Lake City has not missed the state footbal playoffs since 1996 - the third season of the Timberwolves' program.

After losing 17-10 to Post Falls last week in their 5A Inland Empire League opener, the margin for error for Lake City became slimmer.

Lake City (2-3, 0-1 5A IEL) plays host to Lewiston (4-2, 0-0) tonight at 7 in its homecoming game - another league game between two teams that already met earlier this season in nonleague play.

Lake City romped to a 42-14 victory at Lewiston on Sept. 9.

Two of the four teams from the 5A IEL advance to the state playoffs. Post Falls is 1-0 in league. Coeur d'Alene, ranked No. 1 in 5A in Idaho, opens league play next Friday at home vs. Lewiston.

Tonight's game is Lake City's homecoming.

Other games:

Moscow (3-2) at Coeur d'Alene (5-0): The 4A Bears last week considered forfeiting over concerns of taking a physical pounding from the 5A Vikings, but Coeur d'Alene High athletic director Todd Gilkey traveled to Moscow last Saturday and convinced the Bears to play the game.

4A Moscow is coming off a 14-7 loss to 3A Bonners Ferry, which came into the game with a 1-4 record. Coeur d'Alene, which was idle last week, has outscored its last three foes 195-32, including an 88-12 triumph at Sandpoint two weeks ago. The Vikings are ranked eighth in the West by USA Today.

Had Moscow opted to forfeit to Coeur d'Alene and the Vikings were unable to find a replacement game, it's possible Moscow could have been punished to the tune of having to compensate Coeur d'Alene for lost revenue from a lost home game, IEL officials said.

Sandpoint (1-4) at Post Falls (5-1): The teams have two common opponents this season - Post Falls beat Lewiston 29-16 and East Valley 49-35; Sandpoint lost to Lewiston 33-22 and East Valley 37-13.

Post Falls is ranked fourth in 5A.

Lakeland (3-3) at Pullman (1-4): The Greyhounds have lost four straight games after a season-opening victory over Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, Wash. Lakeland is coming off a 35-28 loss at home to West Valley. The teams have played no common opponents this season.

St. Maries (1-5, 0-2 Intermountain League) at Timberlake (3-2, 0-1): The Lumberjacks have suffered a pair of narrow losses in IML play, 32-31 to Bonners Ferry and 19-13 to Kellogg. Timberlake opened league play last week with a 63-6 victory at Priest River.

Lakeside (5-1, 4-1 North Star League) at Kootenai (2-4, 2-3): The teams met in the second week of the season, with Lakeside winning 46-0 at Plummer. The Knights have notched three shutouts this season.

Prep football

Tonight's Games

All at 7 p.m.

Moscow at Coeur d'Alene

Lewiston at Lake City

Sandpoint at Post Falls

Lakeland at Pullman

St. Maries at Timberlake

Lakeside at Kootenai