For the week of October 9 - 15, 2002

Friday's Wood River game

Buhl (4-1, 2-0 league) at Wood River (1-4, 0-2)

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Time—7:00 Friday, Oct. 11. Place—Phil Homer Field, Hailey.

Significance—Third weekend of Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference (SCIC) games. Eighth-year Buhl coach Gary Krumm (35-32) is looking for his sixth state playoff berth in eight years at the Tribe helm. And Buhl, riding a four-game winning streak and having outscored its two SCIC opponents 116-12, can clinch a playoff berth with a win. Wood River, meanwhile, needs a win to stay alive in the race for one of three state playoff berths from the conference.

Last week—Led by QB Tim Bourner, Buhl pounded Filer 53-12 as Buhl’s Bowers Field was officially dedicated.

Coach Blackman’s comments about Buhl—"Buhl runs basically the same offense as Declo—a wing T with split looks and they also run out of the single back. We’ll need to shore up our defense, and with our injuries that will be pretty tough. Without (Matt) Conover in there, we’ll need to be able to overcome our self-doubts. It will be a test of character."

Injury report—Matt Conover (knee) is out at least two to three weeks and Josh Pejsa (shoulder separation) is questionable. Expected to play are Zach Bloomfield (twisted ankle) and Matt Pruett (concussion).

Last year—Grinding it out behind senior RB Chris Floyd (43 rushes for 275 yards, 3 TD), host Buhl whipped Wood River 28-13 at Bowers Field. It was a big game offensively for Wolverine junior Ryne Reynoso (223 all-purpose yards), who rushed for 118 yards and threw for 105 more. The next week, Buhl nipped Kimberly 7-6 but the Tribe (6-3, 4-1 league) settled for second place in the SCIC with a 34-14 home loss to Declo last Oct. 19. Then, in the first round of the playoffs, eventual state champion Snake River pounded visiting Buhl 57-7.

Two years ago—Wood River senior QB Cory Goicoechea (18-for-28 for 329 yards, 4 TD) completed his first 11 passes for 3 TD as the Wolverines built a 21-0 second-quarter lead on their home field. Wood River prevailed 35-20, although Buhl outrushed Wood River 183 to 76. Sophomore Kellen Chatterton had a big game on defense with 15 tackles.

History—Buhl’s victory last year snapped a string of two straight Wood River wins over the Tribe. Buhl still boasts a 24-9 cushion in the 33-game grid series between the two schools.

Games last week—Kimberly won its second straight league game 41-8 over winless Gooding.

Other SCIC games this week—On Friday, Declo (4-1, 2-0) visits Kimberly (2-3, 2-0) in a battle of SCIC unbeatens and Gooding (0-5, 0-2) entertains Filer (2-3, 0-2).

 

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