Panhandle Picks with Greg Lee

I’ve reached October with a lead. That usually proves to be a harbinger of another season victory.

I increased my lead by one by picking correctly the lone game my guest, Chris Chatburn, and I differed. Lewiston needed all of a 14-0 lead to hold off visiting Sandpoint 14-13.

By going 9-1, the Scribe moved to 40-17 overall and creeped over the .700 mark (.702). Chatburn, the radio voice of the Sandpoint Bulldogs, was 8-2. That puts the Guests at 38-19 (.667).

My guest this week is first-year Kellogg athletic director Troy Schueller.

A St. Maries High graduate, Schueller, 30, was Kellogg’s head wrestling coach for four years before pursuing his administrative credential.

Lake City at Sandpoint: This has been one of the classic matchups and must-see games in past seasons. It shouldn’t be any different this week.

More than anything, this is a pride game since the teams aren’t in the same classification. It’s also the final tuneup for both teams before they dive into their respective divisional play.

Sandpoint has suffered two difficult losses in its other games against 5A teams (see a 35-27 setback to Coeur d’Alene and a 14-13 heartbreaker to Lewiston). LC had few problems in its wins against other 4A teams (36-20 over Post Falls and 36-12 over Lakeland).

Both teams have talented skill players. The difference in this game should occur in the trenches. LC should win the battle on both sides of the line of scrimmage, allowing the Timberwolves to pull away.

LC ballcarriers will find the holes behind the left side of their sizeable line.

LC 35, Sandpoint 21.

Guest: This game has been a battle in the past. (Lake City) Coach Van Troxel always has his athletes ready to play, especially against Sandpoint.

Lake City 32, Sandpoint 18.

Coeur d’Alene at Lakeland: It’s becoming a familiar storyline for the 4A Hawks of Rathdrum against a 5A team.

Lakeland won’t back down an inch and the Hawks’ no-fear attitude will keep them close until the second half. That’s when CdA’s fresher legs – particularly those of running back Kevin Ah-Hi – will be too much for Lakeland to slow down.

After three games against 5A teams in the last four weeks, Lakeland begins 4A divisional play next week.

First, though, the Hawks endure one more learning week.

CdA 42, Lakeland 13.

Guest: (CdA) Coach Shawn Amos and staff will have their kids ready for the short trip north.

CdA 42, Lakeland 18.