The team from Lakewood, south of Tacoma, has made six straight State 3A playoff appearances, and has been to the semifinals four times with a state title and runner-up. The Lancers have compiled a 52-2 Seamount League record over the past six years and are working on a 36-game conference-winning streak.

Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review Central Valley High School coaches put their players through the preseason paces as Trenton Murphey, right, and Stewart Davis run 40-ard sprints.

‘‘We really haven't been challenged in league,'' Miller said. ‘‘Quite frankly we advertised for any 4A team that wanted to play us.''

Mead took Lakes up on the offer and Sept. 6 will travel to the Clover Park School District school, where they will be fed and bunked in a school gymnasium. The schools will split the gate.

The Panthers are one of 10 (out of 14) Greater Spokane League schools that started practice five days early, on Aug. 20, to take advantage of an additional non-league game.

‘‘The 10th game has been on the rulebook forever,'' said North Central activities coordinator and GSL football overseer Ed Fisher. ‘‘I look at it as a real benefit.''

Several games the weekend after Labor Day will be against the state's best programs.

‘‘The way I see it, if you want to be the best you have to play the best,'' said East Valley coach Adam Fisher, whose Knights play at Big Nine power Pasco on Sept. 5.

For Mead, the idea of an additional game germinated late and will conclude with the Panthers attending a Seattle Seahawks game.

‘‘We weren't even sure we were going to do it,'' said coach Sean Carty. ‘‘We've been plagued by injuries the last two years and didn't want to get somebody hurt. But the kids were fired up to play a big-name program.''

North Central and first-time head coach Jay Jordan will also face heady opposition, traveling to another 3A power, Prosser. The Mustangs have been a five-time state finalist and three-time champion since 1991.

In other games of interest, University has the only home game, against four-time state finalist and two-time champ Richland.

‘‘We figured it was in our best interest to reach out for a solid program like Richland to give us a quick evaluation of our team's talent,'' said coach Mike Ganey.

Gonzaga Prep coach Dave Carson welcomes the renewal of its game against Catholic sister school Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma, a 2002 playoff team.

‘‘It's a chance to travel and good for our community,'' he said. ‘‘We have a big following over there.''

Central Valley, originally scheduled to play Ferris, is at Sandpoint in a game between former state champions. Coach Rick Giampietri said it is mainly to ready CV for a game the next week against Gonzaga Prep.

‘‘Our baptism is going to be tough,'' Giampietri said. ''But we didn't want to go into Prep's second game versus our first.''

The Ferris Saxons are one of the four District 81 teams who opted out of the extra game. Coaches cited a reluctance to subject assistants to an extra week of practice without additional pay.

‘‘We pay 19 coaches on eight salaries,'' said Lewis and Clark coach Tom Yearout. ‘‘They make a lot of sacrifices in regard to time and money already.''

Still, the early games against formidable foes do sound intriguing.