Gridiron Guesses: Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland both get early start to season

By MARK NELKE

and JASON ELLIOTT

sports writers

With only two starters returning and a host of juniors expected to fill key roles, it would have been understandable if Coeur d’Alene High football coach Shawn Amos had chosen to find some not-as-tough teams to play in the preseason, to help his youngsters ease into varsity football.

“No,” Amos said.

The Vikings open their season against the top two-ranked 5A teams in Idaho, starting tonight against defending state champion and second-ranked Rigby at 6 p.m. PDT at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.

Next week, Coeur d’Alene travels to face preseason No. 1 Rocky Mountain in Meridian.

For much of the past decade, the Vikings have sought out the top teams in Idaho, and Washington, and even California, to help them get ready for the league season.

This year is no different.

“Because how do you find out?” Amos said. “The only way to find out who can play at this level is to play that level of team. Our preseason, I don’t care what our record is — if you want to be playing for a state title, you have to line up against guys that will be playing for a state title. Playing low-level teams isn’t going to do us any good.

“My son’s (Gunnar) senior year (2013), they started out 1-3 and won the state title.”

Rigby, which has played in the last three state title games, is also young this year.

Rigby and Coeur d’Alene will meet for the first time since that epic 2019 state championship game, won by Rigby 57-56 in double overtime at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

Coeur d’Alene won the other two meetings, both in the season opener, in 2018 and ‘19.

Coeur d’Alene finished 6-3 last year, losing at home to Eagle in the state 5A quarterfinals.

Coeur d’Alene-Rigby is one of two early (“Zero Week”) games involving North Idaho schools — and both will be played in Montana.

For the second year in a row, Lakeland and Preston will open at Montana Tech in Butte, with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. PDT.

Preston won 7-6 last year. The Indians finished 6-4 last year, losing to Shelley in the first round of the state 4A playoffs.

This year, Mike Schroeder makes his debut as Lakeland coach, replacing Tim Kiefer, who resigned after 19 seasons.

Lakeland finished 5-5 last year, losing to eventual state champion Skyline of Idaho Falls 42-21 at Holt Arena in Pocatello in the first round of the state 4A playoffs.

Gridiron Guesses returns for a sixth season, with Press sports writers Mark Nelke and Jason Elliott picking high school games involving teams in the Press readership area.

Former Press managing editor Mike Patrick has graduated to “emeritus” status, and rumor has it his offer of a prime rib dinner for the season champion (and, hopefully, the loser too) still stands.

TONIGHT

Coeur d’Alene (0-0) vs. Rigby (0-0)

6 p.m. PDT, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula

NELKE: Most teams with so little varsity experience would be in for a rough season. That still could be true for Coeur d’Alene, but the Vikings have the experienced coaching staff and the tradition to keep this run of 13 straight state playoff appearances going. Plus, on this night, it helps that Rigby is doing some rebuilding of its own.

Coeur d’Alene, 26-24

ELLIOTT: Playing on a college campus should be plenty enough for fire up a football player looking to make a name for himself on the field. And who knows, maybe this is a preview for something to come in November?

Coeur d'Alene, 22-20

Lakeland (0-0) vs. Preston (0-0)

5 p.m. PDT, at Montana Tech University, Butte

NELKE: Why not start the Schroeder Era at Lakeland off on the right foot …

Lakeland, 7-6

ELLIOTT: Hey, both teams are traveling a long way, so fatigue is going to hit both at some point. Lakeland might have just a little more speed.

Lakeland, 14-12