Panhandle picks with greg lee

I’m not sure I can explain it, but I get excited when I see a freshly mowed lawn.

Especially if it has 18 holes and plenty of room for me to knock a small dimpled round thing around. Almost as exhilarating as seeing freshly cut grass is a high school football field that’s been recently lined and ready for the first game of the season.

Which begs the obvious question: Are you ready for some football?

Panhandle Picks returns for a 12th campaign. Beginning this week and continuing until the postseason, I will attempt to predict the outcome of North Idaho games. As has become my rule, I’ll have a different guest each week.

For the record, I’ve beaten the guests 10 out of 11 seasons. I’ll be out to continue my dominance while trying to pick the games at an 80 percent clip.

You’ll recognize the mug of my first guest, former NFL quarterback and Coeur d’Alene High graduate John Friesz.

I have a couple of ties with Friesz. First, his senior season at CdA was my first year in North Idaho. Second, he and my wife, Pam, were part of the Class of ‘85. Pam was a manager for Herb Criner’s football teams. Funny how things come full circle; 16 years later, my oldest daughter, Janel, is a manager for the football team at the other school in town.

Friesz is busy these days chasing around his three sons. He plans to coach the flag football team of his oldest son – Hunter, a fourth grader at Hayden Meadows Elementary – again this fall.

East Valley at Coeur d’Alene: The Knights are picked to finish second in the Greater Spokane League, and they will bring a talented crew to CdA. The Vikings must play error free and improve over their season-opening win. Because the game is CdA’s second and EV’s first, I’m going with the Viks. CdA 21, EV 14.

Guest: (Coach) Shawn Amos, Jake Hall (quarterback), Kevin Ah-Hi (running back) and the rest of the boys. Heaven help East Valley. OK, I’m a little biased – Class of 1985. Go, Viks. CdA 35, EV 10.

Lake City at University: This game wasn’t close last year and the only reason it would be close this time is if the T-Wolves make a rash of mistakes. LC 28, U-Hi 7.

Guest: It’s always a safe bet to pick Coach (Van) Troxel and his staff. Lake City is inexperienced in some key positions, but will play well as the game progresses. LC 24, U-Hi 17.

Mead at Post Falls: The Panthers are picked to win the GSL. The Trojans must fill big shoes vacated by a talented 2004 team. Experience prevails here. Mead 24, PF 14.

Guest: Coach (Jeff) Hinz’ dizzying offensive scheme will be too much for Mead. Tough to replace K.C. Billetz at quarterback, but Post Falls finds a way to get it done. PF 24, Mead 21.

Other games