Wednesday, September 3, 2008

First Friday game is set for WRHS football

Wolverines visit Buhl for 2008 debut


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Now that Wood River High School's football schedule has been downgraded from a hurricane to tropical storm in terms of difficulty, dangers still lurk on the horizon for the Wolverines of coach Mike Glenn.

The first danger and a considerable one is the 3A powerhouse Buhl Tribe, looming Friday, Sept. 5 in the first of Wood River's eight games for the 2008 prep football season. Buhl has always given Wood River all it could handle on the gridiron.

Buhl hosts Wood River Friday at 7 p.m. at Bowers Field.

Last year, Buhl (24-7 over 3 years, 14-1 at home) committed six first-half turnovers and trailed Wood River 17-2 at intermission, only to pivot and prevail 28-25 before 3,000 Hailey Homecoming fans. Buhl finished 7-3 with a State 3A quarterfinal loss to eventual runner-up Fruitland (11-1) 33-15.

It was Buhl's sixth consecutive football win over Wood River. In the 38-game rivalry, Buhl still leads the series 29-9. And this year's Tribe (1-0) started quickly last Friday with a 34-12 road win at 4A Burley. Buhl rushed for over 300 yards.

Fourth-year coach Glenn (9-18 overall, 1-7 last fall) is trying to rebuild a defense that yielded 41 points a game last year. Glenn said, "We should be better in terms of team speed, especially on defense. And we have some depth we haven't had in other years."

You can't underestimate changes in scheduling, as far as Wood River being competitive. Athletic director John Rade has substituted 3A Wendell and Gooding and 4A Hillcrest (2-24 for 3 years, losers of 23 straight) for 3A powerhouse Fruitland plus 4A Preston and Century.

But Wood River (16 seniors on the 30-player squad) still has to go out and perform—and the new Wolverine grid team has plenty of good prospects. Glenn said, "We're going to go out and compete. It's fun to coach these kids. They work hard."

Quarterbacks are senior Michale Brunker (ankle injury) and junior Juan Martinez. Running backs are Tyler Peters and Sean Bunce, backed up by Evan Puluti and Andrew Orr.

The offensive line includes 5-11, 225-pound center Alex Thomas; 6-1, 240-pound guard Colton Seely; 6-4, 285-pound guard Eric Santana; and 6-2, 201-pound Zeb Glenn. A tackle is 6-1, 190-pound Kasey Barker.

Tight ends are Luke McNees and James Todd. The wide outs include Greg Wakefield, Oscar Fajardo and Kenneth Martinez. Wakefield is the punter, and Rafael Barriga the kicker.

On defense, linemen include McNees, Jose Patlan, Francisco Enriquez, Cody Chandler, Puluti and Barriga. The strong linebacking corps features whips Aubrey "Tex" Tribble and Peters, middles Clayton Jensen and Barker, and strong side Kevin Cortez. The secondary depth chart includes Nathan Farrow, Nick Chase, Bunce, Peters, Wakefield, Brunker, Tribble and Fajardo.

Home fans can catch three straight home games against Wendell, Gooding and Kimberly on Sept. 12, 19 and 26.

Coaches: Mike Glenn (head coach/offensive line and offensive coordinator); Shawn Huntington (defensive backs and defensive coordinator); Matt Nightingale (defensive line); Jeff Loomis (quarterbacks); Kevin Stilling (running backs/linebackers); J.C. Nemecek (offensive line/wide outs); Chris Cey (head JV); Charley Miller, Pete Naumes and Bruce Tuxhorn (JV).

Seniors (16): Greg Wakefield, Michale Brunker, Sean Bunce, Clayton Jensen, Aubrey Tribble, Oscar Fajardo, Mal Prior, Daniel Midby, Cody Chandler, Kevin Cortez, Aaron Chin, Anthony Williamson, Francisco Enriquez, James Todd, Luke McNees and Kenneth Martinez.

Juniors (10): Juan Martinez, Nick Chase, Juve Ruiz, Evan Puluti, Tyler Peters, Zeb Glenn, Rafael Barriga, Jose Patlan, Eric Santana and Colton Seely.

Sophomores (4): Nathan Farrow, Andrew Orr, Kasey Barker and Alex Thomas.

Equipment: Dale Martin. Managers: Ashley Tolman, Logan Young and Chelsea Hamel. Filmer: Jessica Volmer. Statistics: Layne Jensen.




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