Area wildfires shake up Idaho football’s opening weekend

Poor air quality as a result of wildfires in the region have had North Idaho high schools scrambling to figure out options for scheduled season-opening games this weekend.

It’s been a fluid situation all week with seemingly changes daily.

The result for Coeur d’Alene-area fans is a unique doubleheader today at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. Lake City and Coeur d’Alene secured time slots to play their openers there.

First up is Lake City meeting Rocky Mountain of Meridian, ranked second this week in the media preseason poll, at 3 followed by Coeur d’Alene taking on Skyline of Idaho Falls at 5:30.

Making it a tripleheader is Grangeville facing Moscow at 8.

Two other openers have been rescheduled for Saturday at the Kibbie Dome. St. Maries and Kellogg square off at 4:30, followed by Sandpoint vs. Post Falls at 7.

Giving it a go tonight, air quality pending, are Lewiston at Lakeland, Lewis County at Lakeside (Plummer/Worley), Wallace at Lapwai and Priest River visiting Bonners Ferry in a nonleague game. All games begin at 7.

A fall back plan for Lewiston/Lakeland would be playing at noon on Saturday.

In another game Saturday, Frenchtown, Montana, visits Timberlake at 5. Clark Fork officials announced Thursday that its Saturday game at home against Noxon, Montana, is canceled.

Just how prepared teams are for their openers remains to be seen. Practices have been interrupted and forced inside this week.

Still, Inland Empire League teams are champing at the bit to play somebody other than themselves.

• LC has a tall task. Rocky Mountain is loaded, and the Timberwolves return just two starters on offense and one on defense.

“It’s a huge test,” LC coach Van Troxel said. “We’ll find out where we’re at. We’re excited to see our guys compete against a top-level program and see what it’s going to take to get us ready (for league) in October.”

• CdA is poised to have another quality season. In recent years the Vikings have been the model of success in the state.

While Vikings coach Shawn Amos has the most depth he recalls, it’s largely untested depth. But he’s excited about two of the best quarterbacks in the state in senior Austin Lee and sophomore Colson Yankoff.

For the first time, Amos will go with a two-quarterback system. When one is at QB the other will be at receiver.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Amos said.

• Post Falls broke through last season and made the state playoffs for the first time under coach Jeff Hinz. The Trojans must replace some key skill players but figure to be in the mix for another postseason berth.

• Sandpoint will challenge for the State 4A championship. Coach Satini Puailoa, in the fourth year of his second stint, has his program back to where he left it.