By Dannie Oliveaux and John Leggett | The Courier-Herald

This is the first in a series of prognostications during the 2009 football season. We’ll pick area prep, state college and local pro games, along with a few surprises.

Lakes at Bonney Lake

DO: Chad Barrett get the Lancers for his first game as head coach at BL. Lancers continue to reload year after year. Panthers will play hard, but Lancer win again. LAKES

JL: The Panthers will have two things going for them: A new offensive set and the fact that they are engaging the Lancers at Sunset Chev Stadium in what is the lid lifter for both teams.

Lakes wins, but not by a lot as the Lancers will be frustrated for the majority of the contest endeavoring to live up to their pre-season hype. LAKES

Sumner at Peninsula

DO: Many pick the Seahawks as a contender for the SPSL 3A title and Sumner is hungry for another playoff trip. Peninsula returns a host of starters. PENINSULA

JL: The Seahawks have a punishing and time-consuming ground attack that Sumner is simply ill-equipped to handle. PENINSULA.

Enumclaw at Wilson

DO: The Hornets jump on the 4A Rams from the Narrow League on their home turf. Wilson always has good teams, even without a Trufant on the field. They return eight starters on both sides of the ball. WILSON

JL: Enumclaw, ignores the intentional pre-game confusion as to where the tilt will take place and bludgeons the unsuspecting 4A Rams. The Hornet swarm has put in way to many long, grueling hours of practice, only to come away with the sting of defeat in their season opener, It might come down to a last second field goal, but Enumclaw will reap the rewards of its toil. ENUMCLAW

Franklin Pierce at White River

DO: The Cardinals return a host of starters from last season 4-6 teams. The offensive line should open up holes against the smaller Hornets. FRANKLIN PIERCE.

JL: The Redbirds traditionally come out of the gate fast and White River is simply to dependent on the play of its talented, but often sporadic quarterback. FRANKLIN PIERCE.

LSU at Washington

DO: Steve Sarkasian and his Huskies host a LSU team looking to add another national title this decade. Tiger QB Jordan Jefferson hasn’t had the hype as UW QB Jack Locker, but he’s also a winner. Remember, the Tigers are from the SEC – the toughest football conference in the nation. LSU

JL: The Fighting Tigers of LSU will throttle the pathetic Huskies, who set a record for ineptitude last season going 0-12. LSU embarrasses the U of W, to spoil Sarkasian’s maiden voyage as a head coach. Bet the farm on it. LSU

Stanford at Washington State

DO: The Cougars remember last year’s 56-0 blowout and will be looking from payback. But not this year. STANFORD

JL: Being a Wazzu alum I hate to admit it, but the Cougs don’t stand an ice cube’s chance in Hades against a solid, stalwart Cardinal team, that didn’t get much worse since last year’s drubbing of my boys in crimson and gray. The Cougs will make it a bit more interesting than last year’s onslaught for the sake of their adoring fans, but a Coug victory just isn’t in the Cards. Sorry, I’m loyal not stupid. STANFORD