GRIDIRON GUESSES Sept. 12, 2025: Early league games, honoring champions, and other matchups

While most teams are still in nonleague mode, the Central Idaho League sprinkles in some league games earlier in the schedule. 

That’s what happens when you have a five-team league — the biggest football league in North Idaho (District 1, anyway). 

The 6A Inland Empire League has three teams, the 5A IEL has three teams, the 4A Intermountain League (thanks to Moscow playing down in football) has three teams, and the 1A North Star League (with three 2A schools playing down) has four teams. 

Tonight, Kellogg travels to St. Maries in an intriguing CIL matchup at 7 p.m.  

St. Maries won its first two games of the season before losing at home last week to 4A Bonners Ferry. 

Kellogg has just played just once, a 57-6 CIL win over Orofino. The Wildcats were idle last week. 

Also tonight, Coeur d’Alene High will honor its 1985 state championship football team at halftime of its game vs. Sunnyside (Wash.), with kickoff at Viking Field set for 7. 

Post Falls plays at home for the first time tonight, vs. Eastmont of East Wenatchee, Wash. 

And Lakeland goes for a 4-0 start at home vs. West Valley-Yakima. 

On Saturday, Lake City plays at Highland of Pocatello, looking to avenge a 13-7 home loss last year to the perennial state power. Highland has played a Coeur d’Alene-ish type schedule in nonleague so far. The Rams beat Legacy of North Las Vegas 30-0, beat something called Sports Leadership & Management Football of Henderson, Nev., 35-13, then lost 70-6 last week to Skyridge of Lehi, Utah., which is now 4-0 and has outscored its opponents 235-50. 

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

For the season, Mark and Josh are 17-6, and Jason is 14-9.

FRIDAY’S GAMES 

All at 7 p.m. 

Sunnyside (Wash.) (0-1) at Coeur d’Alene (1-2) 

NELKE: The Vikings have two pretty good quarterbacks as it is. But maybe there’s a way to sneak Duane Halliday, QB on Coeur d’Alene’s 1985 state champs, in for a series? But seriously, folks, Sunnyside lost 25-8 last week to Skyline of Sammamish, Wash., a perennial power in Washington that the Vikings have some history with. Coeur d’Alene won 35-18 at Sunnyside last year. 

Coeur d’Alene, 35-18 

ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene looked really good on both offense and defense last week. 

Coeur d'Alene, 42-20

McDONALD:  Cd'A got the ball rolling in a big way last week. Something tells me that momentum won’t stop.

Coeur d'Alene, 35-14

Eastmont (0-0) at Post Falls (1-1) 

NELKE: Post Falls won 14-7 last year at Eastmont, a team which finished 7-3 last season. It’s the opener for the Wildcats, while the Trojans have two games’ worth of experience this year. 

Post Falls, 14-7 

ELLIOTT: There's just something about Post Falls at home ...

Post Falls, 28-14

McDONALD: The Trojans dropped a tight one last week, this week they get another quality test in Wildcats from East Wenatchee.

Post Falls, 31-24

West Valley (Yakima) (1-0) at Lakeland (3-0) 

NELKE: The Rams of Yakima, like Sunnyside a member of class 4A, Washington’s largest-school classification, opened last week with a 39-38 win at North Creek. 

Lakeland, 39-38 

ELLIOTT: West Valley trips up Lakeland.

West Valley, 24-20

McDONALD: The Hawks look to be among the elites of the 5A classification. This could be a great game. 

Lakeland, 24-21

McCall-Donnelly (1-1) at Timberlake (0-3) 

NELKE: The Tigers’ rugged nonleague opening to their season continues. 

McCall-Donnelly, 35-27 

ELLIOTT: At some point, Timberlake is going to break through.

Timberlake, 24-20

McDONALD:  When will the Tigers finally break into the win column? Why not this week.

Timberlake, 18-16

Kellogg (1-0, 1-0 Central Idaho League) at St. Maries (2-1, 0-0) 

NELKE: While some folks are still shaking their heads after Priest River’s 42-6 beatdown of Grangeville last week, this game could answer some other questions about the Central Idaho League. 

