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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Coeur d’Alene opens football season without QB Colson Yankoff

Coeur d’Alene High football coach Shawn Amos, seen here a year ago, has decision to make with quarterback Colson Yankoff unavailable for the Vikings’ season opener Friday. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

For a second year in a row, the Coeur d’Alene football team opens the season in Folsom, California.

When the Vikings take the field on Friday, they will be without senior dual-threat quarterback and University of Washington commit Colson Yankoff.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Yankoff is still recovering from surgery in mid May to repair a meniscus tear he suffered while long jumping in a track meet.

“I’ll be back in a few weeks,” Yankoff said. “I’m getting to run around now so it’s only a matter of time. The last week I’ve kind of ramped things up a little more.”

Just when the return occurs is a guess at this point.

Asked if Yankoff could return as early as next week, coach Shawn Amos was guarded.

“Maybe or the third (week) or fourth (week) – who knows,” said Amos, who pointed out that the decision on when Yankoff returns is up to him and his family.

“I need to be able to do certain things before I can go into a game situation,” he said. “I have a program I’m doing running and lifting to get there but time will tell. (Missing) a few games is the roughest estimation I can give you.”

CdA needs Yankoff most in October. Certainly by then his knee will be healed.

The Viks, who were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll released Thursday, will have their hands full against powerhouse Folsom, which won 55-36 a year ago.

According to preseason MaxPreps rankings, Folsom is ranked No. 113 nationally and No. 17 in California. CdA is rated No. 250 nationally and second in Idaho.

Making matters worse for Amos is CdA lost Kale Edwards, who was pegged to be Yankoff’s backup. Edwards broke a leg during Hoopfest.

So it’s on to No. 3. Just who that is remains a mystery. Amos said senior Brady Thompson and junior Carter Friesz, the youngest of three sons of former CdA and University of Idaho standout John Friesz, are fighting for the starting job.

Folsom also must replace a quarterback. But backup quarterbacks at Folsom could start at many other schools most years. The Bulldogs return their top wide receiver and running back, and would be a formidable even for a healthy team.

  • The only game Friday in Kootenai County is Sandpoint at Post Falls.
  • Elsewhere Friday, Lake City travels to Madison in Rexburg, Lakeland treks to Nampa to meet Skyview, St. Maries is at Kellogg, Libby (Montana) goes to Bonners Ferry, Lewis County goes to Kootenai, Clark Fork of Superior, Montana, visits Wallace, Moscow is at Grangeville and Priest River visits Thompson Falls (Montana).
  • In games Saturday, Frenchtown (Montana) is at Timberlake and Clark Fork travels to Timberline.

Contact the writer:

(509) 844-8168

gregl@spokesman.com