Coming off an un-Coeur d’Alene-like 4-5 season, the Vikings are looking to ease into this football season …
…NOT!
Coeur d’Alene opens tonight at 6 PDT vs. top-ranked and defending state 5A champion Rigby at the University of Montana in Missoula, then plays host to fifth-ranked Rocky Mountain of Missoula next Friday on the new artificial turf field at Coeur d’Alene High.
“When you play Rigby, at times you’re not going to look very good because they’re really good,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “It’s not like we’re opening with a lower-level program; we’re opening with the best program in the state. We will find out a lot in the first couple of weeks.”
Rigby, from southeast Idaho, and Coeur d’Alene will meet in Missoula for the second straight season.
Rigby won last year 24-0.
The Trojans have played in the past four state title games, winning three of them.
And perhaps you remember the first one, that epic 2019 state title game, where Rigby beat Coeur d’Alene 57-56 in double overtime at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
“They have it rolling,” Amos said of Rigby. “And they have a good program, good coaches, their school has blown up, population wise. Now they have kids transferring in from down in southeast Idaho from other schools. They’re the top program right now.”
Rigby quarterback Luke Flowers has verbally committed to Montana. Last year, he completed 16 of 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings, who picked him off twice.
“He’s super polished; he plays like a college kid,” Amos said of Flowers. “He makes very little mistakes. He’s what you’re looking for, like we’re looking for from Jamison (Kizziar, Coeur d’Alene’s returning starter at quarterback). Gets rid of the ball quickly, makes very few mistakes. And if you watch his film he’s not ultra-flashy; he gets the ball to the guys he’s supposed to get the ball to, and he almost never throws it to the other guy.”
For a third straight season, Lakeland and Preston open the season on the campus of Montana Tech University in Butte, Mont.
“Preston’s going to present a good challenge for us,” second-year Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. “We’ve got a few things to figure out, but have some good skill position guys. We’ll have a good idea where we’re at after that game.”
Wallace travels to Kootenai to face the Warriors in a North Star League game. This year, both Lakeside and Wallace — the only Division I football-playing schools in the Scenic Idaho Conference — petitioned the Idaho High School Activities Association to move to Division II in football only starting this season.
That being said …
“Wallace always has a tough team with good numbers,” first-year Kootenai coach Jason Strobel said. “We’ll give them a good battle and see what happens.”
In other North Star League action, Mullan-St. Regis visits Clark Fork in a matchup of playoff teams from the 2022 season.
Timberlake has to wait an extra day, but opens Saturday against 2A Grangeville, which finished last season 3-5.
The Tigers advanced to the state 3A playoffs, falling in the first round to Homedale 34-27.
“Grangeville has been a solid program for years,” said Timberlake coach Kelly Amos, who begins his fourth season in his second stint as coach. “Between this week and next week (at 3A North Fremont), we’ll have some good road tests early on.”
After five seasons of Gridiron Guesses being a duo, we’ve added a third “Guesser” — Josh McDonald, a Kellogg High grad who has been covering sports at the Shoshone News-Press for eight years.
He joins Jason Elliott, a Wallace High grad, and Mark Nelke, a Mead High grad.
And while we all have a certain affinity for our alma maters, we try not to let that affect our picking the winners each week.
Mark picked against the mighty Panthers on occasion, when they’ve played North Idaho teams.
And Jason could share some feedback from when he’s picked — correctly or not — against the Miners.
And now it’s Josh’s turn.
Besides, there’s a lot on the line — the usual prime rib dinner that goes to the season champion.
Of course, that’s proven to be an “honorary” dinner the first five years of this exercise.
But a boy — and his stomach — can dream, can’t he?
Friday’s Games
Rigby vs. Coeur d’Alene at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, 6 p.m. PDT
NELKE: Injuries contributed to Coeur d’Alene’s non-playoff season last year. But running back Carsen Speelman and receiver Joe Hagel are back, and the Vikings return some studs on defense in Washington State commit Camden DeGraw, fellow defensive end Aaron Ivankovich and linebacker Shea Robertson, an Eastern Washington commit. Tonight’s game will be a measuring stick of how much better the Vikings are this year.
Rigby, 24-22
ELLIOTT: Rigby quarterback Luke Flowers is committed to play next year at Montana. It will be up to Coeur d’Alene’s defense to make it rough for him.
Rigby, 28-20
MCDONALD: The Vikings should keep it close for a half, but Rigby is going to show why they’re the top team in the state.
Rigby, 42-28.
Lakeland vs. Preston at Montana Tech University, Butte, 3 p.m. PDT
NELKE: Lakeland will have several new faces in the skill position. Preston is coming off a 1-8 season.
Lakeland, 21-12.
ELLIOTT: Lakeland’s replacing some talented kids in the backfield, with a new quarterback and running backs getting a taste of the varsity game. Lakeland kicker Owen Forsmann, an Idaho commit, could change today’s game.
Lakeland, 17-14.
MCDONALD: A season ago, the Hawks beat Preston 28-0. A reconfigured Lakeland offense is still going to be better than this year-older Indian squad.
Lakeland, 24-20.
Wallace at Kootenai, 7 p.m.
NELKE: Last year, Wallace won the first meeting with Kootenai 60-12, and won the second via forfeit.
Wallace, 60-12.
ELLIOTT: You know it’s football season in Wallace when my neighbors are reminding me that I pick against my alma mater too much.
Wallace, 36-30.
MCDONALD: The Miners are still figuring out their starters — including QB. But Kootenai is going to struggle to stop them.
Wallace, 62-18.
Mullan/St. Regis at Clark Fork, 7 p.m.
NELKE: Mullan/St. Regis lost a few key folks to graduation last year; Clark Fork, which has a new coach, was hit even harder.
Mullan/St. Regis, 42-22
ELLIOTT: Could be the start of a special season for the Tigers/Tigers.
Mullan-St. Regis, 44-22.
MCDONALD: The top two teams from last year’s North Star League will trade big plays, but the Tigers’ special teams will tip the scales in their favor.
Mullan/St. Regis, 55-40.
Saturday’s Game
Timberlake at Grangeville, 7 p.m.
NELKE: Grangeville had an un-Grangeville-like 3-5 season last year, and missed the playoffs. Timberlake reached the playoffs, and has high hopes again.
Timberlake, 44-8.
ELLIOTT: Timberlake returns key guys at quarterback and running back and will have something to prove this season.
Timberlake, 32-12.
MCDONALD: The Tigers should be bigger and faster than the Bulldogs, and they’ll be looking to rebound from last year’s 4-4 season.
Timberlake, 36-12.
GRIDIRON GUESSES: Zero week? Five local games as season opens, highlighted by Coeur d’Alene vs. Rigby
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