Whitepine League: Wallace moves in

File this under if you can’t beat them join them.

Wallace football teams haven’t had much success against District II teams when it comes to postseason. And playing as a 1A Division I team in 1A Division II league didn’t do much to prepare the Miners for the playoffs either.

So Wallace has joined the District II-based Whitepine League for football only.

The top three teams earn playoff berths. Wallace, as the lone Division I team in District I, used to play the Whitepine’s third-place team in a play-in game to decide a playoff berth.

“We haven’t been in a league the past two years and it’s hurt us overall,” second-year Wallace coach Jared Young said. “We haven’t been getting the week-in and week-out competition to get us better prepared for the playoffs against District II. This will be better for us.”

Wallace may have picked a good year to join. The Miners won’t challenge for the league title but they should contend for a playoff berth. Young picks Kamiah as the league favorite.

Of the Miners’ three potentially difficult matchups, Kamiah and Lapwai are home games.

Wallace returns four two-way starters. The Miners’ strengths are in the offensive and defensive lines, receiver and tight end.

“Realistically, we’re fighting for the third spot,” Young said.