UPDATED

The Coeur d’Alene football team’s 2012 schedule already was going to be the toughest in school history.

Now it’s been amped up another notch.

The 2011 Idaho and Washington big-school state champions will face off when the Skyline Spartans of Sammamish take on the Coeur d’Alene Vikings as part of a quadrupleheader at the Kibbie Dome on Sept. 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Skyline originally was scheduled to play host to Manatee of Bradenton, Fla., in a matchup between two of the nation’s top quarterbacks. But the game was scrapped when the marketing company that helped arrange the game couldn’t afford to fly Manatee to Washington.

CdA athletic director Todd Gilkey received an email from Skyline’s administration Wednesday confirming it planned to play CdA pending final approval from its school board.

Skyline is led by senior-to-be, 6-foot-5 Max Browne, who has given an oral commitment to the University of Southern California. Browne is rated the nation’s No. 2 recruit.

“I don’t know if it’s congratulations or condolences,” CdA coach Shawn Amos said of landing the game against Skyline. “We’re really excited about it. It’s a great opportunity for our kids to play another high-profile team.”

Skyline is grateful to find a game for Week 3.

“It couldn't have worked out better in that regard,” Skyline coach Mat Taylor said. “We were on the verge of not being able to find a game. And then, to have a showcase game at the Kibbie Dome that Coeur d'Alene didn't have an opponent for Week 3, it worked out well.”

Amos and some members of the 2011 back-to-back state champs are pictured above receiving an award at the SWABs banquet in February in Spokane as the male team of the year in the Inland Northwest.

I was at the hospital Thursday having a minor procedure done (it comes with turning 50 years old), so I wasn't able to post links to our Prep Page stories.

Here you go:

My column was about Joe Albi Stadium and the need to look at the future. A study is underway to look at options to either retrofit Albi or build a stadium elsewhere among several options. What do you think should be done with the venerable stadium?

Jim Allen had this feature on arguably the best boys soccer team in the area (clue: it's not in the GSL).

The lead item in my track notebook is about ultra talented pole vaulter Anandae Clark of Lakeside (Nine Mile).

Here in our back yard - if you extend that yard to Newport - is one of the top high school throwers in the nation. Remember this name: Aaron Castle (pictured above) and take a look at his story.

Former teacher, highly successful soccer coach and current Mead athletic director Dick Cullen is retiring. Also, another note about Coeur d'Alene football.

Coeur d'Alene hurdler Morgan Stuble is featured in our weekly track notebook. Here's a link to our area track honor roll.

Love it when we have stories like we do today on Ferris/ Ben Goodwin. Mike Vlahovich did a marvelous job on the story. Here's a link. Ben is pictured above in a photo taken last spring of him and his mother, Mary, who had a double lung transplant last summer.

The first item in my column today is about the partnership the Greater Spokane League and the new Mid-Columbia Conference have struck.

Here's our first track notebook.

OK, it's still not spring. I don't care what the calendar says.

We published our track glance with a feature on Mead sprint standout Wes Bailey (pictured above).

Here's a preview of Greater Spokane League golf.

I made it over SNOWqualmie Pass this afternoon. Slow going, but a safe trip thankfully.

I'll be at all the State 4A and 3A boys and girls basketball games involving our local teams. I will tweet as often as possible. You can follow at: srpreps.

If you want to follow the Seattle/Tacoma media, try: @DougPaceyTNT and @masonkelley

First tip Thursday involves the Central Valley girls at 9 a.m.

REMINDE: If you haven't voted in one of the two polls I posted earlier this week, please do so. We have well over 500 votes in the poll asking how the small schools will fare at state and more than 400 votes in the poll asking how the bigger schools will fare.

Here's our Thursday prep-related stories.

I need to pass along an apology to the Gonzaga Prep girls basketball team. I didn't list the Bullpups regional game in our story today. It was a mistake of omission. It wasn't on purpose - regardless of the emails I've received to the contrary. Fun job at times.

Gonzaga Prep takes on Olympia on Saturday at 6 at Spokane Falls Community College.

Zech Martin has arguably been University's most consistent player.

The Post Falls wrestling team is favored to capture the Idaho 5A state championship this weekend. Pictured above at practice are Cole Jesienouski and Nathan McLeod. Both are seeded No. 1 at their weights.

Area boys and girls basketball teams a win away from state berth.

I'll jump in the company 4x4 Friday morning and make the trek to Tacoma to cover Mat Classic XXIV. I've never been to a Mat Classic and I understand I'm in for a treat - and braced for the most work I'll ever do in two days.

