Quick hits
LOOKING AHEAD
Before we go any further, let’s give thanks fall sports are starting.
Which means school isn’t too far behind.
This year you’ll see some subtle changes here on the Prep Page, though they won’t kick off until next week. But because everyone loves surprises (except overweight sports writers with weak hearts), we won’t give them away just yet.
So tune in next week.
This week there are numerous non-league football games to watch, with many intriguing matchups. Central Valley tries to avenge last year’s 49-35 loss when it hosts Sandpoint (1-0) and its new coach Sean Dorris. G-Prep also has revenge on its mind, hosting Bellarmine Prep at Albi. Spokane’s Prep lost 17-7 last year at Tacoma’s Prep. University travels to Coeur d’Alene to play one of Idaho’s best, Lake City. East Valley hosts the Vikings of Coeur d’Alene, who opened last week with a 34-7 rout of Montana’s Flathead High.
There’s also an interesting game Saturday, but it’s in Seattle, where defending GSL champ Mead meets 3A Camas (near Vancouver) at the Seahawks’ stadium, Qwest Field.
Football
Games involving GSL teams
Friday
Sandpoint at Central Valley, 7 p.m.
Lewiston at Clarkston, 7 p.m.
Rogers vs. Post Falls at EWU, 5 p.m.
Cheney vs. Cascade (Leavenworth) at EWU, 7:30 p.m.
Gonzaga Prep vs. Bellarmine Prep at Albi, 5:45 p.m.
NC vs. Ellensburg at Albi, 8:30 p.m.
Coeur d’Alene at East Valley, 7 p.m.
Mt. Spokane at West Valley, 7 p.m.
University at Lake City, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Mead vs. Camas at Qwest Field in Seattle, 12:30 p.m.
Other games of interest
Friday
Sprague-Harrington at Touchet, 4 p.m.
Touchet looks for redemption after being knocked off 46-13 by the Falcons in last year’s B-8 state quarterfinals at Joe Albi.
Volleyball
Tonight
Lewis and Clark at Mead, 7 p.m.
Two of the league favorites meet on the GSL’s first night.
Girls soccer
Wednesday
Ferris at Mead; Lewis and Clark at Mt. Spokane, both 4 p.m.
Early in the year, it’s hard to tell who will challenge for a league title. But these matchups should have a bearing on the final standings.
Looking around
Clements Cup
When East Valley hosts Coeur d’Alene Friday in its football opener, the game will be played for the inaugural Clements Cup.
Part of the proceeds from the game will benefit the American Diabetes Association. No passes will be accepted, said EV activities coordinator Joe Kostecka. Prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
The Cup is named after the late Jim Clements, who coached Coeur d’Alene to an Idaho state title in 1985 and later spent his final eight years coaching in the area at East Valley, resigning after the 1999 season.
A diabetic, he died at age 62 from a heart attack suffered while jogging on Sept. 4, 2002, almost two years ago to the day of the EV-Cd’A game.
“We scheduled the game without thinking about honoring Jim,” said Kostecka. “Give credit to the Coeur d’Alene staff which came up with the idea. We brainstormed with (Vikings athletic director) Larry Schwenke, met with the ADA, bought a cup and Jim’s wife, Holly, will be there to do the coin toss. I think it will be a cool deal.”
Kostecka said they’d keep the Clements Cup going as long as the series with Coeur d’Alene continues.
But there’s no reason it couldn’t go on even if the two schools don’t play. The Knights play in the GSL with West Valley. That was where Clements got his first head coaching job. During four years there he had four state playoff appearances, a 32-9-1 record and one state finalist. He also coached six years in Pullman.
Around the state in football
High school football guru Ron Siegel puts out a preseason all-state senior team that includes players from all classifications.
This year the Inland Northwest has only one first-team selection, Josh Shaw of Lewis and Clark, picked at last year’s position, defensive line.
Pullman’s 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman Richard Hughes and Mead’s Jesse Wilhelm earned second-team honors while the Panthers’ Skylar Jessen was the area’s lone representative on the junior class team.
In preseason rankings from WashingtonPreps.com, Mead was lone GSL school in the 4A’s top 10 (at seven). Pasco was No. 1 with Moses Lake 10th. Clarkston was seventh in the 3A ranks, with Pullman sixth in 2A, the smallest division ranked.
Three-time defending 3A champion Bellevue is ranked atop that classification’s list, but face a tough test Saturday in the Kickoff Classic. The Wolverines’ opponent at 8 p.m. is De La Salle of Concord, Calif., winners of a national-record 151 consecutive games and ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today.