Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

Since I’m quick to laugh at myself - and confess to moments of insanity I’m allowed a few words to gush.

(OK, maybe I should act like I’ve picked a few “Upset Specials” before!) You read it here first last week when I picked Lake City to upset defending State A-1 Division I champ Lewiston.

I could miss every pick for the next three weeks and it wouldn’t reduce my ear-to-ear grin.

As it turned out, That prediction helped me salvage a tie with my guest, retired Mullan football/basketball coach John Drager.

Both of us picked six of seven games. The scoreboard through six weeks reads: The Scribe 46 of 63 (.730), Guests 44 of 63 (.700).

St. Maries principal Jerry Bayley is my guest this week. Bayley, 59, is in his 27th year as principal at St. Maries and 29th overall at the school. He was the head football coach his first year. His son, Mike, is an assistant football coach at Lakeland.

Lake City at Post Falls: Brace yourselves for a helmet-basher here.

Post Falls’ season has been topsy turvy. The Trojans have had a quarter of stellar play here and there, but not a complete game.

Quarterback Adam Fehling has stepped in nicely at tailback for Scott Chamberlain, lost for the season to a knee injury. And Ben Sharon is a good fit at quarterback.

So the Trojans’ best games could be ahead of them. But not Friday. The Timberwolves play fewer players both ways and will wear down the Trojans, who’ll give up a big play or two. LC 34, PF 24.

Guest: Lake City seems to have its program going, as the win over Lewiston indicated. Even though the Post Falls coach is a St. Maries graduate (Jeff Choate), it is … LC 28, PF 13.

Lakeland at St. Maries: After a slow start, the Hawks have improved each week. They’re beginning to play at the level expected earlier in the year.

Expect a shootout. Lakeland’s play action and misdirection schemes could be the difference.

St. Maries coach Curt Carr won’t leave one page unturned in his playbook. He’d like to beat Lakeland one more time before he retires full time to his athletic director’s office. But Lakeland will have the answers. Lakeland 26, St. Maries 14.

Guest: The past 12 years Lakeland has beaten St. Maries seven times. But St. Maries had last week off and a chance to heal. A St. Maries graduate (my son) is a coach at Lakeland. But the score is … St. Maries 22, Lakeland 20.

Moscow at Priest River: If ever there was an opponent for the Spartans to be inspired against it’s Moscow. The Bears have won by several lopsided margins in recent years, including the 89-0 pummeling in 1992.

Priest River, enjoying perhaps its best season, watches its playoff hopes come to an end. Moscow 22, PR 13.

Guest: Priest River is having a great season, and Moscow has to make a long trip. But Moscow is still tough. Moscow 21, PR 7.

Other picks

Greg Lee Jerry Bayley

Lewiston 48, CdA 6 Lewiston 49, CdA 7

Sndpnt 49, MtSpokane 10 Sndpnt 56, MtSpokane 6

B. Ferry 18, Kellogg 13 Kellogg 28, B. Ferry 14

Kootenai 48, Mullan 12 Kootenai 35, Mullan 7

Lakeside 57, F. Christian 12 Lakeside 42, F. Christian 14

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