With our staff, I've become the jack of all trades and master of none. Just call me Mr. Versatile. So I won't be able to watch the District 8 3A or District 8 4A girls and boys basketball title games. I'm leaving you in capable hands - those of Vince Grippi and Mike Vlahovich.

I could also be in Boise for the Idaho state girls basketball tournaments. Coeur d'Alene will win another state championship. We'll have correspondents there to help us cover it.

I'll be tweeting updates from the Tacoma Dome. So if you want to follow along, check me out at: srpreps. Our state preview story and info box will be published in Friday's newspaper.

Click the tab below to see today's menu.

Click the menu below to see our prep offerings today. Pictured above is standout student and athlete Aleisha Hathaway of Shadle Park, the subject of my feature today.

The Coeur d'Alene girls basketball team captured the 5A Region I tournament championship, 50-22, over Post Falls. In the photo above, taken on my company Iphone, is Coeur d'Alene junior guard Caelyn Orlandi, who had a team-high 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Here's the link to my game story.

The Central Valley boys captured the school's first Greater Spokane League championship since 1999. Correspondent Vince Grippi was on hand to file this story. The Gonzaga Prep girls locked up second place. Here's our area girls roundup and here's our area boys roundup.

Idaho girls basketball teams are in the midst of state-qualifying tournaments.

The Greater Spokane League and Great Northern League boys and girls basketball teams conclude regular-season play this week before launching into district tournaments next week.

Washington small schools are in the midst of their district tourneys.

And wrestling teams gear up for regionals this weekend - with state next week.

Click the tab below to see the latest GNL boys and girls basketball scoring leaders.

Attached is a brief postgame interview with Gonzaga Prep boys basketball coach Matty McIntyre after his Bullpups rallied from a 23-8 deficit in the first quarter to pull away from Lewis and Clark. Here's a link to the game story.

The Central Valley boys won their 11th straight and University of Idahho-bound Ty Egbert went off for 40 points here. The University girls rallied to top Mt. Spokane.

CLICK the tab below to see updated Great Northern League boys and girls scoring leaders provided by Cheney athletic director Jim Missel.

Click the tab below to see today's menu.

UPDATED

The video is of Central Valley boys basketball coach Rick Sloan. I asked him about his team's 10th straight win Tuesday, 69-52 over Shadle Park. Here's a link to the CV/Shadle boys story and roundup of the other Greater Spokane League games.

The shocker last night occured in the girls when the No. 1-ranked Central Valley girls were upset 54-53 by the vastly improved Shadle Park Highlanders. Here's that story along with the other GSL games.

The Post Falls boys topped Lake City to throw the 5A Inland Empire League race into a logjam. Here's our area boys roundup. And Lewiston's girls grabbed share of league title with Coeur d'Alene, but the first night of the 5A Region I tournament will be held at Coeur d'Alene on Friday.

Here's a link to the updated GSL boys and girls scoring leaders.

The postseason is upon us in Idaho and Washington wrestling and boys and girls basketball. From here until the first weekend in March it's going to be a roller coaster for yours truly. But I love - LOVE - this time of the winter season. And I'm especially enjoying the sunshine today.

Click the tab below for more information. If there's something I haven't touched on please post your comments.

You know the drill. Click the tab below to see what we have today. Above is a picture, taken by Dan Pelle, of Shadle Park hoops standout Brett Boese, who is headed to Washington State University. He's one of the most impressive student-athletes (emphasis student, citizen, etc.) I've ever had the chance to get to know - and the league is chock full of them.

Attached you'll find video of a postgame interview with Shadle Park girls basketball Chad Dezellem following his team's come-from-behind 58-52 win over Gonzaga Prep last night. Here's a link to the story including the other girls games. I apologize for the abrupt end to the interview. I'm learning how to edit these things. I attempted a postgame video last week when I covered the Central Valley boys and coach Rick Sloan was very accommodating. But I forgot a key element: hit the red record button!

Here's our GSL boys roundup. Note what a fourth quarter Central Valley had against Mt. Spokane. Here's our area girls roundup. Here's our area boys roundup. And here are updated standings of area leagues.

All Greater Spokane League boys and girls basketball games tonight have been postponed.

“It was decided that the forecast was to threatening with the possibility of freezing rain on top of snow,” GSL secretary Herb Rotchford said.

Rotchford had hoped the games could be made up Saturday, but there aren't enough referees available.

The remake date for all the games is Saturday, Feb. 4.

Pictured above is Central Valley four-year starter Brooke Gallaway, the subject of my Prep Page feature today.

Click the tab below and see the PP menu.

In the University/Central Valley boys basketball game last week, U-Hi junior Brett Bailey made a long-distance shot he'll always remember. Check it out.