GRIDIRON GUESSES Oct. 3, 2025: A familiar foe for Coeur d’Alene tonight, though so far away

When Coeur d’Alene (3-2) travels to Camas (Wash.) tonight, the Vikings will be facing a quarterback they’ve seen before. 

But not at Camas. 

Senior Tyson Ruggiero, a transfer from Lake City, is the starting quarterback for the Papermakers (2-2), last year’s state 4A runners-up. The left-handed Ruggiero, in his first year at Camas, has completed 47 of 77 passes for 517 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions. He’s rushed 42 times for 117 yards and two scores. 

“He’s having a good year,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “He’s got a good supporting cast over there.” 

Camas wide receiver Charlie Barr has 13 receptions, four for touchdowns. 

Camas won last year’s game at Viking Field 38-21, and went on to beat Gonzaga Prep in the semifinals to go 13-0 before falling to Sumner in the state championship. 

“It’s going to be great for us; it’s going to be like a state playoff game,” Amos said. “Travel, play a tough team ... it’s going to be great to see how we respond.” 

For Coeur d’Alene, Caden Symons has the rare trifecta of having passed for a touchdown (7), rushed for a touchdown (1) and caught a TD pass (2). 

Tannar Stern, the junior quarterback/running back/linebacker, is the Vikings’ leading rusher with 293 yards and two touchdowns. Per MaxPreps, six of Gibson Comstock’s 11 receptions have gone for touchdowns. On defense, Coeur d’Alene doesn’t list sacks, but junior linebacker Ben Murray has 11 tackles-for-loss. 

Elsewhere tonight among the local 6A teams, Lake City, coming off its first win of the season, travels to Sandpoint, coming off its first loss; and Post Falls travels to Battle Ground (Wash.). 

“They’re having a lot of success right now,” Lake City coach Byron Hout said of Sandpoint. “Their offense is rolling really well right now it looks from the stats you see. On film, they’ve got a good offensive line and a good quarterback and good run game.” 

And in the battle of Lakeland School District teams, 4A Timberlake makes the 11-mile trek down Highway 41 to Rathdrum to play 5A Lakeland. 

“They’re a very good football team and going to pose some really serious challenges," Timberlake coach Kelly Amos said.

As for the picks, Mark Nelke, Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald all went 6-1, all missing on Timberlake’s win at St. Maries. 

For the season, Mark is 33-11, Josh 31-13, Jason 28-16.

TONIGHT’S GAMES 

Coeur d’Alene (3-2) at Camas (Wash.) (2-2), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Coeur d’Alene has won three straight games, by a combined score of 127-29. 

Coeur d’Alene, 29-22 

ELLIOTT: With the way the Vikings are playing right now, I don't know who will be able to slow them down.

Coeur d'Alene, 36-20

McDONALD:  Looking for local flavor? This has it in the most interesting of ways. Former Lake City quarterback Tyson Ruggiero will lead the Papermakers against a bunch of kids he grew up playing with who are now on the Vikings. However, Coeur d’Alene is playing really good ball right now.

Coeur d'Alene, 31-28

Lake City (1-4) at Sandpoint (5-1), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Lake City finally broke loose offensively last week in a 49-0 victory over Eisenhower of Yakima, Wash. Sandpoint took a bit of a bruising in a 50-9 loss at Coeur d’Alene. But the Bulldogs are a different animal at Barlow Stadium. 

Sandpoint, 28-21 

ELLIOTT: Lake City's defense is getting better by the week. Sandpoint is out to prove a point this week.

Sandpoint, 30-20

McDONALD:  The Bulldogs got knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten last week and are probably a little salty about it.

Sandpoint, 24-14

Post Falls (2-3) at Battle Ground (Wash.) (3-1), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Battle Ground, 30-18 

ELLIOTT: Battle Ground, 35-20

McDONALD: Post Falls is coming back-to-back losses and needs to find some momentum as the Trojans hit the most important part of their schedule.

Post Falls, 28-24

Timberlake (1-5) at Lakeland (6-0), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Remember to vote for Lakeland to win the $1 million stadium makeover from T-Mobile. 

Lakeland, 49-14 

ELLIOTT: Lakeland was good last year and might be a little bit better this year.

Lakeland, 42-20

McDONALD:  This is gonna get ugly fast.

Lakeland, 41-8

Moscow (4-2) at Kellogg (2-2), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The visiting Bears, a 4A football team in an otherwise 5A athletic body the past two years, earlier this week successfully petitioned to play down in 4A in football the next two years as well. 

Moscow, 34-20 

ELLIOTT:  This one might get ugly early.

Moscow, 44-20

McDONALD:  The Wildcats are really banged up. What may have been a decent game two weeks ago is probably going to be a rough loss for Kellogg on homecoming.

Moscow, 35-14

Lakeside (0-5) at Deary (2-3), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Deary, 54-32 

ELLIOTT: Deary, 46-20

McDONALD: Defeated no more!

Lakeside, 30-24

Genesee/Colton (Wash.) (4-0) vs. Wallace (5-0) at Sather Field Athletic Complex, Silverton, 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The Miners could get pushed for the first time this year, by the Idaho/Washington co-op separated by 11 miles, and playing in the 1A Whitepine League in Idaho. 

Wallace, 48-32 

ELLIOTT: Coming off the exit in Wallace last night, I could smell the smoke from the school's homecoming bonfire. Hopefully the scoreboard at Sather Field in Silverton doesn't spark tonight.

Wallace, 54-34

McDONALD:  The Miners have been consistently overlooked by the “experts” across the state. Despite that, they keep bludgeoning their opponents and this week won’t be any different ... Although, the Bulldogs may score a few more points than Wallace is used to giving up. 

Wallace, 65-30