Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

Hey, predicting high school football games isn’t an exact science. But it is times like last week that validate that I know of what I speak.

At least for a week!

After picking just six of 12 games two weeks ago, the Scribe called 12 of 13 correctly last week. Cheney’s 3-0 win over Coeur d’Alene stopped me short of perfection.

The best news is that I beat our part-time scribe Phil Hayes, who picked 11 of 13. (I can’t gloat because it was one of those I-had-more-to-lose-than-gain situations.)

With two weeks left, I trail the guests by just one. The scoreboard reads: Lee 63 of 86 (.732), Guests 64 of 86 (.744).

My next-to-last guest is Erna Rhinehart. You may recall Erna from her sportswriting days at the Coeur d’Alene Press in the mid-1980s.

A University of Washington grad, Rhinehart has worked the past 11 years as senior public relations specialist at North Idaho College. Erna and her husband, Ron, have two boys (Riley 13, Lucas 9) who keep them jumping from soccer and football fields to basketball gyms and golf courses.

Lake City at Post Falls: At the start of the season, this shaped up as a classic showdown for the Inland Empire League championship. It may not be a winner-take-all confrontation, but it still has much significance.

If LC wins, it captures the IEL title and the top playoff seed outright. If Post Falls wins, it throws the chase for the league’s two playoff berths into a scramble that would require more space than is available here to explain. The Trojans would be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose and Sandpoint defeats Coeur d’Alene.

LC is 7-0, but has been sluggish in four of its last five victories. Post Falls is healthy offensively, but is short-handed defensively.

The Trojans won’t roll over. But if LC’s inconsistency continues, the game will be closer than the T-Wolves would like. LC 28, PF 14.

Guest: You gotta go with the Timberwolves and their undefeated record. Coach (Van) Troxel will be doing everything possible to have his players geared up for playing two complete halves. LC 21, PF 7.

Sandpoint at Coeur d’Alene: It would not be a major upset to pick the Viks, who knocked off Sandpoint at Sandpoint last year.

While both teams have improved significantly, Sandpoint has improved more - particularly on offense. The Bulldogs have scored 41 points (Colville), 56 (Lewiston) and 41 (Post Falls) the past three weeks.

The Viks must have another defensive effort similar to last week. CdA doesn’t have enough firepower to get into a track meet. Sandpoint 24, CdA 14.

Guest: The Bulldogs are coming off a big win over Post Falls, and the Vikings are hungry for a victory. This will be a heated battle, but I gotta give the edge to the Bulldogs with their 5-2 overall record. The Vikings played a great game earlier against LC and are still working on regrouping with a new quarterback. Sandpoint 21, CdA 14.

Falls Christian at Clark Fork: Last year’s co-North Star League champs had to meet in a Kansas tiebreaker to decide the league’s playoff berth.

FCA, which won last year’s tiebreaker and earned its first playoff berth in school history, tripped Clark Fork 40-32 three weeks ago. The Wampus Cats have all the motivation they need. CF 42, FCA 36.

Guest: Falls Christian racked up 64 points last week behind Ben Danforth’s five touchdowns. I’m going with the FCA offense, which will continue to roll. Clark Fork will put up a fierce fight. FCA 35, CF 24.

Other games

Lee Rhinehart

Lakeland 35, P. River 7 Lakeland 21, P. River 7

St. Maries 28, Grangville 21 St. Maries 21, Grangeville 14

Kellogg 21, Timberlake 13 Kellogg 28, Timberlake 7

Bonners Ferry 14, Orofino 12 Bonners Ferry 14, Orofino 7

Moscow 28, West Valley 14 Moscow 14, West Valley 3

Cheney 21, Clarkston 7 Cheney 14, Clarkston 3

Kamiah 35, Wallace 12 Kamiah 14, Wallace 13

C. Valley 18, Lakeside 12 Lakeside 7, C. Valley 0

Mullan 36, Kootenai 32 Kootenai 14, Mullan 13

Lewiston 21, Rogers 14 Lewiston 14, Rogers 7