Week Seven Not So Lucky For Matchups

Historically, the seventh week of the high school football season in North Idaho has featured some wonderfully competitive games.

For example, several Coeur d’Alene-Lewiston and Lakeland-St. Maries games rank among the all-time “classic” contests in the Panhandle.

It’s not likely, though, that those teams will engage in games for the ages Friday when CdA (0-1 in league, 1-5 overall) visits Lewiston (1-1, 5-1) in Inland Empire League action and defending Intermountain League champion Lakeland (3-0, 4-2) treks to preseason favorite St. Maries (2-0, 5-0).

Kickoff at most area games is 7:30 p.m.

Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer considers St. Maries a huge challenge.

“They’ve gotten better every week,” Kiefer said. “It’s one of the better St. Maries teams we’ve seen in a while.”

In two other IML games, Moscow (2-0, 5-1) travels to Priest River (0-3, 4-3) and Bonners Ferry (0-2, 2-4) is at Kellogg (1-3, 2-4-1). In another IEL game, Lake City (0-2, 0-6) goes to Post Falls (1-0, 5-1).

Elsewhere, Riverside (3-2) visits Sandpoint (5-1) and in a pair of afternoon games in the North Star League, Mullan (5-0) can clinch the league title and a state eight-man playoff berth when Lakeside (5-1) visits, while Kootenai (0-5) travels to Clark Fork (1-5). Both games are at 3:30.

Grid injury update

CdA quarterback Nick Rook suffered a strained thigh in the closing moments of the Vikings’ 33-26 loss to Sandpoint last week. But Rook, who has taken some painful hits behind an inexperienced offensive line, is expected to start at Lewiston.

The bad news for the Viks is their top offensive and defensive lineman and one of the team’s leaders, Nick Fierro, tore ligaments in his knee and will be out Friday and could be lost for the season.

At Post Falls, the Trojans will welcome back two-time all-league wide receiver and defensive back Brett Hollenbeck. He hyperextended a knee three weeks ago against Lewiston.

The Trojans will be without standout linebacker Ryan Ries, who suffered partially torn knee ligaments last week. Post Falls is hopeful Ries can return in two weeks.

What happened Trojans?

Post Falls football coach Jerry Lee asked his players the the same question following the Trojans’ 21-7 loss to Colville last week.

“We had too many turnovers, too many penalties, didn’t defend the pass and weren’t there mentally,” Lee said.

That essentially sums it up.

Lee figures his team will go one of two ways this week in response to the loss. If practices are an indication, Lee should like what he sees Friday.

“It’s the time of the year that we have to improve each week, and we didn’t last week,” Lee said. “Hopefully we can chalk it up to a learning lesson.”

Mumble jumble

The regular season comes to an end this week in Inland Empire and Intermountain league volleyball play. When everything shakes out, coin flips most likely will be needed to decide seeding into next week’s state-qualifying tournaments.

In the IEL, for example, there could be a three-way tie for second. The second-place league finisher receives a host berth in the regional’s first round.

Coeur d’Alene (4-2) could take second outright with a win tonight at home against league champion Sandpoint or Saturday at Lewiston (3-3).

A three-way tie would occur if Lake City (2-4) beats visiting Lewiston tonight and defeats Post Falls (0-7) Saturday combined with Lewiston beating CdA.

The odd team out in such a scenario would have to be host on Monday to Post Falls in a loser-out playoff to get into the regional tourney. Playing a team like the Trojans, who have nothing to lose, isn’t a match CdA, Lewiston or LC would volunteer for.

In the IML, there also could be a three-way tie for second (a coveted position since it affords a first-round bye at district).

Stay tuned.

Correction, soccer fans

Erase from your minds the potential pairings for today’s A-1 Region I girls soccer tournament games that you read in the newspaper earlier in the week.

Reporters were provided with incorrect information. Today’s games feature No. 3 seed Sandpoint at No. 2 Lake City and No. 4 Moscow at No. 1 Coeur d’Alene. Both games are at 4.

The winners meet Saturday at Bear Field in Moscow in the championship game (6:30 p.m.). The winner advances to state.

, DataTimes