Gridiron Guesses Nov. 7, 2025: Coeur d'Alene begins playoff road ... Revenge games for Lakeland, Wallace; debut for Coeur du Christ

It’s hard to think of a time when a football team said a bye came at a bad time for them. 

In the case of Coeur d’Alene, a first-round bye in the state playoffs came at a really good time for the Vikings, who have been riddled with injuries en route to winning the 6A Inland Empire League playoffs and qualifying for the state playoffs for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons. 

Coeur d’Alene (6-3) is expected to get back juniors Maddox Lindquist and Ben Murray for tonight’s state 6A quarterfinal home game vs. Madison (7-3) of Rexburg, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Viking Stadium. 

Lindquist suffered a concussion in Coeur d’Alene’s win at Lake City on Oct. 10. Murray, who had been playing with a broken hand, suffered an ankle injury in the Vikings’ Oct. 3 game at Camas (Wash.). 

Combined with others lost for the season, including quarterback Caden Symons, running back Christian Young and wide receiver Gibson Comstock, the Vikings have needed to lean heavily on that depth they have built so well over the last decade and a half. 

“I think these guys really care about each other, and they put the program first, and I think that’s showed from the very start with this group, that they really did care about each other,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “And a lot of those kids were just waiting their turn to show us they can play, and some of them got their chance.” 

Madison held off Boise 17-14 last weekend in the first round of the playoffs. The Bobcats lost 23-19 at home to reigning state 6A champion Rigby, a team which beat Coeur d’Alene 38-7 in the season opener. 

Also tonight, ninth-seeded Lakeland (9-1) returns to the scene where its season ended last year, facing top-seeded Hillcrest (9-1) of Ammon at 6 p.m. PST in a 5A quarterfinal game at Westmark Stadium. 

Last year, Lakeland led the Knights 28-14 early in the fourth quarter in a state semifinal before losing 42-28. Lakeland is bidding for its first trip to a state title game since 2001.

"We were playing well and then had some unfortunate things happen there," Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. "We'll be ready to go this week. We'll need to play a lot cleaner of a game."

Wallace (8-2) travels to Genesee (8-1) in the quarterfinals of the state 1A playoffs tonight at 5. The Bulldogs, who are in a co-op with nearby Colton, Wash., beat the Miners 22-18 on Oct. 3 at Sather Field in Silverton. Wallace beat Salmon River 64-58 last Friday, the Miners' first win in the playoffs since a home win in 2013.

"We're fired up for the next game and eager to see how long we can keep this momentum rolling," Wallace coach Jared Young said.

And on Saturday, Coeur du Christ Academy (7-1) of Coeur d’Alene, in its second year with a football program, plays its first state playoff game in school history, facing 1A power Carey (8-1) in a quarterfinal game at 1 p.m. at the Marimn Health Coeur Center in Coeur d’Alene. 

Coeur du Christ is seeded fourth, Carey fifth; hence the home game for the Saints against the Panthers, who defeated Wallace 86-8 in the quarterfinals last year. 

Carey won the Sawtooth Conference and earned a first-round bye this year. The Panthers’ lone loss came by eight points in the regular season to Valley, which reached the state 2A playoffs. 

"They’re a really good football team,” Coeur du Christ coach Kellen Clemens said of Carey. “Obviously they are reigning state champions, and they will be until somebody beats them.” 

As for the picks, Mark Nelke, Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald each went 2-0.

For the season, Mark is 56-20, Josh 55-21, Jason 54-22.

FRIDAY’S GAMES 

Madison (7-3) at Coeur d’Alene (6-3), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: During the Vikings' playoff run over the last decade and a half, they've only lost twice at home in the quarterfinals. Of course, one was to Madison, in 2015. Still ...

Coeur d'Alene, 28-16

ELLIOTT: The bye week to get whoever is coming back and work on themselves helps Coeur d'Alene here.

Coeur d'Alene, 28-24

McDONALD: The Vikings may be 3-0 since losing their starting QB, but this will be the first real test since that night in Camas. Fortunately, they’ve been really good in quarterfinal games at home in recent years.

Coeur d'Alene, 21-17

Lakeland (9-1) at Hillcrest (9-1), 6 p.m. PST 

NELKE: Maybe the Hawks complete their unfinished business from last year's trip to the greater Idaho Falls area.

Lakeland, 28-21

ELLIOTT: If Lakeland starts this game like last Friday, the Hawks get a huge road win.

Lakeland, 21-20

McDONALD: The Knights are among the best in Idaho regardless of classification. This is going to be a tough hill to climb for the Hawks, even with their stellar defense.

Hillcrest, 28-21

Wallace (8-2) at Genesee (8-1), 5 p.m.

NELKE: If the Miners aren't too tired from last week's track meet vs. Salmon River ...

Wallace, 42-36

ELLIOTT: Should be a great game, if the rain holds off.

Wallace, 22-18

McDONALD: The Miners were just a couple of failed two-point conversions away from winning this game a month ago. As long as ball security stays a priority, the Miners should advance.

Wallace, 32-28

SATURDAY’S GAME 

Carey (8-1) vs. Coeur du Christ (7-1), 1 p.m. at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley 

NELKE: Saints might as well keep marching.

Coeur du Christ, 50-48

ELLIOTT: Coeur du Christ has a few guys that nobody's heard much about. That changes Saturday.

Coeur du Christ, 28-20

McDONALD: The Panthers just had an 18-game win streak snapped. The Saints’ offense is averaging 51 points per game over their past four games, including a massive win over Wallace on the road. If Coeur du Christ runs the ball as well as it has in previous games, the Saints could punch their ticket to the semis.

Coeur du Christ, 38-32