This is southeast Idaho’s year to enjoy this friendly-as-can-be-expected statewide rivalry.

At least the regular season version.

Coeur d’Alene and Highland will meet Friday for the ninth time since 2012, this time at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

The teams have split the last eight meetings. Coeur d’Alene rolled past the Rams 42-20 last year at home. Highland bounced back from that loss and advanced to the state 5A title game, where it nearly met the Vikings in a rematch. But Coeur d’Alene lost in the semifinals at Rocky Mountain, 42-14. The following week, the Rams gave Rocky all it wanted before bowing 24-22 in the title game at Albertsons Stadium in Boise.

“ARE YOU the one that picked us to lose?”

That was the voice Mark heard on the sideline at Lake City High during the first half last week.

At that point, Lake City was trailing big to Lakeland. But the host Timberwolves came on strong in the second half and beat the Hawks in overtime, foiling the upset pick.

That wasn’t the only pick that blew up.

Who figured Idaho would come out and manhandle Eastern Washington for a half, then finish off the Eags with a 35-27 statement win?

That wasn’t the only stunner on the Palouse. We figured WSU was done “Couging it,” but the Cougs found a way again in a come-from-ahead loss to lowly UCLA.

The night before, Lakeside surprised us by handing Mullan-St. Regis.

For the week, Mark went 4-2 on high school picks, 1-2 on college picks, and for the season is 17-7 in high school, 11-4 in college.

Jason went 5-1 on high school, 1-2 on college picks, and for the season is 18-6 on high school picks, 12-3 in college.

Overall, Jason has a two-game lead, 30-9 to 28-11.

HIGH SCHOOL

All games Friday at 7 p.m. except where noted

Coeur d’Alene (3-1) vs. Highland (3-1) at Holt Arena, Pocatello

Friday, 7:15 p.m.

NELKE: Coeur d’Alene has been error-prone this season, but, except for the loss at Gonzaga Prep, has been able to overcome its miscues. Highland is 1-1 vs. Utah teams and 2-0 vs. Idaho teams (Twin Falls and Pocatello) who are a combined 3-5 this season.

Coeur d’Alene, 27-24

ELLIOTT: A really good football team is going to be 3-2 after this game. Fortunately, I don’t see a situation where either of them miss the playoffs, so if this is the first of two games this fall ...

Highland, 28-24

Lake City (2-2) at East Valley (1-2)

NELKE: Call it even. Lake City won a game last week it probably should have lost, three weeks after losing a game it certainly should have won. If the Timberwolves play like they did in the second half vs. Lakeland last week ...

Lake City, 49-20

ELLIOTT: What a rollercoaster ride this Timberwolves team has been so far.

Lake City, 45-20

Lakeland (2-2) at Post Falls (3-1)

NELKE: Which Lakeland team do we see this week? The one that manhandled Lake City in the first half last week, or the one that gave up 389 passing yards for the game? And Post Falls’ offense might be even more explosive.

Post Falls, 49-21

ELLIOTT: In the games I’ve seen featuring Post Falls, the Trojans have started fast, had a bit of a lull, and then finished quick again. Maybe Lakeland, which deserved to win last week, can keep this one interesting.

Post Falls, 44-38

St. Maries (3-1) at Timberlake (3-0)

NELKE: Since the series resumed in 2016 following a four-year hiatus after St. Maries dropped to 2A, St. Maries has won all three matchups with the 3A Tigers. If the Battle for the Prairie isn’t, this could be the best game in the area this week.

Timberlake, 36-24

ELLIOTT: It’s quite possible that these two teams could make a run deep into the playoffs.

St. Maries, 31-30

Lakeside (2-0) vs. Wallace (0-3) at Sather Field, Silverton

NELKE: While we were paying attention to other games, Lakeside surprisingly emerged as the favorite in the North Star League after handling Mullan, which had handled its first three opponents, including North Star foe Clark Fork. Meanwhile, Wallace has been outscored 170-0 in three games.

Lakeside, 48-0

ELLIOTT: The last two times I’ve picked against Lakeside, the Knights have put together some big North Star League wins. I really like the upgrades they’ve made at Sather Field in Silverton.

Lakeside, 56-0

COLLEGE

Washington State (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) at Utah (3-1, 0-1)

Saturday, 7 p.m.

NELKE: Can WSU bounce back from last week’s meltdown in Pullman — which was epic even by Cougar collapse standards? But Utah tends to play small in big games, and its vaunted defense was exposed by a third-string quarterback last week.

WSU, 34-20

ELLIOTT: Just when you think the Cougars have turned things around, they go and blow a 32-point lead — AT HOME — to UCLA.

Utah, 37-34

Idaho (2-2) at Northern Colorado (0-4)

Saturday, noon

NELKE: Now that the Vandals have shown they can beat a team picked to win their league, it’s time for Idaho to play like that on a consistent basis.

Idaho, 38-14

ELLIOTT: Idaho has played with a chip on its shoulder the last couple of weeks in playing Wyoming tough, then whipping Eastern Washington last Saturday in the Kibbie Dome.

Idaho, 34-20

North Dakota (2-1) at Eastern Washington (1-3)

Saturday, 2 p.m.

NELKE: Still scratching my head over those guys wearing white jerseys and gray pants last week in Moscow. Assuming they bounce back at home ...

EWU, 38-21

ELLIOTT: Injuries are starting to pile up in Cheney. Now come the wins.

EWU, 38-28

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Coeur d’Alene 0 0 3 1

Post Falls 0 0 3 1

Lewiston 0 0 2 2

Lake City 0 0 2 2

Friday’s Games

Coeur d’Alene vs. Highland at Holt Arena, Pocatello

Lake City at East Valley

Lakeland at Post Falls

Lewiston at Sandpoint

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lakeland 0 0 2 2

Sandpoint 0 0 2 2

Moscow 0 0 2 2

Friday’s Games

Lakeland at Post Falls

Lewiston at Sandpoint

Bonners Ferry at Moscow

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Timberlake 0 0 3 0

Kellogg 0 0 1 3

Priest River 0 0 0 3

Bonners Ferry 0 0 0 3

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Timberlake

Bonners Ferry at Moscow

Saturday’s Game

Priest River at Grangeville

Kellogg is idle

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

St. Maries 0 0 3 1

Grangeville 0 0 1 3

Orofino 0 0 0 4

Friday’s Games

St. Maries at Timberlake

Clarkston at Orofino

Saturday’s Game

Priest River at Grangeville

1A DIVISION I

INDEPENDENT

W L

Wallace 0 3

Friday’s Game

Lakeside at Wallace

1A DIVISION II

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

League Overall

W L W L

Lakeside 2 0 2 0

Mull.-St. Regis 1 1 3 1

Clark Fork 0 2 1 2

Friday’s Games

Lakeside at Wallace

Mullan/St. Regis at West Yellowstone, Mont.

Clark Fork is idle