The Coeur d'Alene Vikings returned to their winning ways last week with a 51-7 triumph at Post Falls in the Vikings' 5A Inland Empire League opener.

The Vikings (4-2, 1-0 5A IEL) hope to keep the momentum going, as well as bring the league's playoff play-in schedule a little more into focus, with a victory tonight at Lewiston (3-2, 0-1).

"We've got to keep it rolling," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said after the Post Falls game. "This is the second half of our season, and we're off to a good start."

Lewiston is coming off a 15-14 victory over a Moscow team that fell to 1-5 with the loss. But the Bengals played Lake City tough in a 21-19 loss at Bengal Field two weeks ago.

The Vikings said there was some good to be gained from their games vs. Skyline of Sammamish, Wash., and Highland of Pocatello, though the Vikings were beaten handily in each game.

"We were playing really good teams, and I think people didn't really realize that," Coeur d'Alene senior linebacker/running back Reece Mahaffy said.

"It really helped us out for our league. I think we're just going to get on a roll now."

If Coeur d'Alene wins, the Vikings' game vs. Lake City next week will determine the top two seeds to the state 5A play-in games the following week, and Lewiston's game at Post Falls will determine the third and fourth seeds.

In the play-in round, No. 1 hosts No. 4, and No. 2 hosts No. 3. Those winners advance to the state playoffs the following week.

Lake City (4-1-1) at Chiawana (3-3): The Riverhawks of Pasco, Wash., have won three straight. In its second game Chiawana lost 23-7 to Kennewick, a team Lake City rallied from 21 points down to tie 27-27 earlier in the season. The Timberwolves have won four straight games coming into tonight's clash at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco.

Post Falls (1-5) at Richland (3-2): The Bombers of Richland, Wash., are coming off a 29-14 victory over Kennewick. Post Falls is looking to snap a four-game losing streak in tonight's game at Fran Rish Stadium in Richland.

Lakeland (4-2) at Timberlake (3-3): 4A Lakeland brings a four-game winning streak into tonight's game, and 3A Timberlake is coming off two lopsided Intermountain League wins. The battle of the two schools just off Highway 41 has been close over the past decade, with Lakeland winning five of the last nine matchups, and four of the last five. Lakeland won the last two matchups by a combined four points.

St. Maries (2-4) at Riverside (1-5): The teams have played two common foes this season. St. Maries lost 39-32 to Medical Lake and 27-8 to Deer Park. Riverside lost to Deer Park 35-7 and lost to Medical Lake 42-6.

Mullan (1-5, 0-3 1A Division II North Star League) at Kootenai (4-2, 2-0): Kootenai can move one step closer to clinching a playoff berth with a victory over the Tigers. Kootenai won 48-0 at Mullan three weeks ago.

Lakeside (0-5) at Prairie (3-3): Lakeside will look to break into the win column vs. a Pirates team coming off a 60-14 loss to Kamiah, ranked No. 2 in 1A Division I.

STANDINGS

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L T

Lake City 2 0 4 1 1

Coeur d’Alene 1 0 4 2 0

Lewiston 0 1 3 2 0

Post Falls 0 2 1 5 0

Friday’s Games

Coeur d’Alene at Lewiston

Lake City at Chiawana

Post Falls at Richland

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lakeland 0 0 4 2

Sandpoint 0 0 1 5

Moscow 0 0 1 5

Friday’s Games

Lakeland at Timberlake

Moscow at Sandpoint

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Timberlake 2 0 3 3

Priest River 1 0 4 2

Bonners Ferry 0 1 0 6

Kellogg 0 2 0 7

Friday’s Games

Lakeland at Timberlake

Priest River at Bonners Ferry

Kellogg is idle

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Grangeville 1 0 5 1

Orofino 0 0 3 2

St. Maries 0 1 2 4

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Riverside

Grangeville at Orofino

1A DIVISION I

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Wallace 1 0 5 2

Lakeside 0 1 0 5

1A DIVISION II

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Kootenai 2 0 4 2

Clark Fork 2 1 4 3

Mullan 0 3 1 5

Friday’s Games

Mullan at Kootenai

Lakeside at Prairie

Clark Fork is idle

Wallace is idle