IEL Preview Football
Can you say tight?
The forecast for the 5A teams was difficult. You could put the names of all four teams in a hat and draw them out to predict the finish. And that might be as scientific of a way to determine the outcome as any.
“I think these are four evenly matched programs,” Lewiston coach Emmett Dougherty said. “I think everybody has caught up with Lake City.”
Dougherty was referring to LC’s string of 12 straight state playoff appearances and the Grand Canyon-sized gap the Timberwolves had on the league when they rolled through the 2006 season undefeated.
The four 5A coaches see the chase for the two state playoff berths going down to the final week.
“What league could be tougher in the state,” Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz said. “It’ll be a dogfight to get one of the two playoff spots.”
Toughest schedules
Lake City coach Van Troxel long ago decided that one of the best ways to prepare for conference and postseason play was to make the non-league schedule as difficult as possible.
His Timberwolves have benefited greatly from being tested prior to league play, and that should be no different this season. LC has arguably the toughest non-conference schedule among 5A teams in the state.
Post Falls also has seen the light, toughening up its schedule the past two years.
The school with the weakest schedule among the four IEL 5A teams is Lewiston.
“We don’t have the toughest preseason schedule in the state of Idaho,” Dougherty admitted.
Players to watch
•Justin Podrabsky, Lewiston, senior, quarterback, 6-6, 225
•Jared Kennedy, Post Falls, senior, linebacker/fullback, 6-3, 225
•Justin Bryant, Lake City, senior, running back, 5-8, 162
•Corey Close, Lakeland, senior, right guard, 6-2, 280
•Jayson Washington, Moscow, senior, running back/defensive back, 5-9, 155
•Zach Keiser, Coeur d’Alene, junior, running back, 5-9, 185
•Ben Fisher, Sandpoint, senior, running back/safety, 5-9, 165
•Dan Zebedeo, Lake City, senior, defensive end, 6-0, 205
•Spencer Beale, Lewiston, senior, tackle/nose guard, 6-5, 290