Gridiron Guesses Oct. 23, 2025: Playoff seeding on the line for some, pride for others

In past years, tonight’s matchup for second place between Lake City and Post Falls would be for a state playoff berth, and a home game in the first round. 

But this year, with only one automatic berth to the state playoffs out of the 6A Inland Empire League, tonight’s matchup at Trojan Stadium in Post Falls will be the season finale for both teams, no matter who wins. 

Post Falls (3-5, 0-1 6A IEL) is 15th, Lake City (2-6, 0-1) 18th in this week’s MaxPreps rankings, which are used to determine the three at-large teams to the 12-team state 6A playoffs. Coeur d’Alene (5-3, 2-0) clinched the 6A IEL title and one of the nine automatic berths last week. 

“We have a lot to get ready for,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said of this week. “We’ve got a great group of seniors ... I’m not too worried about the playoffs. We need a big week and a positive game Thursday so these seniors can leave the program feeling good.” 

"We've got a short week with a game on Thursday to finish it off," Lake City coach Byron Hout said. "We want to go out with a win, and I'm sure they feel the same way. We've just got to keep it going and moving forward."

Coeur d’Alene, meanwhile, plays Life Christian Academy (4-3) of Tacoma, Wash., on Friday at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. The Vikings will have a bye next week in the first round of the state playoffs, then host a quarterfinal game in two weeks. 

In the 5A Inland Empire League, all three teams will make the 16-team state playoffs one way or the other, as Lakeland (7-1, 0-1 5A IEL) is ranked fourth by MaxPreps, Sandpoint (6-2, 1-1) seventh and Lewiston (3-5, 1-0) ninth. 

At stake this week is the lone automatic berth from the 5A IEL to the state playoffs, and a home game in the first round. 

Lewiston, which roughed up Sandpoint at home two weeks ago, can win the league title Friday at Lakeland, which lost at Sandpoint last week. 

But a Lakeland win would force a Kansas tiebreaker on Monday at 6 p.m. at Coeur d'Alene High to determine the automatic qualifier to the playoffs. The other two would receive at-large berths. 

"Our backs are against the wall, and they need to be," Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. "Our kids will be ready to go next week."

In the Intermountain League, Timberlake (1-7, 0-1 Intermountain League) can create havoc on Friday, when Bonners Ferry (6-2, 1-0) visits Spirit Lake, looking to win the IML title. If Timberlake pulls the upset, the Tigers, Bonners and Moscow would all finish 1-1, and a Kansas tiebreaker would be needed. 

Also on Friday, Coeur du Christ Academy (6-1, 2-0 North Star League), in its second year with a football program, can win its first league title in football with a victory at Clark Fork (1-5, 0-2) in the league and regular-season finale for the Saints, who have already clinched the automatic berth to the playoffs via potential tiebreakers. 

As for the picks, Mark Nelke went 6-2 and Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald each went 5-3.

For the season, Mark is 47-19, Josh 46-20, Jason 44-22.

THURSDAY’S GAME 

Lake City (2-6, 0-1 6A Inland Empire League) at Post Falls (3-5, 0-1 6A IEL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Last week, Lake City shut out Lewiston (6-0) for the first time in school history. Post Falls was blanked last week (42-0 by Coeur d’Alene). 

Post Falls, 7-6 

ELLIOTT: Three weeks ago, this looked like a totally different game before injuries bit Post Falls.

Lake City, 14-12

McDONALD: It may be too little, too late for the Trojans, who need a ton of help to make the jump from 15 to 12 in the MaxPreps rankings and qualify for the playoffs. But never say never and they have to win and win big on a short week to make it happen.

Post Falls, 30-24

FRIDAY’S GAMES 

Coeur d’Alene (5-3) vs. Life Christian Academy (Tacoma, Wash.) (4-3) at Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Wash., 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The Vikings, with bigger fish to fry in upcoming weeks, figure to work this week on developing more depth — something this injury riddled bunch needs more than ever this season. 

