Shriners Present Border Games
The annual Shriners Doubleheader at the University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome is always a reminder that there are more important things in life than just football games.
On the field, though, the games in the 39th edition of the doubleheader take on a little more significance than in recent years. The action Friday night features two Border League contests.
The nightcap, pitting Moscow against Coeur d’Alene, will enhance the slim playoff hopes for one team and dim the postseason dreams of the other.
Sandpoint (1-1) and Clarkston (1-0) kick things off at 5, followed by Moscow (0-2) and Coeur d’Alene (1-2) at about 8.
In two other Border League games Friday, Lake City (2-0) goes to West Valley (0-1) in a game that could be decisively lopsided and Post Falls (1-1), smarting from a 26-10 loss at Clarkston, looks to rebound at Colville (0-1).
In a huge Intermountain League game, Bonners Ferry (0-2) goes to Lakeland (2-0 overall, 1-0 league). In other league matchups, Grangeville (0-2) is at Timberlake (1-1, 0-1) and St. Maries (1-1) visits Kellogg (1-1).
In afternoon North Star League games, Kootenai (1-0) visits Falls Christian (0-2, 0-1) and Clark Fork (0-1) makes its league debut at Mullan (1-1).
In Central Idaho League action, Prairie (1-2, 0-1) is at Wallace (0-2, 0-1) and Lakeside (0-2, 0-1) goes to Potlatch (0-2).
Coeur d’Alene vs. Moscow: Viks coach Shawn Amos’ biggest task this week is trying to get his team to ignore the Bears’ record.
“They’re a very good 0-2 football team,” Amos said. “They gave Post Falls all they could handle and probably should have won the game. They’re very physical and huge up front.”
CdA hopes to build off its first win last week.
“Our kids are coming on,” Amos said. “A win certainly helps. This is a big game for us. Our goal is to make people think about us a little bit, and a win could do that. But we know we have a long ways to go.”
Moscow coach Jaxon Schweikert has seen tiny glimpses of his team’s potential. But those have been overshadowed by stretches of disappointing play.
“We have to quit hurting ourselves with mistakes,” Schweikert said. “Coeur d’Alene is a lot better than they were last year. We haven’t come close to being as tough as we should be. We thought defense would be one of our strengths. So far it hasn’t been.”
Bonners Ferry at Lakeland: As it turned out last year, the Badgers gave the IML champ Hawks their toughest game, losing 17-0.
Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer expects another difficult game with the Badgers.
Bonners Ferry coach Ted Reynolds believes the only way his team can beat Lakeland is by putting the ball in the air.
“That’s the only way we’ve got a chance,” Reynolds said. “We’ve changed the whole offense. If we can keep it close I think we’ll have a shot.”
Quick kicks
Sandpoint’s 48-7 win over West Valley wasn’t a tuneup for Clarkston.
“We played three quarterbacks in the first half,” Sandpoint coach Satini Puailoa said. “And we had three touchdowns called back because of penalties. The only thing the game was good for was our morale. Clarkston should be a better gauge to show us where we’re at.”
The chore doesn’t get easier for WV. The Eagles play host to Lake City, which topped Sandpoint 21-6 two weeks ago.
LC is securely seated in the Border League driver’s seat as the Timberwolves cruise into the light part of their schedule. The T-Wolves go to Colville next week before playing host to Coeur d’Alene, Moscow and Clarkston in consecutive weeks.
The next difficult game on LC’s schedule is Oct. 22 when the T-Wolves travel to Post Falls. That game should decide the region’s No. 1 playoff seed.
Post Falls coach Jeff Choate warns that Moscow will have a say in deciding state playoff berths before the season concludes.
“They’re going to jump up and hurt someone,” said Choate, whose team needed a second-half rally to avoid an upset in its opener (34-20).
As of Tuesday, Choate had nine starters out with injuries.
“We were a pretty good football team a month ago,” he said. “We’re not very good right now. We hope to get most of them back over a period of time.”
The Trojans will definitely be without wide receiver/defensive back Jeff Johnson, center/linebacker Joe Adamchak and defensive tackle Jarod Williams, all seniors, this week.
Senior running back Jon Garrett (ankle sprain) should be back.
“It’s like going over an NFL injury report,” Choate said as he went down his injury list.
This ‘n’ that
Todd Gilkey has been named athletic director at St. Maries, replacing Curt Carr, who resigned to take a vice principal job at Lakeland.
Gilkey has coached various sports at St. Maries, including stints as head girls basketball and softball coach. He currently assists volleyball coach Mitch Santos.
Cal Ketchum replaces Dick Lilienkamp as head boys basketball coach at Wallace.
Lilienkamp coached 18 years, finishing with a 217-197 career record.
Ketchum, a Seattle native, was Lilienkamp’s assistant the past three years.
LC football coach Van Troxel isn’t the only Troxel unbeaten this fall.
His youngest brother, Andy, was successful in his head coaching debut Friday when Southridge of Kennewick defeated Kennewick 21-8. It also was the third-year school’s first varsity win.
Andy, offensive coordinator for State 4A champ Pasco last year, played for his father at Kennewick.
When Centennial defeated Highland 28-6 last week, it snapped Highland’s 25-game winning streak.