Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

I can’t take credit for that statement, but it aptly summarizes my prognostications. I beat the guests overall and topped it all off with a third straight victory over cohort Jim Meehan.Here are the final numbers on the scoreboard: Scribe 80-27 (.748), Guests 78-29 (.729).

Now it’s on to my postseason predictions.

Five North Idaho teams are in the playoffs, and I see two advancing to state championship games.

A-1 Division II

Skyview at Lake City: It’s the Hawks’ first playoff appearance. It’s the Timberwolves’ third straight year in the playoffs.

Furthermore, Skyview must travel.

So that’s reason enough to pick LC by a healthy margin. What’s more, LC is a better team.

I wouldn’t have picked LC to go far in the playoffs little more than three weeks ago. But the T-Wolves are back on track. LC wins Friday 28-13. Then the T-Wolves will play host to the defending state champ, Eagle, the following week and advance to the state final by pulling off an upset. If LC reaches the state title game, that contest will be played in the University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome on Nov. 19 at a time to be determined.

Sandpoint at Eagle: The Bulldogs can play with the Mustangs offensively.

But Sandpoint won’t be able to stop Eagle’s high-powered offense. For the Bulldogs to have a chance at an upset, their offense will need to keep the Mustangs’ offense on the sideline. As much as I would love to see an LC-Sandpoint semifinal, it’s not going to happen. Eagle 36, Sandpoint 24.

A-2

Kuna at Lakeland: The Kavemen rolled into Rathdrum last year and stunned the Hawks 33-14 on their way to the state title game.

Lakeland will have to play at a state-title level to win Saturday. But the Hawks feel they have a score to settle. Last year’s Lakeland team was loaded with talent, probably more so than this year’s team. But the Hawks are a better team this season.

Lakeland prevails 28-24 in a thriller. Then the Hawks will qualify for the title game with a victory at Bishop Kelly.

Kellogg at Bishop Kelly: The Wildcats were spanked by Lakeland 59-8 last week. And the same could occur Saturday.

But Kellogg will find a way to make it respectable, even if the odds appear stacked against them. BK 36, Kellogg 14.

A-4 eight-man

Notus vs. Falls Christian: The teams meet at Falls Christian in a rematch of last year’s playoff opener, which was played in the Kibbie Dome.

Notus beat FCA 36-24 in the first playoff game in Falls Christian’s school history. FCA’s Eagles aren’t as good as they were last year, but they have speedy running back Ben Danforth, a threat on the indoor carpet. Notus 42, FCA 34.