How will Post Falls bounce back from last week’s punishing 59-29 loss at Coeur d’Alene in the de facto 5A Inland Empire League championship game, in which the winner got a week off and the loser had to jump back into the fire as the state playoffs begin this week?

The Trojans will be fine, coach Blaine Bennett said.

Their first chance to prove it is Friday night, when Rocky Mountain (7-2) of Meridian visits Post Falls (8-1) in a state 5A playoff first-round game.

Rocky, despite its third seed from the West B pod, might be the best team in the Boise area. The Grizzlies’ two losses are by a combined two points, to Mountain View and Borah — and Mountain View needed a late rally to escape with that win.

Rocky Mountain boasts a pair of FBS commits in running back Carter Kuehl (Air Force) and lineman Keeghan Freeborn (Boise State). Rocky runs a flexbone triple option but also runs a spread offense, using as many as four different quarterbacks. Freeborn has been injured most of the year, but his return two weeks ago helped bolster a running game which averages 262.3 rushing yards per game.

Elsewhere, Lakeland (4A) and St. Maries (2A) are on the road for playoff openers on Friday. And Kootenai and Lakeside wrap up their seasons this week.

As for last week’s picks, yours truly went 7-4, young Jason Elliott 5-6 (one of us picked Post Falls and Idaho to win, and it wasn’t me). I am now 62-25 for the season, Jason 58-29.

HIGH SCHOOL

State 5A first round

Rocky Mountain at Post Falls

Friday, 7 p.m.

NELKE: I’m going to give Jason a chance to pick up a game on me here — at least, that will be my rationale for the Post Falls supporters who might rail, “How can you pick against the local team?” If that excuse doesn’t work, I’ll say I got distracted mourning the loss this week of Calvin, my 19-year-old cat. Calvin the Girl came into the home about a year after Muttley, the wiener dog. Muttley wanted to play with her new friend. After experiencing a few days of hissing and other cat-like noises, Muttley reconsidered, and they co-existed nicely for a little more than a decade.

Rocky Mountain, 44-42

ELLIOTT: I’ll admit it, I was wrong in a prediction last week. I really thought the Cubs were going to beat the Dodgers. As for this game ...

Post Falls, 34-32

State 4A first round

Lakeland (3-6) at Idaho Falls (5-4)

Friday, 6 p.m.

NELKE: Lakeland’s a tough team to figure. The Hawks pounded Moscow, then lost to Sandpoint, which won at Moscow to win the 4A Inland Empire League title and earn a first-round playoff bye. It’s a long way to Idaho Falls ...

Idaho Falls, 28-24

ELLIOTT: Such a long way to go ...

Idaho Falls, 28-17

State 2A first round

St. Maries (4-4) at McCall-Donnelly (5-3)

Friday, 6 p.m.

NELKE: After losing most of their key players from last year’s state title team, the Lumberjacks came back with a respectable season this year. St. Maries lost a heartbreaker to eventual league champion Grangeville, then fell big at Orofino. McCall-Donnelly edged Orofino in the opener, then lost 42-8 at Grangeville three weeks later.

Go figure ...

McCall-Donnelly, 34-32

ELLIOTT: The Lumberjacks found themselves having to take care of their business on the road last year and will do it again this weekend.

St. Maries, 35-31

Lakeside (4-3) at Lewis County (3-4)

Friday, 3:30 p.m.

NELKE: They will fall just short of the 1A Division II playoffs, but the Knights end their season on a winning note.

Lakeside, 42-26

ELLIOTT: What Mark said ...

Lakeside, 48-30

Timberline (0-8) at Kootenai (2-5)

Saturday, 1 p.m.

NELKE: In a game rescheduled from early September due to poor air quality, the Warriors finish their season on a winning note as well.

Kootenai, 48-12

ELLIOTT: The air around Harrison Flats will be good enough for a Kootenai victory.

Kootenai, 44-12

COLLEGE

Louisiana-Monroe (3-4) at Idaho (2-5)

Saturday, 2 p.m.

NELKE: After two frustrating losses at home, Idaho was blown out Saturday morning at Missouri. Surely the Vandals will bounce back at home. Won’t they?

Idaho, 27-24

ELLIOTT: The last few times I’ve picked the Vandals, they’ve let me down. In order to save the bowl appearance this year ...

Louisiana-Monroe, 34-28

Washington State (7-1) at Arizona (5-2)

Saturday, 6:30 p.m.

NELKE: The good news — it’s a (relatively) early start for the Cougs, compared to recent weeks. The bad news (if you’re a DirecTV subscriber) — the game is on the Pac-12 Networks. Last week Arizona beat Cal, a team that destroyed WSU two weeks ago. So the Wildcats, playing at home, should have the momentum and the motivation. So naturally ...

WSU, 37-34

ELLIOTT: Washington State has enough to get it done, don’t they?

WSU, 38-35

Boise State (5-2) at Utah State (4-4)

Saturday, 7 p.m.

NELKE: Though there’s few style points involved, Boise State is back to its winning ways. Utah State would like to do something about that. But just like San Diego State and Wyoming before that ...

Boise State, 27-17

ELLIOTT: Are the Broncos back? Maybe.

Boise State, 34-20