Pick 6: Lee extends lead over Adams

Normally I would be upset with a 4-2 week.

But when I can add to my lead like I did last week, I’ll take 4-2 all day long.

My lead over Sam Adams is now five. I’m 23-7 (.767) to Adams’ 18-12 (.600).

Area teams begin to either jump into league play this week or face key matchups. Several games will go far in determining postseason berths in the weeks to come.

Lake City at Post Falls, Friday, 7

Lee: Neither team has a prolific offense. But I do know this – the Trojans have the better defense. That should be more than enough for Post Falls. Post Falls 26, LC 13.

Adams: How’s this for stingy defense? Since surrendering 27 points in a win against Skyview on Sept. 4, the Trojans have limited their opponents to two touchdowns or less for four weeks in a row. Defense is going to win the day Friday. Post Falls 17, LC 13.

Lewiston at Coeur d’Alene, Friday, 7

Lee: The Bengals are off to their best start in years at 6-0. We could use a common opponent here, Hermiston. Lewiston defeated Hermiston at home 56-37 two weeks ago. CdA traveled to Hermiston last week, turned the ball over five times and but managed a 43-10 decision. CdA is much, much better. This will tell us if Lewiston is a contender for a postseason berth. CdA 28, Lewiston 14.

Adams: Raise your hand if you thought the Bengals would be 6-0 heading into league play? Outside of a three-point win against Sandpoint, Lewiston has been dominant in every phase of the game. Now comes the true barometer – a game against the class of Idaho. The Vikings have managed to improve every week since being shut out in their opener. I believe CdA would beat Skyline if the teams played again this season. I like the ever-improving Viks at home. CdA 24, Lewiston 17.

Colville at Freeman, Friday, 7

Lee: This has been a wonderful rivalry the last three years. Colville isn’t the same team that advanced to the State 1A final last year. I’m not ready to say Freeman is as good as the team as the team that captured a state title two years ago, but the Scotties are dang good. And they’re the best team for my money in the Northeast A. Freeman 30, Colville 13.

Adams: Freeman has responded nicely since a Week Two blowout loss to Pullman, winning three in a row. The Indians have a stout defense and will do everything they can to derail the Scotties’ hopes of a league title. This one is going down to the wire in perhaps the game of the year in the Inland Northwest. Freeman 28, Colville 22.

West Valley at East Valley, Friday, 7

Lee: Full disclosure – I didn’t give the Eagles a chance against Pullman last week, and they sent the Greyhounds home 23-20 loses. So expect the unexpected in the GNL. It would go to figure that EV, shutout by Cheney last week, would bounce back and upset WV. Not going to happen. WV 33, EV 16.

Adams: WV really showed me something last week. I watched the Eagles stifle the Pullman offense. Add to that WV has won two in a row while EV limps in on a three-game losing streak. Few rivalries are better than this one. I give the slight nod to WV and its suffocating defense. WV 17, EV 14.

University at Gonzaga Prep, Friday, 7

Lee: I picked G-Prep and Central Valley to finish 1-2, but the Titans want to prove me wrong. This should be one helluva game. And I hope it lives up to the hype. G-Prep has the better defense. G-Prep 30, U-Hi 24.

Adams: Should we be surprised that both teams are 5-0? Taking nothing away from U-Hi, the Titans have gone through the easiest portion of their schedule with G-Prep, LC, Mead and CV ahead. In the end, this game comes down to home field with the edge going to G-Prep’s veer and swarming defense. But expect the Titans to make the Bullpups sweat this out. G-Prep 35, U-Hi 28.

Mt. Spokane vs. Mead, Friday, Albi, 7:30

Lee: The Battle of the Bell features two evenly matched teams. Mead is highly motivated to get the Bell back after losing two straight. The defenses cancel each other out. So what this comes down to for me is Mt. Spokane QB Mitchell Speer and fullback Dalton Dixon. They’re the best combination of skill players in the game. Mt. Spokane 28, Mead 24.

Adams: Offensively, Mead played about as bad a game as it could last week against Central Valley, and the Panthers only lost by three. Mt. Spokane is going to have its hands full with Samson Brown, who is a difference maker on offense and special teams. Mead’s defense is at least in the top three in the GSL. The Panthers will end the Bell drought. Mead 14, Mt. Spokane 7.