GRIDIRON GUESSES: As the temps drop (relatively), scoreboard numbers could climb
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 months, 2 weeks AGO
Gridiron Guesses 2024
After temperatures around 100 degrees earlier this week, it’s supposed to "cool down" a bit by tonight.
No problem.
Post Falls and Sandpoint figure to heat up the artificial turf at Barlow Stadium in Sandpoint tonight, with temps likely in the low 80s when the Trojans and Bulldogs kick off in a nonleague game at 7 p.m.
6A Post Falls (1-0), with a new starting quarterback, rolled up 37 points in a 10-point win at Lewiston that was more one-sided than that.
5A Sandpoint (2-0) has posted 70 points in its first two games, a 28-27 come-from-behind overtime win at Twin Falls, a state playoff team last season, and a 42-28 win at 4A Teton in Driggs.
(Maybe the more impressive number for Sandpoint — 1,150, the estimated number of miles traveled by the Bulldogs the past two weeks. Imagine if the Silver Eagle, a charter-type bus ahead of its time in the North Idaho high school ranks, was still around to ferry the Sandpoint teams to their appointed contests.)
Post Falls has won seven of the last eight matchups with Sandpoint, including a 35-14 triumph at Sandpoint in 2020, in the first football game on the new artificial turf at Barlow Stadium.
Also tonight among the bigger schools, Coeur d’Alene plays host to Lewiston in the second of three straight home games for the Vikings, Lake City visits Wenatchee (Wash.) in the second of three straight road games for the Timberwolves; and Lakeland heads to Weiser for its first road jaunt of the year, seeking a 3-0 start.
Coeur du Christ (2-0) is idle.
As for the picks, Mark Nelke went 7-1 last week, and Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald each went 6-2.
For the season, Mark and Josh are 12-3, Jason 11-4.
Lewiston (0-2) at Coeur d’Alene (0-2), 7 p.m.
NELKE: Not all 0-2 teams are created equal.
Coeur d’Alene, 42-12
ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene gets it going at Viking Field.
Coeur d'Alene, 35-20
McDONALD: The Vikings get into the win column and avenge a shocking loss from a year ago.
Coeur d'Alene, 30-13
Lake City (0-1) at Wenatchee (0-0), 7 p.m.
NELKE: Under the same scenario last year (Lake City with one game under its belt, Wenatchee playing its season opener), Lake City won 26-14 at home. Wenatchee finished 2-8 last season.
Lake City, 26-14
ELLIOTT: Last week at Lakeland, Lake City showed flashes of a team that could make some noise.
Lake City, 34-20
McDONALD: Lake City, 24-17
Post Falls (1-0) at Sandpoint (2-0), 7 p.m.
NELKE: This has usually been an entertaining matchup despite the one-classification difference. Still, Post Falls has won 16 of the last 18 matchups with Sandpoint since 2026.
Post Falls, 34-27
ELLIOTT: If Post Falls plays fast, and it will ...
Post Falls, 42-28
McDONALD: This should be an excellent game.
Post Falls, 28-24
Lakeland (2-0) at Weiser (0-1), 6 p.m. PDT
NELKE: Lakeland defeated Weiser 41-20 last year at home. Weiser, a 4A team, lost 19-14 at 4A Buhl in its opener last week.
Lakeland, 41-20
ELLIOTT: Lakeland has an offense that can win anywhere this season. The Hawks start to show it on the road.
Lakeland, 42-20
McDONALD: The Hawks go on the road and stay undefeated.
Lakeland, 41-24
West Valley (0-0) at Timberlake (0-2), 7 p.m.
NELKE: 4A Timberlake started with two losses against two ranked teams — Sugar-Salem (4A) and Grangeville (3A). While Idaho teams often have a one-game head start on its Washington brethren this time of year, the Tigers have a two-game head start on the Eagles. However, under the same setup last year, West Valley won 35-18, and was 11-0 before falling in the Washington state 2A quarterfinals to eventual champion Anacortes.
West Valley, 24-22
ELLIOTT: Getting back home helps ...
Timberlake, 28-26
McDONALD: The Eagles were good last season and they’re probably going to be good this season too. Timberlake is still finding their way, but it could be a long night for the Tigers.
West Valley, 35-18
Bonners Ferry (1-1) at St. Maries (2-0), 7 p.m.
NELKE: The 3A Lumberjacks are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2019, seeking their first 3-0 start since their undefeated state title team of 2016. The 4A Badgers lost 41-0 at Lakeland in its opener, impressed last week with a 26-14 win at a 3A Priest River squad that entered the season with high hopes.
Bonners Ferry, 28-26
ELLIOTT: St. Maries is playing with a ton of momentum after two straight road wins. Why not them?
St. Maries, 28-26
McDONALD: It appears that Bonners is better than the 41-0 whooping Lakeland put on them a few weeks ago. They bounced back in a big way to wallop a Priest River team that many thought could compete with Grangeville. Meanwhile, St. Maries hasn’t really been tested in their two wins this season.
Bonners Ferry, 35-13
Lakeside (0-2) vs. Lewis County (1-1) at Craigmont, 7 p.m.
NELKE: Lewis County, a co-op of Highland and Nezperce high schools, lost 44-14 to Coeur du Christ two weeks ago. The Knights are winless so far, but are a different squad with all its dudes.
Lakeside, 36-28
ELLIOTT: Lakeside, 34-32
McDONALD: If the Knights come into this game at full strength, they should be able to pull this one out.
Lakeside, 45-38
Soap Lake (Wash.) (0-0) vs. Wallace (1-0) at Sather Field Athletic Complex, Silverton, 7 p.m.
NELKE: Wonder if the Miners are still mad after shellacking Timberline 68-26 two weeks ago, then seeing the team from Weippe earn more votes than the Miners in the following week’s media poll? Soap Lake, a 1B team, finished 5-4 last season.
Wallace, 52-32
ELLIOTT: Why yes Mark, the Miners are still mad ...
Wallace, 48-22
McDONALD: Wallace might get tested early, but when the Miners hit the gas it’s really hard for other teams to match.
Wallace, 56-35
STANDINGS
6A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Post Falls 0 0 1 0
Lake City 0 0 0 1
Coeur d’Alene 0 0 0 2
Friday’s Games
Lewiston at Coeur d’Alene
Lake City at Wenatchee (Wash.)
Post Falls at Sandpoint
5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Lakeland 0 0 2 0
Sandpoint 0 0 2 0
Lewiston 0 0 0 2
Friday’s Games
Lakeland at Weiser
Post Falls at Sandpoint
Lewiston at Coeur d’Alene
INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Moscow 0 0 1 1
Bonners Ferry 0 0 1 1
Timberlake 0 0 0 2
Friday’s Games
West Valley at Timberlake
Clarkston at Moscow
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Kellogg 1 0 1 0
Grangeville 0 0 2 0
St. Maries 0 0 2 0
Priest River 0 0 1 1
Orofino 0 1 0 1
Friday’s Games
Bonners Ferry at St. Maries
Grangeville at Priest River
Salmon at Orofino
Kellogg is idle
NORTH STAR LEAGUE
League Overall
W L W L
Coeur du Christ 0 0 2 0
Wallace 0 0 1 0
Clark Fork 0 0 1 1
Lakeside 0 0 0 2
Friday’s Games
Lakeside vs. Lewis County at Craigmont
Soap Lake (Wash.) vs. Wallace at Sather Field, Silverton
Coeur du Christ is idle
Clark Fork is idle