GRIDIRON GUESSES Oct. 17, 2025: In the midst of the big-game portion of the season

Coeur d’Alene can wrap up the 6A Inland Empire League title tonight, a first-round bye in the state playoffs and a home game in the quarterfinals with a victory over visiting Post Falls at 7 p.m. at Viking Field. 

Coeur d’Alene (4-3, 1-0 6A IEL) opened league play last week with a 33-12 triumph at Lake City. 

The Vikings were already missing a couple key players to injury heading into that game, then had a few more dinged up last week. 

"Our focus is on us,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “We have to get kids healthy, and train up some other kids to play more minutes. We’ll focus on us, and see what we can do better.”

Meanwhile, Post Falls (3-4, 0-0) is down to its third quarterback, and has had an up-and-down season to date. 

“It’s always been a very competitive game in the 10 years I’ve been a part of it,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “The kids know each other really well. Their kids play well and that staff does a good job of putting a plan together. What we need to do is focus on what Post Falls can do and who we are and put some points on the board.”

Also tonight, Lake City plays host to Lewiston for senior night. Lake City then plays at Post Falls next Thursday in the 6A IEL finale for the three-team league. 

There’s a big game in the 5A IEL tonight, with Lakeland (7-0) traveling to Sandpoint (5-2, 0-1 IEL) in the Hawks’ league opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Barlow Stadium. 

Lakeland routed the Bulldogs 41-7 last year in Rathdrum, ending a run of seven straight Sandpoint wins in the series. Lakeland's last win at Sandpoint came in 2013.

“It’s kind of a hostile environment, and we’re going to have to be on point,” Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. “We’re fortunate to be coming off a bye, but need to make sure we’re doing the little things right. Sandpoint is playing tough right now and it should be a great game.”

Sandpoint is looking to bounce back from a 54-27 whipping at Lewiston last week in the Bulldogs’ league opener. 

Lakeland plays host to Lewiston next Friday in the 5A IEL finale for the three-team league. 

The league champion earns an automatic bid to the 16-team state playoffs, and a home game in the first round. The other two teams can earn at-large playoff bids based on MaxPreps rankings, but would open on the road. 

As of Thursday, Lakeland was ranked fourth in 5A by Max Preps, Sandpoint seventh and Lewiston ninth. 

The Central Idaho League playoff picture will become a little clearer when St. Maries (3-4, 1-1 CIL) visits Priest River (3-4, 2-0 CIL) tonight and Kellogg (2-4, 1-1 CIL) plays at Grangeville (4-4, 2-1 CIL) on Saturday. 

And at Sather Field in Silverton, Coeur du Christ (5-1) and Wallace (6-1) square off for first place in the North Star League. 

As for the picks, Jason Elliott went 7-0 last week, Josh McDonald 6-1, Mark Nelke 4-3. 

For the season, Josh and Mark are 41-17, and Jason is 39-19. 

FRIDAY’S GAMES 

Post Falls (3-4, 0-0 6A Inland Empire League) at Coeur d’Alene (4-3, 1-0 6A IEL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Injuries have tested Coeur d’Alene’s depth. But the Vikings usually have depth. 

Coeur d’Alene, 33-12 

ELLIOTT: If Coeur d'Alene can get the passing game going, it might be a long night for the Trojans.

Coeur d'Alene, 40-14

McDONALD: With injuries and position changes, this game feels like it could be closer than it would’ve been a month ago. The Vikings’ defense will be the difference. 

Coeur d'Alene, 28-14

Lewiston (3-4) at Lake City (1-6), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Lewiston got its starting quarterback back and hung 54 on Sandpoint last week. 

Lewiston, 24-18 

ELLIOTT: Lake City can play spoiler tonight if its defense gets it going.

Lewiston, 28-26

McDONALD: The Bengals are better than their record would indicate, which doesn’t bode well for a struggling Lake City team. 

Lewiston, 35-20

Lakeland at Sandpoint, 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The Bulldogs figure to play better this week, before the diehards at Barlow Stadium. But Lakeland could use a statement win. 

Lakeland, 34-32 

ELLIOTT: There's just something about this Lakeland group that makes me think it's going to find a way, no matter where the game is.

Lakeland, 28-20

McDONALD: This is a game a lot of people probably had circled on the calendar for both programs. I think the Bulldogs have played a better schedule than Lakeland, and there’s some really interesting data from the teams’ common opponents. I like Sandpoint in the role of spoiler here.  

Sandpoint, 24-21

Timberlake (1-6, 0-0 Intermountain League) at Moscow (5-3, 0-1 IML), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Moscow, a 5A school which successfully petitioned down to 4A in football in 2024, won the IML last season, but lost its league opener at Bonners Ferry last week, 41-26. Moscow successfully petitioned down to 4A in football for two more years, so get used to the Bears in the IML. 

Moscow, 36-14 

ELLIOTT: Moscow seems to be rolling right now.

Moscow, 34-20

McDONALD: The Bears have one of the most promising prospects in Idaho in freshman QB Wyatt Cross. Timberlake simply isn’t in a position to compete with Moscow’s skill players.  

Moscow, 35-17

St. Maries (3-4, 1-1 Central Idaho League) at Priest River (3-4, 2-0 CIL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Priest River, 34-12 

ELLIOTT: St. Maries needs a lot of things to go its way tonight.

Priest River, 34-20

McDONALD: Barring any shocking developments in other games, the Spartans are in the driver’s seat to win the CIL. This is their toughest test for the remainder of the season.  

Priest River, 28-14

Clark Fork (2-4, 0-1 North Star League) vs. Lakeside (0-7, 0-1 NSL) at Marimn Health Coeur Center, 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Looks like some reinforcements have arrived for the Knights in recent weeks. 

Lakeside, 48-36 

ELLIOTT: Lakeside, 54-40

McDONALD: The Wampus Cats have longshot playoff hopes, but they have to win and win big over Lakeside to keep them alive.  

Clark Fork, 55-35

Coeur du Christ (5-1, 1-0 North Star League) vs. Wallace (6-1, 1-0) at Sather Field Athletic Complex, Silverton, all 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Wallace won the North Star League last year. This could be the “Surprise at Silverton” tonight. 

Coeur du Christ, 52-48 

ELLIOTT: Someone told me that Wallace wasn't playing good football right now. The Miners get back to that against another good team tonight.

Wallace, 56-52

McDONALD: This could be the game of the week, or it could be a lopsided mess. Both teams have excellent offenses, but Wallace has a sneaky good defense that knows how to turn up the heat. 

Wallace, 55-30

SATURDAY’S GAME 

Kellogg (2-4, 1-1 Central Idaho League) at Grangeville (4-4, 2-1 CIL), 2 p.m.

NELKE: Looks like Grangeville is back to being Grangeville again. 

Grangeville, 48-12 

ELLIOTT: Grangeville, 44-14

McDONALD: If you’re a Wildcat fan, you may just want to cover your eyes. Kellogg has been decimated by injuries, but even when they were healthy, their defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed.  

Grangeville, 50-7