Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

Don’t look now, but the Scribe is making a comeback.

Granted, I’m still down three with two weeks to go. That’s akin to being down a touchdown and field goal with 2 minutes remaining and no timeouts.

So, there’s still hope. I picked up one on the guests last week by calling eight of nine games correctly. My worthy opponent, former Bonners Ferry coach Tom Wofford, was one back.

The scoreboard reads: Sportswriter 51 of 69 (.739), Guests 54 of 69 (.783).

I figure I must make a big move this week since my final opponent, red-headed co-worker Jim Meehan, has been a formidable challenger the past two years.

This week’s guest is a familiar name, St. Maries volleyball coach Mitch Santos.

Santos, whose team will be seeking a 16th straight district title Saturday, follows prep football when he can pull himself away from his favorite fishing holes on the St. Joe River.

Next to coaching volleyball - and teaching - there’s nothing Santos would rather do than fish.

If some area football teams don’t pick up a win this week or next, they’ll be turning in their gear early and heading to the nearest fishin’ hole, too.

Sandpoint at Lewiston: Lewiston quarterback Brad Rice. Sandpoint running back Jeremy Thielbahr. Can the Bulldogs stop Rice? Can the Bengals stop Thielbahr?

Doubtful in either case. Sandpoint reminds me a lot of Post Falls of 1995. And the Trojans of last year visited Lewiston and walked away as impressive winners.

This might be a case where the last team with the ball wins. I can picture it now: Brett Taylor hands off to Thielbahr, who bounces off right end, breaks two tackles and scores as the clock clicks off the final seconds. Sandpoint 35, Lewiston 28.

Guest: Coach (Nick) Menegas knows how to prepare a team for this type of battle. Sandpoint will compete, but Lewiston has a tough package. Lewiston 36, Sandpoint 28.

Coeur d’Alene at Post Falls: The defending Inland Empire League champion Trojans won’t look past the Vikings for a final showdown with Sandpoint.

Post Falls must defeat CdA to make the last game mean something - unless, of course, Sandpoint loses to Lewiston.

CdA could salvage some pride with an upset. Not likely. Post Falls 28, CdA 13.

Guest: Too much Josh Mort for Coeur d’Alene to handle. Post Falls 28, CdA 17.

Lakeland at Lake City: Lake City stunned Lakeland last year as the Timberwolves posted their first win in school history.

LC has two wins and could double that in the final two weeks. Lakeland would like to avenge last year’s debacle and get ready for a tough league finale at Moscow.

Despite some internal turmoil, things are headed in the right direction at LC. A young Lakeland team has been up and down. T-Wolves 22, Hawks 18.

Guest: Lakeland is young and improving. Lake City will play well at home. Lake City 23, Lakeland 17.

Moscow at St. Maries: Rumor has it that Lumberjacks coach Curt Carr threatened to send yours truly a dead fish after St. Maries held off Lakeland 36-28 in overtime last week.

Well, Carr will probably want to send me a bucketful of them this week. Neither team will be eliminated from the crazy Intermountain League playoff chase with a loss.

Moscow is much, much improved over its earlier showings. For that reason … Moscow 27, St. Maries 24.

Guest: The ‘Jacks offense will put some points on the board in a very close game. St. Maries 28, Moscow 24.

Other picks

Greg Lee Mitch Santos

B. Ferry 33, P. River 14 B. Ferry 35, P. River 14

Kellogg 52, Wallace 6 Kellogg 45, Wallace 6

Mullan 44, C. Fork 32 Mullan 40, C. Fork 20

Kootenai 22, F. Christian 18 F. Christian 24, Kootenai 16

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