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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Coeur d’Alene remains on top in NWPrepsNow.com power rankings

Predictably, Coeur d’Alene remains atop the NWPrepsNow.com Power Rankings behind a 41-21 win over Moses Lake on Friday night.

The Vikings (4-0) have defeated two solid Washington opponents handily, but next on the schedule is undefeated and top-ranked Highland of Pocatello. It will be a rematch of last season’s Idaho 5A title game, which Coeur d’Alene won 31-28. Another test will be Oct. 17 when the Viks take on crosstown rival Lake City, which is No. 2 in the power rankings.

“It seems unfair to list the Timberwolves second,” SWX producer Neil Stover said. “They haven’t done anything not to warrant being No. 1. But until they knock off the champs – or somebody else does – the T-Wolves will still be ‘1A.’ But that shouldn’t be viewed as a slight to Lake City; this team is for real.” 

Freeman (3-0) ran all over Newport and stands in third. The Scotties are followed by Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (3-0) taking the fourth spot. The Broncos did receive a first-place vote. Gonzaga Prep (3-0) and Shadle Park (2-1) round out the rankings.

The Highlanders dropped from second to sixth with their 56-34 loss to Lake City on Friday night.

“A loss to Lake City gives the Highlanders a good idea of what it’s going to take to compete for a 3A state title in Washington,” SWX’s Sam Adams  said. “Brett Rypien and company should rebound just fine in GSL play.”

The Bullpups are the only undefeated Greater Spokane League team and are, “easily the best team in the GSL 4A,” Greg Lee, The Spokesman-Review’s lead prep writer, said.

Cheney knocked Lakeland out of the rankings with a 21-10 vicotry over the Hawks, while the Blackhawks’ former Great Northern League foe, Colville, received votes with an eye-opening 50-14 win over Medical Lake in its Northeast A League debut.

Teams aren’t ranked in the poll based on their potential to beat other teams in the rankings. The top criteria is how far the voters believe a team can advance in the postseason and how teams stack up against teams from their respective classifications.