IDAHO FALLS - The Coeur d'Alene Vikings accepted a victory and learned a lesson Friday night.

Austin Lee threw a pair of touchdown passes to Ryan Walde, and also ran for a score, as the defending state 5A champion Vikings fended off the Skyline Grizzlies 26-13 in the season opener for both teams at Ravsten Stadium.

The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the Idaho preseason media poll, committed 12 penalties for 120 yards, including several personal fouls.

"We learned a valuable lesson and we were lucky enough to come out with a win," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said. "We have to be way more disciplined."

Skyline, which was coming off a 3-7 season, was tied with Coeur d'Alene at 13 heading into the fourth quarter. Brennen Barber's 37-yard field goal with 10 minutes, 4 seconds remaining put the Vikings up 16-13. Lee's 1-yard run with 4:31 left made it 23-13, and Barber added a 27-yarder with 2:23 left.

"We played a lot better defensively than we have in the past," said Skyline coach Scott Berger. The Grizzlies lost 54-14 at Coeur d'Alene last season. "We had our chances to win the game."

Lee connected with Walde on an 82-yard score for the game's first points. Skyline took a 7-6 lead when quarterback Benton Mitchell capped a 16-play drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Brannon Whyte.

Coeur d'Alene turned a Skyline fumble - one of three Grizzlies turnovers - into another Lee-to-Walde hookup for a touchdown, this one from 16 yards, for a 13-7 lead at the half.

Alex Peterson of Skyline knotted the game up in the third quarter on a 35-yard catch-and-run. The kick was blocked, leaving the game tied at 13.

Coeur d'Alene plays host to Central Valley next Friday.

The Post Register newspaper of Idaho Falls contributed to this story.

Coeur d'Alene 6 7 0 13 - 26

Skyline 0 7 7 0 - 13

First Quarter

Cd'A - Ryan Walde 82 pass from Austin Lee (pass failed), 6:50

Second Quarter

Sky - Brennon Whyte 9 pass from Benton Mitchell (kick good), 6:17

Cd'A - Walde 16 pass from Lee (pass failed), 2:35

Third Quarter

Sky - Alex Peterson 35 pass from Mitchell (kick blocked), 5:58

Fourth Quarter

Cd'A - FG Brennen Barber 37, 10:04

Cd'A - Lee 1 run (Barber kick), 4:31

Cd'A - FG Barber 27, 2:23

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Cd'A, Berger 7-62, Lee 9-36, Green 5-27, Walde 1-6, Plum 2-(-5), Schneider 1-(-5). Sky, Ames 15-46, Mitchell 12-34, Peterson 3-5.

PASSING - Cd'A, Lee 17-32-0-279, Williams 1-1-0-16. Sky, Mitchell 20-34-2-171, Martin 1-2-0-9.

RECEIVING - Cd'A, Walde 6-149, Schneider 5-83, Williams 4-31, Murray 1-9, Johnson 1-6. Sky, Peterson 5-66, Harris 2-30, Whyte 3-20, Martin 4-19, Ames 3-10, Giannini 1-9.