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Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
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Copyright © 2001 Express Publishing Inc.
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For the week of August 29 - September 4, 2001

  Sports

Football team debuts Friday in Hailey

Senior leadership to guide 
Wood River eleven


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Expect to see a little more running on offense and a hard-tackling defense designed to stop the run when the Wood River High School varsity football team opens its eight-game season Friday, Aug. 31 in Hailey.

Wood River will open up against a speedy Wendell Trojan squad (7-3 in 2000) that lost only to the Wolverines in overtime, at Valley by two points and to eventual State A-3 champion Kamiah in the state playoffs. Opening kickoff is 7 p.m. at Phil Homer field.

It’s the first of three, tough non-conference games that will prepare Wood River for the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference 3A schedule.

"How we fare in the first three games and if we stay healthy will indicate what kind of season we’ll have," said coach John Blackman, who greeted 20 seniors and 16 juniors on the 36-player varsity. In all, 61 varsity and JV kids are practicing.

Blackman added, "We’ve got some good athletes, good core kids—no real standouts but what seems like a real team. We’re pretty well-rounded and won’t be as one dimensional as last year."

It’s going to be tough to replace the 1-2 offensive punch of quarterback Cory Goicoechea (2,639 yards passing and 24 aerial TDs over three seasons) and wideout Max Paisley (106 points in 2000 and 2,168 yards receiving over three campaigns).

They led the Wolverines to back-to-back 5-4 seasons, 8-2 conference records and two state playoff berths in 1999 and 2000—the first time a Wood River varsity football team has put together consecutive winning seasons since way back in 1968.

Wood River’s offense (24.7 ppg over 18 games) was the most productive in Hailey in 32 years. But it was an offense that relied on passing. Last fall Wood River outpassed opponents 1,952 to 730, but the Wolverines were outrushed 2,224 to 1,112.

This year, Wood River’s defense "will have to stop the running game," to be successful, Blackman said. Reigning SCIC king Declo and Kimberly should be the teams to beat, he added. Three league teams will qualify for the State 3A playoffs in 2001.

Here’s a look at Hailey’s personnel, featuring with "a great group of seniors," Blackman said, and juniors who won’t take a back seat to anyone.

 

Offensive and defensive looks

On the top of Blackman’s agenda was finding someone to replace Goicoechea. He’s got two signal callers this fall, much the same as when Paul Neville and Goicoechea shared the quarterback job three years ago.

Senior Joe Molyneux (6-0, 160) logged time as Goicoechea’s replacement the last two seasons. Blackman said, "Joe can throw the ball well, is very composed and has a good head on his shoulders. He can scramble in the pocket, too."

He’ll share the job with junior Ryne Reynoso (6-2, 185), who has a strong arm and is a little more mobile, said Blackman. As far as physical tools, Reynoso is comparable to Goicoechea, the coach said. "He can make something out of nothing."

On defense, Reynoso will play free safety. "He’s got great instincts on defense—savvy for knowing where the ball is," Blackman said.

He said Wood River will "pound the ball a little more," behind a muscular and quick offensive line," and using a deep group of running backs. The quarterbacks will also have a number of receivers to choose from.

"We’ll still have a power running game but we’ll have a lot more traps going on, particularly with Jeff Bolton trapping out of the guard position. We’ll feature the spread look, double slot and double wideouts, and we’ll run some twins as well," he said.

Senior Evan Peebles (5-9, 180) is a two-way anchor—at the critical center position on offense and roverback on defense. "Evan is tougher than nails. He’s a great leader and we’ll need him on the field as much as we can. He gives you 110%."

When Peebles needs a break on offense, Blackman will go with junior Graham Knight (5-10, 190) at center.

Flanking Peebles are left guard Jeff Bolton (6-4, 280) and right guard Zach Mayhew (5-7, 170), both seniors. "When Bolton pulls, he’s scary," said Blackman about the massive but deceptively quick and agile Bolton.

At right tackle is senior James Fowler (5-11, 225) and the left tackle is senior Gavin Reynolds (6-2, 200).

Running the ball are junior fullback Kellen Chatterton (5-10, 190) and senior fullback Christian Ayala (5-10, 230). "Kellen is a horse," said Blackman. Ayala (3 TDs in 2000) is the top returning point-getter and was the leading rusher (293 yards).

Slotbacks are important cogs in the Hailey rushing game and none will be more important than beefed-up senior Nic Nottingham (6-1, 210).

"Nic is my workhorse. He’s a factor. He’ll be our tight end in trips and our slotback otherwise, where Josh Alstrom played," Blackman said.

Other slotbacks include seniors Wes Powell (5-10, 165) and Matt Beck (6-2, 195) as well as juniors James Angell (5-10, 165) and Dylan Welcome (6-0, 180).

Besides the slotbacks, Molyneux and Reynoso will be throwing to the following wideouts: Seniors Cole Everman (6-0, 170) and Brian Squires (5-11, 165) and junior Matt Conover.

Everman provides a lot of leadership, Blackman said, and Squires is a tough kid who runs a good route. Conover is the kind of competitor who will help out wherever he plays. Other wideouts are senior Collin Kinder, juniors Tyler Klune and Zac Bloomfield. Klune and Ayala will handle the placekicking, and Reynoso will probably do the punting.

"We’ve got good up-front guys and running backs—we can throw, do some power and have some speed. Well rounded," Blackman said.

Defensively, Wood River’s 4-3 alignment last fall was designed to take away the pass. "But we had a problem stopping the run up the middle in the playoffs," Blackman said.

To stop the running game, Wood River will go more with a 4-4 and possibly a 5-2 under new defensive coordinator Dale Martin. The linebackers look promising. Wood River will mostly play a three-deep zone.

Junior Christian Blackman (6-2, 200) will start at defensive end. A good tackler, senior Vaughn Neville (5-11, 165) has really picked it up this year and will play at defensive end or roverback. Nottingham and Beck will also play defensive end.

Lending depth at defensive end are seniors Sky Barker (6-0, 190) and Perry Elvy (6-1, 185).

Noseguard is Angell, "a quick, tough kid," Blackman said. Defensive tackles are Bolton and Fowler. Other big tackles are senior Brian Greer (6-4, 250) and Kenny Kelb (6-4, 290).

The bone-crunching crew backing up the line include Peebles, Chatterton and Gavin Reynolds. In the defensive backfield are sure tacklers like Reynoso, Squires, Everman, Kinder, Conover and Bloomfield.

Other senior contributors include Peter Stevenson, Jeff Cuskey and Chase Reynolds.

 

The staff

Eleventh-year head coach Blackman (17-42 from 1985-91, 13-14 from 1998-2000) is the offensive coordinator and will coach and offensive and defensive lines.

Taking over as defensive coordinator is Dale Martin (linebackers and special teams). Jeff Larson, who spent the last three years as defensive coordinator, will handle the defensive backs, quarterbacks and receivers.

Rounding out the varsity staff is volunteer Jeff Martin (linebackers).

Chris Cey is back as junior varsity head coach and offensive coordinator. He is helped by Charley Miller (defensive coordinator), Bruce Tuxhorn (wide receivers, defensive backs) and volunteer Donnie Wise (linebackers).

This year’s varsity captains are seniors Evan Peebles, Nic Nottingham, Jeff Bolton and Cole Everman.


The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.