Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

The Comeback Year is complete. I’m claiming a season victory over the guests going into the final week.

For the third time in the four-year history of this feature, the Scribe has defeated the guests.

This victory is particularly satisfying after I suffered my first defeat last year.

I wrapped up the win by picking six of eight games last week. My guest, Ron Ouren, picked with his heart and managed just four of eight. I have a six-game lead with eight regular-season games remaining (Lee 60 of 79, .759; Guests 54 of 79, .684).

My final challenge is my traditional season-ending guest, teammate Jim Meehan.

Meehan has had a string of good fortune (OK, we’ll call it what it is, luck) against the prep writer. We tied last year, but he slipped past me the first two years.

A victory would be a fitting touch to the Comeback Year. Because both of us see no swing games, the winner will be decided by point differential. < Sandpoint at Post Falls: Let’s have a little fun here. These teams played six common opponents. Sandpoint beat four of those teams by sizeable margins, and both teams lost to Lewiston. Sandpoint’s record against those teams is 4-2, Post Falls’ record is 2-3-1.

For conversation’s sake, though, consider East Valley. Post Falls led 20-7 midway through the third quarter before losing 27-20. EV defeated Sandpoint 35-14 in one of the Bulldogs’ worst games in some time. Sandpoint scored 220 points against the common opponents and allowed 145. Post Falls allowed more points (131) than it scored (121).

Bottom line: Sandpoint is heavily favored Friday. This would be an upset similar to Lake City over Lewiston. Not going to happen. Sandpoint 34, Post Falls 21.

Guest: Remember a couple years ago when favored Post Falls struggled to win at Sandpoint to earn a playoff berth? Sandpoint’s turn to squirm. Sandpoint 34, Post Falls 27.

Moscow at Lakeland: Imagine this. It’ll be passing vs. running. But guess who’ll be calling the passing plays? Run-oriented Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer. And usually pass-happy Eric Bjorkman of Moscow will try to beat the Hawks on the ground.

Lake City beat Moscow 36-6 and Lakeland 33-7. By my calculations that means Lakeland will be wearing the Intermountain League crown and Moscow will find itself in a Kansas Tiebreaker with St. Maries and Priest River. Lakeland 33, Moscow 21.

Guest: One of the better rivalries in the Panhandle goes to Hawks QB Kurt Reese and a stingy defense. Lakeland 22, Moscow 7.

Lake City at Coeur d’Alene: The Vikings are where the Timberwolves were three years ago - at rock-bottom.

LC tunes up for first appearance in state playoffs. LC 40, CdA 14.

Guest: Football 101 (how to build a program), instructor, LC coach Van Troxel. Gotta admire hard-running Vik Pat Goodwin, but T-Wolves are the feel-good story in our region. CdA gets Troxel-ized. LC 46, CdA 7.

Other picks

Greg Lee Jim Meehan Lewiston 28, Hellgate 14 Lewiston 36, Hellgate 15 St. Maries 39, B. Ferry 6 St. Maries 34, B. Ferry 21 Lakeside 70, C. Fork 24 Lakeside 59, C. Fork 14 F. Christian 52, Mullan 6 F. Christian 47, Mullan 13 Grangeville 42, Wallace 20 Grangeville 40, Wallace 14

, DataTimes