North Idaho Prep Football: Zero Week
The summer has come and gone and while many students are loathing the fact school is right around the corner, it's also that special time of year that has some of the student population chomping at the bit to get things rolling: prep football season!
North Idaho's Zero week will feature many non-league contests as a majority of Idaho's football teams will kick into action on the 31st.
Here is a list of whats to come this Friday in the Idaho Panhandle
Timberline (Boise) at Lake City- The reigning 5A state champion Lake City Timberwolves take on Southern Idaho Conference opponent Timberline high school. While LC lost 10 of 11 starters on the defensive side of the football, they return Boise State commit and returning 5A player of the year in linebacker Byron Hout.On the offensive side of things, LC returns all-IEL running back BJ Palmer and speedy wide-out Kyle Johnson to top off an already high powered arsenal.
Coeur d' Alene at Sandpoint-- The most interesting game of the opening season could very well be in Sandpoint as the 4A 'Dogs entertain 5A Coeur d' Alene. Both squads have establishded themselves as winning programs but return only a handful of key experience. The young Vikings will start as many as 7 juniors on offense and defense. Sandpoint must find an answer as two-way threat Mat Lawrence could be out anywhere from two weeks to an entire season with a broken foot suffered in practice. Both teams could be in league contention come the end of the season.
Lakeland at Bonners Ferry- Former league rivals Lakeland and Bonners Ferry sqaure off in a class non-league match up in Bonners County. The Hawks, predicted by some prep experts to break into the 4A playoffs for the first time since moving up from 3A in 2003, take on a Badger squad that has just 25 players out for football. But don't be fooled. The Badgers have qualified for a state berth the past 6 seasons.
Libby (Mont.) at Kellogg- The Libby Loggers took home the Montana class AAA state title in 2006 and aren't looking to skip a beat when they make the trip to the Silver Valley on Friday. Kellogg, who could challenge for a state slot, return all-IML reciever and quarterback tandem Ty Ketchum and Jeremiah Big Spring to lead a pass happy Wildcat attack.
Lakeside at Kootenai- Kootenai, coming off it's first league title in the schools history, brings back a plethora of speed, talent and experience as they take on the Knights of Plummer, Idaho. The Warriors return North Star League MVP running back Ben Shannon and aren't looking to skip a beat in their home opener.
St. Maries at Wallace- The 3A Lumberjacks travel to Wallace to take on the 1A Miners in the opening tune-up. Wallace, an 8-man squad, will go 11-man against St. Maries. The 'Jacks have been a cellar squad in the IML the past 5 seasons, while Wallace has been the class of the North Star League since dropping from 2A to 1A in 2004. With St. Maries numbers up this season and Wallace looking to vie for a league title, this could be a dog fight. Wallace defeated the 'Jacks a year ago in St. Maries.
Collingwood's Picks
Lake City 44 Timberline 20
Coeur d' Alene 21 Sandpoint 7
Lakeland 34 Bonners Ferry 7\
Libby (MT) 48 Kellogg 14
Wallace 20 St. Maries 12
Kootenai 44 Lakeside 22