this one on a major roll and I don’t see it stopping yet.
Lakeland, 24-21
Moscow (1-7, 0-1 Intermountain League) at Timberlake (3-5, 0-1)
NELKE: A different bounce two weeks ago, and the Bears are playing for a league title this week. Timberlake (ranked 19th in 4A by MaxPreps) can end whatever slim playoff hopes Moscow (14th) has by finishing with a win at home.
Timberlake, 38-37, 2OT
ELLIOTT: Timberlake takes a big step forward with a win at home on Friday.
Timberlake, 34-20
McDONALD: This is a weird game in a really weird 4A year. Moscow has to win if they want to hope for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Timberlake, who probably can’t jump enough teams to get into the top 12, isn’t mathematically eliminated just yet. A win for the Tigers and chaos everywhere else and things could be interesting.
Moscow, 30-24
St. Maries (1-6, 1-3 Central Idaho League) at Kellogg (0-8, 0-4)
NELKE: St. Maries won by a touchdown over Orofino, which beat Kellogg 54-0 last week.
St. Maries, 42-12
ELLIOTT: Something's got to give between these rivals, right?
St. Maries, 54-0
McDONALD: A long season for both teams comes to a merciful end.
St. Maries, 35-6
Coeur du Christ (8-0, 1-0 North Star League) at Clark Fork (3-4, 0-1)
NELKE: Coeur du Christ won the first league matchup 46-14 at home eight weeks ago. Let's see if the Wampus Cats make this one interesting on their home turf.
Coeur du Christ, 46-24
ELLIOTT: Coeur du Christ, 44-30
McDONALD: The Saints go marching on ...
Coeur du Christ, 58-12
Wallace (7-1) vs. Lakeside (1-6) at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley
NELKE: No matter the records to date, the winner of this game earns an automatic berth to the state 1A playoffs. Could the Knights pull the shocker, or will the Miners bounce back after getting drilled on this same field last week by Coeur du Christ.
Wallace, 48-24
ELLIOTT: Even with a few injuries from last week's game, Wallace has other guys ready to step up.
Wallace, 46-20
McDONALD: For the Miners, last week’s loss probably opened their eyes to some deficiencies that coach Young and his staff will have addressed quickly. That might make for a long night for the Knights.
Wallace, 60-20
STANDINGS
6A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Coeur d’Alene 1 0 8 0
Lake City 1 1 5 3
Post Falls 0 1 1 7
Friday’s Games
Coeur d’Alene at Post Falls
Lake City at Lewiston
5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Lakeland 1 0 4 4
Lewiston 1 1 4 4
Sandpoint 0 1 5 3
Friday’s Games
Sandpoint at Lakeland
Lake City at Lewiston
INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Bonners Ferry 2 0 5 3
Timberlake 0 1 3 5
Moscow 0 1 1 7
Friday’s Games
Moscow at Timberlake
Bonners Ferry is idle
CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Priest River 4 0 6 1
Grangeville 4 0 7 1
Logos 2 2 6 2
St. Maries 1 3 1 6
Orofino 1 3 1 7
Kellogg 0 4 0 7
Friday’s Games
St. Maries at Kellogg
Priest River at Grangeville
Orofino at Logos
SCENIC IDAHO
CONFERENCE
League Overall
W L W L
Wallace 0 0 7 1
Lakeside 0 0 1 6
Friday’s Game
Wallace vs. Lakeside at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley
NORTH STAR LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Coeur du Christ 1 0 8 0
Clark Fork 0 1 3 3
Friday’s Game
Coeur du Christ at Clark Fork