Heading into tonight's road battle with Buhl, first year head football coach Mike Glenn believes the Wolverines are beginning to click.
"We have just had the three best days of practice all season," Glenn said. "The kids are very focused, the intensity level has picked up dramatically. I think we're starting to settle in a little bit.
"The kids are starting to believe—they know they can be a good football team."
The Wolverines (1-2) lost to Minico 27-8 last Friday on the road. But they held explosive quarterback Dane Broadhead to 101 yards passing. The sophomore gunslinger, who was averaging about 200 yards a game in the air, was only 4-for-18 Friday night against Wood River.
"We took (Broadhead) out of the game," Glenn said. "The thing that killed us was the big play."
The Spartans, averaging 36 points a game before meeting Wood River, scored two of their touchdowns on a 30-yard run and an 80-yard interception return.
Aside from those two plays, "We stood toe to toe with them," Glenn said.
Glenn believes the Wolverines have overcome the two tallest hurdles of the season in Minico and Hillcrest, which handed Wood River its other loss in a 34-13 contest at Phil Homer Field Sept. 2.
"We've played the two most physical teams on our schedule," he said.
Buhl (1-1) will be celebrating its homecoming tonight, and Glenn expects a lot of fire.
"They're going to come out and be very emotional," he said. "I think they think they're going to be more physical than we are."
Glenn was hesitant to discuss specifics of the game plan, saying only that the Wolverines offense needs to take advantage of what Buhl gives them.
"We need to get back to doing the things we do well," he said.
As for his defense: "We made some personnel changes and we shook that up a little bit, so we're trying to change up the recipe. We've got some kids that are fired up about redeeming themselves this week."
The Indians beat American Falls 43-12 last Friday behind Will Chivers three rushing touchdowns.
In their last 35 contests, Buhl has owned Wood River, winning 26 times. The Wolverines last beat Buhl in 2000, 35-20.
Wood River has defeated the Indians only three times on the road.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
