Gridiron Guesses Sept. 18, 2026: Coeur d’Alene visits Sandpoint tonight in matchup of unbeatens

There’s a matchup of 4-0 teams tonight at Barlow Stadium in Sandpoint, where Coeur d’Alene visits Sandpoint at 7 p.m.  

Coeur d’Alene is ranked No. 2 in 6A by the state’s media, while Sandpoint is ranked fourth in 5A. 

More importantly, Coeur d’Alene is ranked second in 6A by MaxPreps; Sandpoint is ranked third in 5A. 

“It’s always fun to go up to Sandpoint,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “It’s a great venue up there, it’s a fun place to play.” 

Under Amos, Coeur d’Alene is 10-0 at Sandpoint, including a 46-20 win two years ago. Sandpoint’s last win over the Vikings was 27-7 at Coeur d’Alene in 2008. 

Sandpoint owns wins over Twin Falls (36-34), Kuna (15-14), Post Falls (31-28) and Bonners Ferry (41-14). 

Coeur d’Alene has won its four games by a combined 172-24. 

Elsewhere tonight, Lake City (3-1) faces Highland (0-3) of Pocatello in a meet-you-halfway game in Butte, Mont.  

Highland will travel 254 miles one-way, Lake City 283. 

The last two years, the teams played a true home-and-home series, with the visiting Rams winning 13-7 two years ago in Coeur d’Alene, then winning again last year, 16-0 in Pocatello. Tonight, the teams meet halfway, on the home turf of Montana Tech, at 5 p.m. PDT. 

Tonight is also the “Battle of the Rathdrum Prairie” between Post Falls (0-3) and Lakeland (0-4), at 7 p.m. at Corbit Field in Rathdrum. 

Lakeland literally ran to a 35-7 victory over the Trojans last year in Post Falls. 

As for the picks, Jason Elliott went 8-2, Mark Nelke 7-3, Josh McDonald 6-4.

After four weeks, Jason is 22-8, Mark 20-10, Josh 20-10.

FRIDAY’S GAMES 

All at 7 p.m. except where noted 

Coeur d'Alene (4-0) at Sandpoint (4-0) 

NELKE: This could be a great game; the Bulldogs will be especially fired up as they try to pull off the upset in front of their home fans. 

Coeur d’Alene, 35-20 

ELLIOTT: Coeur d'Alene, but close.

Coeur d'Alene, 34-28

McDONALD: There’s probably a lot of people who think this is the game of the week in North Idaho ... I doubt it. The Vikings are too good.  

Coeur d'Alene, 42-16

Highland (0-3) vs. Lake City (3-1) at Butte, Mont., 5 p.m. PDT 

NELKE: No matter here, there or somewhere in the middle, expect another low-scoring tilt. 

Highland, 14-13 

ELLIOTT: Lake City scores late for a huge win.

Lake City, 22-20

McDONALD:  To quote Diamond Rio ... "I'd start walkin' your way, you'd start walkin' mine. We'd meet in the middle — I’ll take the Timberwolves near that old Butte mine ... " or something like that.   

Lake City, 27-24

Post Falls (0-3) at Lakeland (0-4) 

NELKE: Ah, what the heck. Both teams have been inconsistent, but let’s go with the home team on homecoming. 

Lakeland, 28-27 

ELLIOTT: Post Falls seemed to get things rolling in the second half last week.

Post Falls, 24-22

McDONALD: I think the Trojans finally get one.   

Post Falls, 30-18

Timberlake (1-2) at Kellogg (0-3) 

NELKE: A chance for the Tigers to look more like the team that scored 61 points in its opener, as opposed to the squad that scored a combined seven the past two weeks. 

Timberlake, 42-6 

ELLIOTT: Someone has to win this game ... 

Timberlake, 40-7

McDONALD: This is a “get tough” game for both programs. Timberlake has been bullied in every contest since game 1. Kellogg literally penalized themselves out of a win a week ago. Someone is going to get tough — mentally or physically. 

Timberlake, 15-12

Lapwai (1-3) vs. Lakeside (1-2) at Marimn Health Coeur Center, Worley 

NELKE: Lapwai, 36-30 

ELLIOTT: Lapwai, 47-44

McDONALD: Lapwai, 40-26

Lake Roosevelt (Wash.) (1-1) at Wallace (3-0) 

NELKE: The Raiders of Coulee Dam, Wash., scored 74 points in their win, allowed 66 in their loss. 

Wallace, 74-66 

ELLIOTT: Wallace has been playing some pretty good ball this year.

Wallace, 56-42

McDONALD: I don’t know much about the Raiders, but I do know that Wallace is pretty good.   

Wallace, 50-35

St. Maries (0-3) at Pullman (2-0), 6 p.m.  

NELKE: The Greyhounds have wins over Eisenhower (14-6), which lost to Lake City 14-0, and Moscow (17-0). 

Pullman, 28-6 

ELLIOTT: A tough year for the Lumberjacks gets a little tougher.

Pullman, 35-12

McDONALD: Just feels like the Lumberjacks won’t be able to stop the Greyhounds.   

Pullman, 27-6