The state 5A playoffs begin tonight, without a clear-cut favorite from either North Idaho or the Boise area.

Coeur d'Alene is the two-time defending champion, but has a lot of new (junior) starters this season. One of the Vikings' losses was 45-26 at home to Highland of Pocatello, the No. 2 seed from eastern Idaho. The top seed from that area is Madison (9-0) of Rexburg, which beat Highland 24-21 two weeks ago.

"They might be the dominant team," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said of Madison. Otherwise, "I think everybody has a shot at this thing. It's whoever is playing well at the right time."

Coeur d'Alene (7-2) plays host to Rocky Mountain (6-3) of Meridian tonight at 7 at Viking Field.

Lake City (5-3-1) travels to Eagle (8-2) tonight at 6 p.m. PDT at Thunder Stadium.

"From what I can tell, there's nobody unreal," Lake City coach Van Troxel said. "They're not the same Eagle team (as in 2011), it's not the same Coeur d'Alene team of a year ago. Who plays well and makes the fewest mistakes the next three weeks is going to be in the championship."

If Coeur d'Alene and/or Lake City win, they would travel next week in the state semifinals. Lake City would face the winner between Capital (7-2) of Boise and Madison, who play tonight at Holt Arena in Pocatello. Coeur d'Alene would play the winner between Borah (7-2) and Highland (7-2), who play tonight at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.

On Saturday, Timberlake (5-4) plays host to Weiser (5-4) at noon in a 3A playoff opener at Van Tuinstra Memorial Field in Spirit Lake.

And Kootenai (6-3) plays host to Garden Valley (8-1) in a 1A Division II playoff opener Saturday at 1 p.m. in Harrison Flats.

Rocky Mountain (6-3) at Coeur d'Alene (7-2): Rocky Mountain started off 6-0, but the Grizzlies come in on a three-game losing streak after falling to Eagle, Centennial and Borah, albeit by a combined 15 points.

"This year they like to run the ball," Amos said. "But they have enough weapons that you have to play them honest."

Dakota Weindel is Rocky Mountain's top rusher, with 752 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Riley Bradshaw has passed for 1,393 yards and 11 touchdowns, with six interceptions. Chance Hamilton has 30 catches for 585 yards and four TDs.

Coeur d'Alene senior outside linebacker Reece Mahaffy added running back duties four games ago, after starter Marques Mort was injured. Mort has since returned, but Mahaffy has rushed for a team-high 661 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Amos said each year is different, but the fact the Vikings have been through the process of winning state titles the past two seasons can't help but be an advantage.

"I think our kids are confident that we have a chance," Amos said. "They also know we're not good enough to just show up."

Lake City (5-3-1) at Eagle (8-2): The teams meet tonight for the second time this season, and the third time in 12 months - all at Eagle.

Last year, Eagle beat Lake City 58-7 in the first round of the state playoffs. Eagle's strong-armed QB from last year, Tanner Mangum, is now grayshirting at BYU as he prepares to go on his LDS Church mission.

In this year's season opener, Eagle edged Lake City 35-28. Eagle quarterback J.T. Williams, ran for 120 yards, and also completed 11 of 13 passes for 198 yards and two scores. Jake Erickson rushed for two TDs and caught one TD pass.

"We're a little different than we were at the start of the season," Troxel said. "We're still adjusting to not having Mitch (Bevacqua, Lake City's top wide receiver, who suffered a high ankle sprain four games ago vs. Sandpoint), but our guys are getting better and getting more consistent. Of the people that were there (in the playoffs), I guess you could say we don't mind going to Eagle, because we still owe 'em."

Williams has passed for 2,063 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. Austin Diffey is Eagle's top receiver, with 35 catches for 593 yards and five TDs.

Lake City is in the playoffs for the 16th straight season, but is looking for its first playoff win since 2007. But its task was made more difficult with several key players injured. Troxel said linebacker Jacob Kazmierski (hip) was also likely out, and linebackers Jonny Mathenia (back) and Dominic Oliver doubtful.

"Even so, we still think we have a chance to go play with those guys," Troxel said of Eagle.

Linebacker/defensive lineman/part-time running back Gavan Rosteck, who was ejected from the Post Falls game for unsportsmanlike conduct, will be able to play tonight, Troxel said.

Weiser (5-4) at Timberlake (5-4): The teams meet in the first round for the third straight year, all at Timberlake. And the Tigers are trying to reverse their fortunes from the last two meetings. Weiser won 37-7 in 2010 and 34-7 last year.

Traditionally a double-wing team, Weiser is running more option this year, Timberlake coach Roy Albertson said. Quarterback Brady DeYoung and running back Dustin Kistenmacher lead the ground attack for the Wolverines.

Timberlake is in the playoffs for the 10th straight season, and is seeking its first state playoff win since 2007. If the Tigers win, they'll host top-ranked Fruitland next weekend in a state semifinal.

Weiser led Fruitland 7-6 at halftime three weeks ago, and eventually lost 28-7. Two weeks ago, Weiser beat Parma 25-12. Last week, Timberlake beat Parma 21-0 at the Kibbie Dome in a state play-in game.

"We got banged up a little (early in the season), but we seem to be getting healthy," Albertson said. "And with the injuries, a lot of kids have gotten to play that might not have gotten to."

Timberlake lost strong tackle Jereme Nereaux for a month earlier this season with a torn MCL and a sprained ACL. He's played fulltime the last three games.

"When he came back our offense, especially our running game, really turned the corner," Albertson said.

Timberlake averages 277 yards on the ground per game, with the yards spread out among many. Junior Preston Rhodes has rushed for 773 yards and nine touchdowns, and sophomore Daniel Buck has run for 699 yards and eight TDs.

Senior outside linebacker Forrest Herring keys a young defense in which only two, sometimes three, seniors start.

Garden Valley (8-1) at Kootenai (6-3): The teams meet in the playoffs for the third time in five years. Garden Valley won 48-0 at Kootenai two years ago, and Kootenai won 54-26 at home in 2008 in the state semifinals.

Kootenai coach Doug Napierala was still tracking down information on Garden Valley earlier in the week, but said they had a new coach but were a run-first team. The Wolverines' lone loss was 54-12 to Salmon River.

Of Kootenai's three losses, two were to Wallace, a 1A Division I playoff team, and one was at LaCrosse-Washtucna (Wash.).

"The early part of the season was finding the right kids for the right spots," Napierala said. "We feel like we've got kids in the right places now."

One of those changes was the insertion of sophomore Simeon Desautel at tailback late in the season opener vs. Wallace. Since then, he has rushed for roughly 900 yards, including a 143-yard, four-touchdown effort last week at Clark Fork.

"We just like the way he ran the ball - a little faster, better field vision," Napierala said. "Simeon brought an energy to the offense."

Kootenai is in the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

Prep football

Friday's Games

Rocky Mountain at Coeur d'Alene, 7 p.m.

Lake City at Eagle, 6 p.m.

Saturday's Games

Weiser at Timberlake, noon

Garden Valley at Kootenai, 1 p.m.