The Wood River Wolverines are trying to regroup this week for a Friday clash with conference rival Jerome, following a hard loss on the road last week to the Preston Indians.
Wood River can improve its Great Basin Conference West standings to 2-1 with a home victory Friday over the Tigers, who dropped to 4-3 last week in a 49-42 loss to the undefeated and state 4A top-ranked Minico Spartans.
Wood River is currently 1-5 overall and 1-1 league.
Game time with the Tigers 7 p.m. in Hailey.
It's been a tough year for the young Wolverines, as last Friday's 57-10 loss to the 5-2 Indians demonstrated.
"They were seniors, and they were aggressive and faster, and they just took it to us," said Wood River coach Mike Glenn. "Our young team actually played pretty well, but when you have to go up against an older and more experienced team, sometimes you're going to get beat badly."
The Wolverines started the game in high fashion, tying the Indians 7-7 in the first quarter with a five-yard run by Matt Libert capped by an extra point kick by Rafael Barriga, who scored Wood River's other three points on a field goal.
But Glenn said the game fell apart for the Wolverines after their sole touchdown as the Indians romped over his team for the win.
Wood River defeated Preston last year 40-32, following five straight losses to the Indians.
"We knew this was going to be a tough year," Glenn said. "We just need to hold ourselves together and show order. This year we're just really young."
