Lc Goes After Its First Iel Win Perfect Non-League Start Gives Timberwolves More Ambition

A 4-0 start has caused Lake City High football coach Van Troxel to upgrade the outlook of his team going into Inland Empire League play.

It’s gone from small hopes to big hopes as the Timberwolves prepare to meet Sandpoint (2-2) Friday. Kickoff at Barlow Stadium, as with all other night games, is at 7.

“The difference from the start of the season is I thought we’d have a chance against Sandpoint if things went well,” Troxel said. “Now we’ve improved enough to where we have more than a chance to win.”

A win Friday would guarantee LC its first winning season. It would also be LC’s first league victory.

Sandpoint is coming off back-to-back losses (41-28 at Borah, 35-14 at home against East Valley).

“You can throw the last two weeks out,” Troxel said. “(Sandpoint) had a mental letdown last week. We did too against Cheney. We didn’t practice well and I’m a firm believer in the system, and the system says if you don’t practice well you don’t play well.

“We were able to play well enough at the right time to win. Sandpoint didn’t look like the same team from earlier in the season.”

Bulldogs coach Satini Puailoa was frank about his team’s play last week. “We just didn’t show up; we weren’t ready to play,” Puailoa said. “We weren’t ready as coaches either.”

Troxel expects to see Sandpoint’s best Friday. Does he have any concerns?

“Start with (Caleb) Bowman (wide receiver). How do you stop the fastest kid in the state?” Troxel asked. “We just have to be conscientious of where he’s at and be solid in our coverages.”

Puailoa said the game is critical for being a league opener.

“If you win this you’re in good shape for a playoff spot,” Puailoa said. “If you don’t win you’re playing catchup.”

At the start of the season, few would have expected the Intermountain League game Friday between Lakeland and Priest River to be of much interest (see related story).

But Priest River’s 7-6 upset of St. Maries two weeks ago and its 5-0 overall record is the talk of the league. The Hawks (2-1-1, 1-0) visit the Spartans, who are 2-0 in league.

“We’ve always wanted to be like Lakeland,” Priest River coach Norm Stark said. “They’ve had the best program over the years. We really consider this our Super Bowl.”

Strange as it may sound, a win by Priest River over Lakeland or Moscow, coupled with an expected victory over struggling Bonners Ferry, could earn the Spartans their first state playoff berth.

“That’s the way we’re looking at it,” Stark said. “If we can hang close with Lakeland we’ll be tough.”

“This is one of the best Priest River teams in a long time,” Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer said. “Their defense has been a mainstay. We’re going to have to play good ball. I think we’ve definitely been improving.”

In other games, Coeur d’Alene (1-3) goes to Moscow (1-3); Chewelah, Wash., (3-0) visits Post Falls (1-2-1); Clarkston (2-1) is at Lewiston (3-0-1) in the 100th game of their rivalry; West Valley (1-2) treks to Bonners Ferry (1-3); St. Maries (4-1, 0-1) is at Kellogg (0-4, 0-2) in an IML game; and Wallace (3-2) hits the road against Garfield-Palouse (0-3).

In afternoon North Star League games, Lakeside (4-1, 4-0) is at Kootenai (2-3, 2-2) and Clark Fork (2-3, 2-2) goes to Falls Christian (3-2, 2-2) in a key matchup. Both games begin at 3:30.

, DataTimes