Gridiron Guesses Oct. 9, 2026: League play begins tonight in 6A, 5A IEL

At 4-2, Lake City is one win away from its most victories in a football season since 2014 — Van Troxel's second-to-last season as Timberwolves coach, when the squad went 9-2 and reached the state semifinals. 

Tonight, Lake City can also take a big step toward its first playoff berth since 2019, when the Timberwolves play host to Post Falls (0-6) at 7 in the 6A Inland Empire League opener for both schools. 

Last year, in the season finale for both schools, Lake City won 28-20 at Post Falls — the Timberwolves' first win over the Trojans since 2015. 

"We have a winning record going into league, and we have a bye week, so hopefully we get some guys back," Lake City coach Byron Hout said. "This is probably the best spot going into league in the four years I've been here. Their confidence is high." 

Lake City started its third different quarterback of the season two weeks ago, and sophomore Jax Pearson guided the Timberwolves to a victory over Sandpoint. Junior Knox Keogh, who started four games at QB after senior Britton Johnston suffered a lower leg injury in the opener, moved back to his original position of receiver last week. 

"We want Britton to come back, but with what we saw from Jax (against Sandpoint), we know we can win. And we know we can win with Knox (Keogh)." 

Post Falls reached the state playoffs seven times in eight seasons before missing the postseason last year.

“I know (Lake City coach) Byron (Hout) does a good job and they’re a well-coached team,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “They’ll be ready. We’ll be ready. And hopefully it will be a good football game.”

Lake City vs. Post Falls has no catchy rivalry nickname, like "Battle of the Rathdrum Prairie" for Post Falls-Lakeland. 

But with Hanley Avenue, which runs past Lake City, and Poleline, which runs past Post Falls, now connected at Huetter Road, making for a straight shot between the schools, perhaps you could refer to it as the "Battle of the Punched-Through Arterial." 

Coeur d'Alene (7-0) is idle, then plays host to Lake City next Friday in its 6A IEL opener. 

Coeur d'Alene's win over Rigby last week moved the Vikings to No. 1 in 6A in the MaxPreps rankings, in which the higher seed hosts throughout the state semifinals. 

Coeur d'Alene has a 73.03 rating. Rigby (72.36) is second, Rocky Mountain (72.10) third. Mountain View (59.42) of Meridian is a distant fourth. 

Also tonight, Lakeland (2-4) travels to Lewiston (3-3) in the opener of the three-team 5A IEL (for football, anyway). The league champion earns an automatic berth in the state playoffs, but the other two can also get in, based on MaxPreps rankings — all three got in last year. 

Heading into tonight, Lewiston (49.13) is ranked fourth, Sandpoint (43.86) fifth and Lakeland (43.04) sixth.  

As for the picks ... well, we all (correctly) picked the same winners. Mark Nelke, Jason Elliott and Josh McDonald each went 8-0, and all three are 42-12 for the season.

FRIDAY'S GAMES 

All scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Post Falls (0-6, 0-0 6A Inland Empire League) at Lake City (4-2, 0-0) 

NELKE: With a chance at only its second state playoff appearance since 2014, Lake City can't afford a slipup. Post Falls can position itself for a playoff spot as well. 

Lake City, 28-14 

ELLIOTT: Lake City grinds one out against Post Falls.

Lake City, 28-20.

McDONALD: Lake City opens conference play with a win.  

Lake City, 35-20

Lakeland (2-4, 0-0 5A Inland Empire League) at Lewiston (3-3, 0-0) 

NELKE: Logic suggests Lewiston wins this one, especially at home, and because of how the two teams have played this season so far. But what the heck ... 

Lakeland, 24-21 

ELLIOTT: These two got really, really familiar with each other at the end of the season last year. With that extra week for the Hawks ...

Lakeland, 34-26

McDONALD: Both teams are coming off their bye week, but they went into it with very different feelings. The Bengals had a week to think about the drubbing Coeur d'Alene gave them — Lakeland is coming off back-to-back wins. I think the home team gets the win in a great game. 

Lewiston, 24-21

Clarkston (1-4) at Timberlake (3-3) 

NELKE: Among the Bantams' losses: 24-6 to Moscow, 44-12 to Lewiston and last week, 10-6 to Rogers. 

Timberlake, 38-12 

ELLIOTT: Timberlake, 28-20

McDONALD:  This will be the final tuneup for the Tigers before they go into the most important stretch of their season.  

Timberlake, 35-15

Kellogg (0-5, 0-2 Central Idaho League) at Priest River (4-1, 2-0) 

NELKE: The Spartans are starting to look like a CIL title contender again. 

Priest River, 42-6 

ELLIOTT:  This one could get ugly early.

Priest River, 55-6

McDONALD: At one point, it looked like this game wasn't going to played due to the Wildcats injury struggles. The Spartans have been really good this season. On the flip side, Kellogg is still navigating a roster that's primarily freshmen and sophomores.   

Priest River, 55-16

Coeur du Christ (6-0) vs. Lakeside (1-5) at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley 

NELKE: Coeur du Christ, 48-18 

ELLIOTT:  Coeur du Christ, 48-20

McDONALD: The Saints are among 1A's best squads and Lakeside simply won't be able to hang. 

Coeur du Christ, 50-18

Clark Fork (3-3) vs. Wallace (6-0) at Sather Field, Silverton  

NELKE: Kinda miss when these two (plus Coeur du Christ and Lakeside) were all playing in the same league in football, like they were the last two years. 

Wallace, 48-18 

ELLIOTT:  Wallace has so many options for Cooper Miller to choose from.

Wallace, 44-30

McDONALD: Perhaps the Wampus Cats have gotten better since these teams' first match up last month ... But I can't imagine they got 26 points better.   

Wallace, 58-32

STANDINGS  

6A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE  

                League      Overall  

W    L    W    L  

Coeur d’Alene    0    0    7    0   

Lake City         0    0    4    2   

Post Falls        0    0    0    6 

Friday’s Game 

Post Falls at Lake City 

Coeur d'Alene is idle 

5A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE  

              League      Overall  

W    L    W    L  

Sandpoint     0    0    5    2   

Lewiston     0    0    3    3   

Lakeland    0    0    2    4  

Friday’s Games 

Lakeland at Lewiston 

Sandpoint is idle 

INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE  

                   League      Overall  

W    L    W    L  

Bonners Ferry     0    0    3    3  

Timberlake     0    0    3    3  

Moscow        0    0    1    5 

Friday’s Games 

Clarkston at Timberlake 

Bonners Ferry at Moscow 

CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE  

                 League      Overall  

W    L    W    L  

Priest River    2    0    4    1  

Grangeville     2    0    5    1  

Logos        2    1    6    1 

St. Maries         1    2    1    5   

Orofino         0    2    0    6 

Kellogg         0    2    0    5  

Friday’s Games 

Kellogg at Priest River 

Grangeville at Orofino 

St. Maries, Logos are idle 

SCENIC IDAHO CONFERENCE 

League      Overall  

W    L    W    L  

Wallace        0    0    6    0  

Lakeside        0    0    1    5   

Friday’s Games 

Coeur du Christ vs. Lakeside at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley 

Clark Fork vs. Wallace at Sather Field, Silverton 

NORTH STAR LEAGUE  

                League      Overall  

W    L    W    L  

Coeur du Christ    1    0    6    0   

Clark Fork        0    1    3    3  

Friday's Game 

Coeur du Christ vs. Lakeside at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley 

Clark Fork vs. Wallace at Sather Field, Silverton