No. 6 Clark Fork travels to face No. 2 Kendrick tonight

CLARK FORK — Behind a high scoring offense and stingy defense, Clark Fork is currently ranked No. 6 in the latest 1A Division II state poll, the highest the Cats have been ranked in a long time.

The Cats (4-1) are fresh off running roughshod over the North Star League, but will get arguably their stiffest test of the season tonight, when they trek south to face No. 2 ranked Deary.

The Mustangs (4-1) lost to Potlach in the opener, and are harboring state title hopes after reeling off four straight. Clark Fork head coach Brian Arthun knows his team will get tested for real tonight, and he hopes his team is up for the challenge.

“It’s going to be the game of the year for us. They’re ranked second for a reason, been a dominant program in the north for years,” said Arthun. “We’re hitting our stride in the last four games. It will be interesting to see how we match up.”

Regardless of the outcome of the Kendrick game, the Cats still have No. 5 ranked Deary coming to town on Oct. 19 in what could be the biggest home game in more than a decade.

The North Star League hasn’t had a team make the playoffs since 2013 when Kootenai made the playoffs, as the White Pine League has taken the two berths since the team’s merged three years ago.

Clark Fork has the best chance to break the White Pine stranglehold on playoff berths this year. The Wampus Cats have already beaten Kootenai, Lakeside and Mullan-St. Regis, and will likely have to beat either Kendrick or Deary to reach the playoffs.

The Cats will have to beat either Kendrick or Deary if they want to advance to the playoffs. They even have an unlikely ally in Lakeside, which like the other North Star League teams was disappointed to learn the league didn’t get an automatic berth to state.

“I’m hoping Clark Fork pushes through and can beat Deary and/or Kendrick,” said Lakeside athletic director Ron Miller. “So the North Star gets some representation in the playoffs.”