St. Maries, 34-32 

ELLIOTT: This is a big one for whoever wins it ...

St. Maries, 34-30

McDONALD:  Kellogg will be playing just its second game of the season, while the Lumberjacks have already played three. It’s weird to think that a game played on September 12 will be a must-win, but the loser of this game will probably see any playoff hopes vanish. If I had to guess, this feels like it’s going to come down to whoever has the ball last.

Kellogg, 30-24

Clark Fork (1-1) vs. Wallace (2-0) at Sather Field Athletic Complex, Silverton 

NELKE: This one’s a nonleague game between the two North Star League teams. And I hear Wallace is STILL mad. 

Wallace, 68-32 

ELLIOTT: The Miners get a big nonleague win.

Wallace, 56-26

McDONALD:  The Miners play so fast and can score in so many ways it becomes almost uncomfortable to watch other teams struggle against them. Clark Fork may be much improved from last year, but it probably isn’t enough.

Wallace, 60-20

Wellpinit (0-0) vs. Coeur du Christ (3-0) at Marimn Health Center, Worley 

NELKE: Wellpinit won last year, 38-34, on its artificial turf field. 

Coeur du Christ, 38-34 

ELLIOTT: Coeur du Christ, 44-36

McDONALD:  Last season, Wellpinit squeaked out a 38-34 win over the Saints, who were in their first season as a program. Now that they’re fully fleshed out, Coeur du Christ should continue its undefeated run.

Coeur du Christ, 55-35

SATURDAY’S GAME 

Lake City (0-2) at Highland (2-1), 11 a.m. PDT 

NELKE: Lake City has shown signs in its first two games, but inconsistent play overall has led to its two losses.  

Highland, 13-7 

ELLIOTT: Lake City, 24-20

McDONALD:  Highland was expected to be among the best teams in the state this season and through two weeks the Rams looked the part ... Then they got beat 70-6 by Skyridge of Utah. One of two things is about to happen. Lake City goes down and plays them tough like the Timberwolves did a year ago, or the Rams take out last week’s frustrations on the T-Wolves.  

HIghland, 34-21

PREP FOOTBALL 

6A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE 

                League      Overall 

W    L    W    L 

Post Falls        0    0    1    1 

Coeur d’Alene    0    0    1    2  

Lake City         0    0    0    2 

Friday’s Games 

Sunnyside (Wash.) at Coeur d’Alene 

Eastmont (East Wenatchee, Wash.) at Post Falls 

Saturday’s Game 

Lake City at Highland 

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

                League      Overall 

W    L    W    L 

Lakeland    0    0    3    0  

Sandpoint     0    0    3    0 

Lewiston     0    0    0    3 

Friday’s Games 

West Valley-Yakima at Lakeland 

Sandpoint at Davis (Yakima) 

Clarkston at Lewiston 

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE 

                   League      Overall 

W    L    W    L 

Moscow        0    0    2    1 

Bonners Ferry     0    0    2    1  

Timberlake     0    0    0    3 

Friday’s Games 

McCall-Donnelly at Timberlake 

Bonners Ferry vs. Northwest Christian (at West Valley High, Spokane) 

Moscow at Pullman 

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE 

                 League      Overall 

W    L    W    L 

Kellogg         1    0    1    0  

Priest River    1    0    2    1  

St. Maries         0    0    2    1  

Grangeville     0    1    2    1  

Orofino         0    1    0    2 

Friday’s Games 

Kellogg at St. Maries 

Newport at Priest River 

Grangeville at New Plymouth 

Orofino is idle 

NORTH STAR LEAGUE 

                League      Overall 

W    L    W    L 

Coeur du Christ    0    0    3    0  

Wallace        0    0    2    0 

Clark Fork         0    0    1    1 

Lakeside        0    0    0    3 

Friday’s Games 

Wellpinit (Wash.) vs. Coeur du Christ at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley 

Clark Fork vs. Wallace at Sather Field, Silverton 

Lakeside is idle