Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee
After embarrassing myself the week before, I regained composure and added to my runaway lead with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. I correctly picked seven of eight games, edging guest Bob Marzulli of St. Maries (six correct).
Heading into the next-to-last week, the scoreboard reads: Lee 56-12 (.823), Guests 47-21 (.691).
This week’s guest is first-year Post Falls principal John Billetz.
Billetz should hold his own.
He is just one year removed as a head football coach. Billitz served as head coach and athletic director the past three seasons at Minico in southern Idaho.
Before his stint at Minico, Billetz was principal for six years at Burley and head football coach at the school for six years prior to taking the administrative job.
A native of Pennsylvania, Billetz, 44, played football for Bobby Bowden at the University of West Virginia. He played in the 1972 Peach Bowl when North Carolina St., then coached by young buck Lou Holtz, beat West Virginia 49-13.
Billetz said he’s through coaching football and Trojans coach Jerry Lee’s job is very secure.
“Someone said the other day, ‘You’re one of those smart football coaches like Jerry Lee.’ I said I’m a lot smarter than Jerry Lee; I’m an ex-(football coach),” Billetz said, laughing.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Nearly everyone I’ve consulted regarding the St. Maries at Moscow game - which should decide the Intermountain League champion - says the smart pick is Moscow.
Especially because the game is at Moscow.
Though I haven’t seen Moscow play, I can’t imagine the Bears are better than the Lumberjacks. St. Maries did anything it wanted to do against Lakeland last week.
It’s without reservation that I pick St. Maries. Lumberjacks 28, Bears 17.
Guest: St. Maries has been playing great. St. Maries 28, Moscow 14.
Post Falls at Coeur d’Alene: The Trojans have their own streak going against the Vikings. Post Falls defeated CdA twice last season.
Post Falls has too much Josh Mort and the Viks don’t have enough to counter. Although it may be close for a half, … Post Falls 34, CdA 17.
Guest: The game will be close because Coeur d’Alene has home-field advantage. Post Falls 27, CdA 20.
Lewiston at Sandpoint: The Bengals are rolling, but something tells me they’ll have as much difficulty stopping the Bulldogs’ Jeremy Thielbahr as they did Post Falls’ Mort. In an upset … Sandpoint 27, Lewiston 26.
Guest: Although Sandpoint is playing well, Lewiston has more experience in big games. Lewiston 35, Sandpoint 20.
OTHER PICKS Lee Billetz Lakeland 18, Lake City 13 Lakeland 27, Lake City 13 Kellogg 28, Wallace 12 Kellogg 35, Wallace 14 B. Ferry 21, Priest River 6 B. Ferry 28, P. River 7 Lakeside 44, F.Christian 12 Lakeside 42, F.Christian 35 Mullan 46, Kootenai 0 Mullan 42, Kootenai 7
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo