IEL story lines
The 5A coaches were right last year. They believed a state champion could emerge from league a year ago, and the same sentiment lingers for this fall.
Coeur d’Alene will be out to make it back-to-back state titles. But the Vikings must go through a league that could test them.
The Vikings graduated most of their skill players from a year ago except senior quarterback Chad Chalich, who was named the state’s player of the year. Chalich is receiving recruiting interest from several Big Sky schools. He’s poised to have another standout year.
What will be key for him, though, is the development of a young line that could start as many as two sophomores. Defense will have to carry the Vikings the first half of the season.
Lake City has its smallest senior class since the school opened in 1994. But coach Van Troxel hasn’t altered his expectations. He sees the Timberwolves challenging for a league title and a 15th straight trip to the state playoffs.
Post Falls has many holes to fill from graduation, but running back Tyson Johnson, who rushed for 1,016 yards last year, returns.
Lewiston is down in numbers and that should equate to a difficult season in league.
In 4A, it appears the lone state playoff berth is wide open. Lakeland returns the most experience, but Sandpoint figures to challenge. Moscow graduated a talented senior class.
Returning all-leaguers
Four first-team 5A players return – all from defense. They are: Danny Brum, lineman, Lake City; Joe Roletto, linebacker, Coeur d’Alene; Jake Cheesman, linebacker, CdA; and Johnny Haskew, defensive back, Post Falls.
Four first-team 4A players return. They are: Eric Cooper, quarterback, Lakeland; Justin Perkins, running back, Moscow; Bryan Barrett, defensive lineman, Lakeland; Tyler Navarro, defensive lineman, Sandpoint.
Outlook
Coeur d’Alene has a difficult schedule – the most difficult of all league teams.
The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, opened with a win at 2010 semifinalist Rocky Mountain, travel to Seattle to meet Moses Lake in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic at CenturyLink Field and then open at home against Skyview of Vancouver, Wash., one of the top teams in the Evergreen state. And then comes a matchup against Whitney (Calif.), which is led by a quarterback who has given an oral commitment to Oregon and a tight end who is headed to UCLA.
By the time CdA hits October and the critical part of its schedule, it’s not likely the Vikings will be undefeated. But that doesn’t matter to coach Shawn Amos. He knows his team will be battle-tested come league play.
LC will start senior Bobby Traverse at quarterback. He got four starts at the end of the season a year ago when the T-Wolves’ starter was injured.
“A year ago this time I would have bet money that Bobby wouldn’t be our quarterback this fall,” LC coach Van Troxel said. “But his attitude and mindset has changed where now he’s our leader. He really has worked at it and has an understanding of the game.”
Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz has been more excited this fall than any previous in his seven years.
“It’s one of the hardest-working group of kids that I have ever coached,” Hinz said. “If we continue to improve and grow as a team, good things could happen.”
Lakeland is given a slight nod over Sandpoint in the battle for the lone 4A state berth.
The Hawks need a win or two in September to be ready for league in October.
“If we can stay healthy, we will be competitive,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said.
Sandpoint coach Mike Mitchell reports that he will have a big offensive line.
“We had our best summer conditioning yet,” the fifth-year coach said. “We are young and inexperienced but have some potential. We will grow through our 5A (nonleague schedule) and expect to be tough by conference play.”
| 1. Coeur d’Alene
|
| 2. Lake City
|
| 3. Post Falls
|
| 4. Lewiston
|
| 1. Lakeland
|
| 2. Sandpoint
|
| 3. Moscow |