Quick hits

Looking ahead

If you’re looking for a competitive high school football game to watch this week, you may be out of luck.

In games Friday, Lakeland (3-1) visits Coeur d’Alene (3-1), Moscow (2-2) travels to Post Falls (2-1) and Bonners Ferry (1-2) is at Sandpoint (0-4), which is off to its worst start since 1994 when the Bulldogs started 0-4. The year before, Sandpoint opened with a win before losing its final eight.

Lake City (4-0), the No. 1-ranked 5A team for a fourth straight week, has a bye.

Even the Intermountain League openers will most likely be routs – Timberlake (3-0) at Kellogg (1-2) and St. Maries (0-4) at Priest River (2-2).

“If there’s a curious game, though, it would be 4A Lakeland at 5A Coeur d’Alene. Lakeland, you’ll recall, scaled back its schedule this year, dropping two games against the Inland Empire League’s 5A schools. The Hawks also will play natural rival Post Falls. But Lakeland dropped games against Lake City and Lewiston and picked up games against schools its size.

It was an understandable move, and it’s paid early dividends. The Hawks are riding a wave of confidence. They will likely have a reality check at CdA, though.

For the Vikings, the homecoming game is a final tuneup before taking on their crosstown rival. Don’t bet on CdA coming out flat.

“Another game that could be interesting is Washington State 3A champ Ferndale making the long trek to Lewiston (2-1).

Ferndale (3-0) is located somewhere near Bellingham, which is north of Seattle and just south of the Canadian border. Anyway, the Golden Eagles of Ferndale have won 17 straight. Nationally ranked a year ago, Ferndale graduated about a dozen starters.

“There are a handful of games to watch around the state.

In 5A, Capital (3-0) takes on defending state champ Meridian (2-1) at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium, while second-ranked Highland (3-0) meets Skyline of Idaho Falls (4-0), which administered a 62-27 spanking of Madison last week, at Holt Arena in Pocatello. In 3A, Fruitland (2-1) faces Weiser (2-2) in a game that could decide the Snake River Valley title.

Looking around

The 18th annual Super 1/Farragut Invitational cross country meet is Saturday at Farragut State Park.

The meet usually attracts some of the top Boise-area 5A teams. But those teams are attending the Bob Firman Invitational in Eagle.

So the Super 1 will feature a smattering of the top small-school teams from Eastern Washington along with the Inland Empire and Intermountain league teams. The meet is four races in one. The smaller schools will compete in the B races and the larger schools in the A races. The B girls go first at 11 a.m., followed by the B boys at 11:40, the A girls at 12:10 p.m. and the A boys at 12:45.

Racing will be held at the Sunrise Day Use area. The state park charges a $4 parking fee for all vehicles entering the park.

“Sophomore Angie Whalen of Post Falls leapfrogged over senior Anna Stone of Coeur d’Alene to No. 1 in the recent 5A state cross country rankings.

Stone continues to run second. In other rankings, Frank Lagrimanta of Timberlake remains No. 1 in 3A boys; senior Michael Armon of CdA is fifth and freshman C.J. Helbling of Lake City is eighth in 5A boys; senior Chelsea Cazier of Timberlake and junior Melody Braden of Bonners Ferry are third and fifth, respectively, in 3A girls; and sophomores Megan Bartlett and Kathleen Vardell of Sandpoint are fourth and fifth, respectively, in 4A girls.

“Here are the current league leaders in volleyball through matches Tuesday: Inland Empire, Lake City (5-1) with Lewiston (5-2), Coeur d’Alene (3-2) and Sandpoint (3-2) close by; Intermountain, St. Maries (3-0); North Star, Wallace (4-0).