Coeur d’Alene, 36-24 

ELLIOTT:  Coeur d'Alene tunes up for a playoff run with a big win in Ellensburg.

Coeur d'Alene, 40-20

McDONALD: Is this a trap game? Because it feels like a trap game. Why else would the Vikings be playing a middle of the road Washington 2A school in late October? This is comparable to Cd'A taking on Timberlake or Bonners Ferry this late in the season. 

Coeur d'Alene, 40-21

Lewiston (3-5, 1-0 5A Inland Empire League) at Lakeland (7-1, 0-1 5A IEL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Toto, I think we’re going back to Kansas. 

Lakeland, 30-12 

ELLIOTT:  A loss tonight for the Hawks, and those home playoff game hopes are Dust in the Wind.

Lakeland, 36-12

McDONALD: This isn’t a meaningless game, but both teams are already squarely in the 5A playoffs. A Lakeland win would create a three-way tie for IEL’s 5A championship. A Lewiston win would help them avoid a first round date with one of the classification’s heavy hitters. But I’ll take the Hawks at home.

Lakeland, 35-14

Bonners Ferry (6-2, 1-0 Intermountain League) at Timberlake (1-7, 0-1 IML), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The visiting Badgers can win the IML with the victory. But the Tigers won’t make it easy. 

Bonners Ferry, 28-14 

ELLIOTT:  Timberlake has been playing much better as of late, but this one might be too tough of a challenge.

Bonners Ferry, 28-20

McDONALD: The Tigers haven’t had a season this rough since 2017. It doesn’t appear to be getting any better this week against a rugged Badger team. 

Bonners Ferry, 45-14

St. Maries (3-5, 1-2 Central Idaho League) at Orofino (0-7, 0-3 CIL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: A chance for the Lumberjacks to finish off a pretty nice season. 

St. Maries, 42-6 

ELLIOTT:  St. Maries, 50-12

McDONALD: If this game happens, it’s going to be all Lumberjacks.

St. Maries, 45-6

Priest River (4-4, 3-0 Central Idaho League) at Kellogg (2-5, 1-2 CIL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: The Spartans are on the verge of a league title few outside west Bonner County could have envisioned. 

Priest River, 28-14 

ELLIOTT: It's up to the Wildcats to play spoiler this Friday. 

Priest River, 34-20

McDONALD: Duck and cover Wildcat fans, the Spartans are coming into Teeters Field to win their first league championship in a very, very, very long time, since 1957 to be exact. 

Priest River, 28-7

Lakeside (1-6, 1-1 North Star League) vs. Wallace (6-1, 1-1 NSL) at Sather Field, Silverton, 7 p.m. 

NELKE: Wallace, ranked seventh in 1A by MaxPreps, is already assured of an at-large playoff berth, but could use a bounce back after losing at home to Coeur du Christ last week. 

Wallace, 46-38 

ELLIOTT:  Wallace needs a win to get something going. Lakeside won't make it easy on Friday either.

Wallace, 44-42

McDONALD: The Miners have to rebound from last week’s loss and refocus on the goal at hand: Qualifying for the playoffs. A win gets them an at-large bid, while a loss might bounce them entirely. This matchup almost always produces interesting games. 

Wallace, 60-30

Coeur du Christ (6-1, 2-0 North Star League) at Clark Fork (1-5, 0-2 NSL), 7 p.m. 

NELKE: It won’t be easy on the road for the Saints, but ... 

Coeur du Christ, 42-28 

ELLIOTT: Really big win for Coeur du Christ on the road last week. I'm sure the Saints are well aware of what's at stake here.

Coeur du Christ, 44-30

McDONALD: Coeur du Christ pulled off the stunner last week at Wallace. This week, it’s business as usual, and the Saints will have their first league championship in program history. 

Coeur du Christ, 55-18