Gridiron Guesses: Coeur d’Alene vs. Sandpoint: Just like the old days?

By MARK NELKE

and JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writers

There was a time, years ago, when Sandpoint vs. Coeur d’Alene in most anything — but in football and basketball in particular — was the biggest game of the day in North Idaho.

But times change, school sizes change, other rivals emerge …

However, perhaps the best football game last year between 5A and 4A teams in the Inland Empire League pitted Coeur d’Alene at Sandpoint.

The 5A Vikings held on for a 24-22 victory at the home of the 4A Bulldogs.

Coeur d’Alene went on to make the playoffs for the 13th straight season. It was Sandpoint’s only loss to a 5A team last season, as the Bulldogs beat Post Falls, Lake City and Lewiston, and finished as runner-up in the state 4A playoffs.

This year, both teams are looking to find a little traction as Sandpoint (0-1) plays at Coeur d’Alene (0-2) on Friday at 7 p.m.

“They’ve got a lot of dudes back,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said of Sandpoint. “They’re going to be real good. And it’s nice to have Sandpoint back in a position like that. To be able to play a team 45 minutes away that’s going to be tough, that saves us a lot of bus time. We’re all for it.”

Through the years, Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene had seemingly played every year since the invention of the pigskin.

But after Coeur d’Alene won 88-12 in Sandpoint in 2011, the teams didn’t play again until 2020, when the Vikings won 55-0 at home.

Then there was last year’s thriller.

And now, this year’s matchup.

“They’re going to be as hungry as it gets,” Sandpoint coach Ryan Knowles said of Coeur d’Alene. “They’ve been playing some of the best teams in the state (Rocky Mountain and Rigby, the top-two ranked teams in 5A), and they’re a proud program with some tremendous coaches. I know our boys have been looking forward to it as well.”

Also, this year, welcome to Thursday football — two games were moved from Friday to today because there are not enough officials to always work a full slate of games on Fridays.

Last week, Mark went 5-1, Jason 4-2. For the season, Mark is 6-2, Jason 5-3.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Columbia (1-0) at Lakeland (2-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Columbia of Nampa opened last week with a 17-12 victory over 3A Fruitland, which is now coached by three-time NFL All-Pro tackle Jordan Gross, a Fruitland alum. The Hawks have opened with two strong wins away from home.

Lakeland, 28-12

ELLIOTT: Last week, the Hawks had two running backs that reached over 100 yards rushing. If they do it again, they'll be tough to beat in the home opener.

Lakeland, 34-18

Wallace (1-0) at Lakeside (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Last year, this would have been the first of two Scenic Idaho Conference games between the only two football-playing teams in that league. This year, there is no SIC, as both have dropped to 1A Division II in football, so this is now a North Star League game. Got it?

Wallace, 42-22

ELLIOTT: Wallace was pretty impressive in its opener last week. The last time I watched these two play, it was the best Kansas tiebreaker I'd seen since Kootenai and Mullan played in a snowstorm in Kellogg.

Wallace, 46-20

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Sandpoint (0-1) at Coeur d’Alene (0-2), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Don’t let the records fool you: This game figures to live up to the hype — we hope, anyway.

Sandpoint, 24-22

ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene wins, but it's going to be a close call.

Coeur d'Alene, 24-22

Raymond (Alberta) (0-1) at Lake City (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Comets from Raymond lost 25-15 to Harry Ainlay of Edmonton last week. The Timberwolves look to bounce back from last week’s 30-21 loss to Lakeland.

Lake City, 21-15

ELLIOTT: Lake City gets it figured out offensively for its first win.

Lake City, 21-15

Timberline (0-2) at Post Falls (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: The Wolves dropped their first two games to Boise and Borah by a combined 68-0. Post Falls gave a team with two games under its belt (Skyline of Salt Lake City) a pretty good game last week in the Trojans’ opener.

Post Falls, 34-0

ELLIOTT: Post Falls gets its first win of the year behind a strong ground game.

Post Falls, 34-14

Timberlake (0-1) at Shadle Park (0-0), 4 p.m.

NELKE: With no Albi Stadium anymore, this game wound up at Shadle, which has a field, but no lights.

Timberlake, 35-12

ELLIOTT: Timberlake, with a game under its belt, gets things going after an 18-14 setback at home last Friday.

Timberlake 24-16

Riverside (0-0) at St. Maries (0-0), 7 p.m.

NELKE: St. Maries is the last of the local teams to open its season. The Rams of Chattaroy, Wash., are coming off a 10-2 season which ended in the second round of the state playoffs.

Riverside, 21-14

ELLIOTT: St. Maries will be better toward the end of the season this year.

Riverside, 28-12

Kootenai (0-1) at Deary (0-1), 7 p.m.

NELKE: Deary, a perennially strong team from District 2, lost 42-20 to Troy last week. Kootenai lost 60-12 to Wallace.

Deary, 36-18

ELLIOTT: Deary is always a tough matchup. Kootenai's getting closer, but not this week.

Deary, 42-20