Tonight's Games

All 7 p.m.

Lake City at Coeur d'Alene

Lewiston at Post Falls

Pullman at Lakeland

Timberlake at Kellogg

Kootenai at Deary

Lewis County at Lakeside

Coeur d'Alene has dominated its city rival on the football field of late, winning the last six meetings by an average score of 38.2 to 13.7.

And the Vikings are off to a 6-1 start this season, looking like a team capable of challenging for a fourth state title in five seasons.

But Lake City (6-1), whose last state title came in 2006, is off to its best start since 2007, lending even more intrigue - if that's possible - to tonight's 5A Inland Empire League matchup, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Coeur d'Alene High's Viking Field.

"We're just excited," Lake City coach Van Troxel said. "Right now, the two best teams in North Idaho are going to match up, and we know we've closed the gap, so now let's go play it and see what happens."

Both teams are 1-0 in league. Coeur d'Alene is ranked tied for No. 2 in 5A in this week's state media poll, and Lake City is No. 5.

see FOOTBALL, B2

At stake tonight - the winner will be one victory away from securing the league title, the top seed to the state playoffs from the North, and a bye in two weeks to the state quarterfinals at home on Nov. 7.

The loser - provided it wins next week - will likely earn the No. 2 seed to the playoffs from the North, but will have to travel in the first round of the state playoffs, and would have to travel in the quarterfinals the following week as well.

"Obviously for seeding purposes (it's big)," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said. "We're trying to make the road easier in the playoffs. We've seen a lot of them (Lake City); they're pretty darn good. It should be a great matchup of two pretty darn good high school football teams."

Quarterback Michael Goggin, fullback Connor Newby and do-everything "H" back Jerry Louie-McGee have provided the bulk of Lake City's offense this season. But Newby sat out the second half of last week's win over Post Falls with an unspecified injury, and his absence would leave others to pick up the slack.

"That was good for Kirk (McKenzie) to have to go in there and run, and moving Jerry to fullback, he needed those reps," Troxel said of last week.

Coeur d'Alene wide receiver Cole Williams is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL two weeks ago. But two other receivers who have been limited this season due to injury - Jonny Plum and Ryan Walde - are back to full strength, Amos said.

By the numbers - Lake City is averaging 43.7 points per game, and allowing 25.9. Coeur d'Alene is averaging 33.6 points per game, and allowing 15.1.

"I think we're more similar than different," Amos said of the two teams. "They have a couple of guys that are pretty dynamic playmakers. It'll be great to see our defense and see what they can do against those guys; they're very excited to match up with those guys."

Lewiston (1-6, 0-1 5A IEL) at Post Falls (3-4, 0-1): The winner stays in the playoff hunt, though the loser is not mathematically eliminated either.

Post Falls has had 17 turnovers in its four losses.

Pullman at Lakeland (5-2): The Hawks sneak in a nonleague game after last week's emotional victory over Sandpoint, and next week's trip to Moscow and a chance to win the 4A Inland Empire League title.

Timberlake (5-1, 1-0 Intermountain League) at Kellogg (1-5, 1-0): The winner at Teeters Field takes over first place in the IML. Kellogg beat Bonners Ferry 51-2 in its league opener last week. Other than Timberlake, the other three IML teams are a combined 4-14.

Kootenai (0-6, 0-5 White Star League) at Deary (4-2, 4-0 WSL): The Warriors draw another tough foe in the Mustangs, who are tied with Kendrick for first place in the league.

Lewis County (1-5, 1-4 WSL) at Lakeside (3-4, 3-2): Lewis County's lone win came two weeks ago, 48-8 over Kootenai, a team Lakeside beat 32-8 three weeks ago.