Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

I didn’t build a lead, but at least I didn’t fall behind either.

The sportswriter and the guest, Lake City athletic director Ron Adams, tied in the first week, each picking 7 of 9 correctly. Had I used my head, though, I’d have a lead. I don’t know what prompted me to pick against Mullan - especially at home where coach John Drager’s losses in the past decade could be added on one hand.

And the other reason I should have picked Mullan over Lakeside is it’s Drager’s final year as head coach. He’ll teach one more year before retiring.

But here’s the topper: It was Drager’s birthday last Friday. His Tigers made sure it was a happy celebration, too.

We break ground in the second week of the season when I take on a coach’s wife, Jeri Lee, the better half of Post Falls coach Jerry Lee and the proud mother of the top collegiate prospect in North Idaho and perhaps the state, Austin.

They don’t come much nicer than Jeri, a physical education teacher at Post Falls High. But for a week we’re enemies!

East Valley at Coeur d’Alene: Knights coach Jim Clements calls Brian Lamarche the best quarterback he’s ever had. Clements, you’ll remember, coached at CdA one year in 1986 and took the Vikings to a state title.

“He throws well, works hard and is a student of the game,” Clements said.

LaMarche’s best moves, though, could be handing the ball off to a deep stable of running backs in EV’s Wing T three-back offense.

CdA fell in the final minutes to EV last year 24-21. The Viks will play much better than they did in their opener, but suffer back-to-back losses for a second straight year. We’ll go with the same score as last year.

Guest: Nick Rook, Ben Davis, Mark Scates - need I say more? CdA 21, EV 14.

Bonners Ferry at Post Falls: The Trojans defense shines and we all know about the offense. The Badgers get manhandled a second straight week. PF 40, BF 10.

Guest: It’s our first home game and the team will be pumped. PF 28, BF 7.

Lakeland at Sandpoint: The Hawks, who are loaded with young potential, will have their hands full with a seasoned, hungry kennel of Bulldogs. Sandpoint 28, Lakeland 13.

Guest: Sandpoint has a more mature team. (Jeremy) Thielbahr will be tough to stop. (Ryan) Knowles on defense is a challenge.

Other picks

Greg Lee Jeri Lee

Cheney 27, Lake City 13 Cheney 35, Lake City 6

Lewiston 35, W. Valley 14 Lewiston 34, W. Valley 10

Moscow 17, Pullman 14 Pullman 27, Moscow 12

Kellogg 20, Lakeside(W) 13 Kellogg 21, Lakeside(W) 14

St. Maries 20, Freeman 13 St. Maries 28, Freeman 12

P. River 20, Newport 6 Newport 14, P. River 7

Mullan 60, Kootenai 6 Mullan 17, Kootenai 6

Lakeside 54, F. Christian 6 F. Christian 12, Lakeside 6

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