Pick 6: Sam Adams, Greg Lee overcome air issues, bounce back

Even through smoke-filled skies, the Pick 6 duo bounced back from pedestrian efforts the first week.

Two of the games we featured last week fell victim to air quality, including the one in which Sam Adams and yours truly had a difference – Lakeside vs. Shadle Park.

We went from treading water to hitting .700, with both sitting at 7-3.

Remember, we feature what we believe will be competitive games. It’s easy to pick a winner in expected blowouts. We try to avoid those.

Deer Park at Colville, Friday, 7

Lee: We may look back by season’s end and see that this game decided the NEA title. Colville must slow down the Stags’ 1-2 punch of Trayton Bird and Tyson Lim, who rushed for 441 yards and three touchdowns against the Indians last year. I’m waffling back and forth. In a low-scoring game … Colville 24-20.

Adams: Lucas Keller has thrown four touchdowns in each of the Stags’ first two games this season, but he and Deer Park will be in for a tough fight against the Indians. Colville is known for two things: Saundra’s Furniture (a proud sponsor of SWX) and a stingy defense. But unless Colville figures out a way to put a big couch and recliner on the line of scrimmage, the Stags are going to find the end zone eventually. … DP 27-21

North Central at West Valley, Friday, 7

Lee: Interesting matchup. The Eagles hit the road and pulled out a quality win over Colville last week. NC continues its GNL tour after losing a wild game against East Valley and holding off Cheney 33-27. WV is picked to win the GNL. That makes my pick somewhat easy. WV 32-20.

Adams: The Indians have had a thrilling first couple of weeks, to say the least. The came out on the short end of a high-scoring shootout against East Valley, but came out on top in a 6-point win over Cheney. But what impresses me is how the Eagles have won two completely different games out of the gate. They dominated Shadle Park, but then got past Colville in a defensive stalemate the following week. WV should win – assuming they don’t cough up the ball six times like they did last week – in their 2017 home opener. WV 29-22.

Shadle Park at East Valley, Friday, 7

Lee: The Highlanders need to get things rolling in the right direction. And they will. Shadle 37-21.

Adams: Talk about two teams that are hard to figure out. EV looked fantastic in a 58-57 thriller against NC, but then sputtered in a 34-18 loss to Lakeland. Shadle lost a one-sided affair in its opener to WV, and didn’t even get to play in Week 2. I think experience goes a long way, and EV is the more experienced team based simply on the fact that it has two games under its belt. EV 30-28.

Moses Lake at Coeur d’Alene, Friday, 7

Lee: Colson Yankoff looked like he was in postseason form in his season debut last week. Moses Lake is in trouble. CdA 48-13.

Adams: The Vikings hung 62 points last week in Yankoff’s first game back from meniscus surgery. This kid can flat-out play, and I’m going to savor seeing him play this season before heading off to Washington to quarterback the Huskies. He can run, air it out, and makes good decisions in the pocket. Pencil in 40 points on any given night with him in your huddle. CdA 49-35.

Central Valley vs. Ferris, Friday, Albi, 7:30

Lee: Both teams lost games to the air quality last week. CV is in its second year under coach Ryan Butner. Ferris is in its first under Tom Yearout, who has been on nothing but a sprint since getting the job in May. Ferris will be good in time. The key phrase being in time. CV 30-14.

Adams: They say your biggest improvement comes from Game 1 to Game 2 of the football season. But what if Game 2 was canceled? Both the Bears and Saxons had their games wiped out last week because of smoke. Color me impressed by CV’s performance in a narrow loss to CdA. Ferris is a work in progress with a new head coach, and I expect them to make significant improvement as the season wears on. But for now, I’m taking CV with their new starting QB and a big-play offense. CV 28-14.

University vs. Mead, Friday, Albi, 5

Lee: The Titans impressed in a 37-27 loss to Post Falls. U-Hi can win this game, but the Titans must keep the ball away from Mead’s offense. So since my time here is coming to a close, why not go out with an Upset Special? So here it is. U-Hi 35-33.

Adams: U-Hi and Mead have a common opponent in Post Falls, and neither was able to slow down the Trojans’ offense (37 points vs. the Titans, 54 vs. the Panthers). Mead’s defense got no favors by drawing CdA in Week 2 but may finally get a reprieve against U-Hi. But the Panthers can’t sleep on the Titans, who hung 42 against Sandpoint and 27 more against Post Falls. I’ll take Mead, though, in a high-scoring affair under the lights at Albi Stadium. Mead 42-14.