Homecoming 2008 has arrived for the unbeaten Carey School football team, ranked fifth in the Idahosports.com 1A Division 2 poll behind #1 Garden Valley, defending champ Salmon River, Kootenai and league foe Mackay (4-0).
Coach Lane Kirkland's Panthers (4-0, 1-0 league) will take another step toward a fourth consecutive Sawtooth Conference title when they host the Camas County Mushers (1-2, 0-1) Friday, Sept. 26 at Derrick Parke Memorial Field, Carey.
Game time is 7 p.m.
The Panthers, having played in the State 1A Division 2 eight-man football championship game for two straight years, are riding a 20-game regular-season league streak dating back to 2004, when they lost back-to-back games to Camas County and Richfield.
Since then, Carey has been bulletproof in its rivalry with Camas County—winning 56-0 in Fairfield last September and 60-32 at Camas in 2005, along with 58-14 in Carey in 2006.
Last year the Panthers out-rushed Camas 304-38 with Heith Adamson scoring the first three touchdowns in a 36-point first period onslaught.
It's been a rough patch for 15th-year Camas coach Randy Jewett, whose normally formidable Mushers were 0-9 last fall and started the season with 46-0 and 31-18 road losses to undefeated Hagerman and Rockland. Camas snapped a three-season, 12-game losing skid with a 30-22 non-league victory at Jackpot (Nev.) on Sept. 12.
But Camas is a "spirited" group, according to Kirkland.
He said the Mushers do a lot of running with 200-pound junior Jeff Ellingson, a former Carey student. Ellingston had a couple of 200-yard rushing games against Rockland and Jackpot. The scrambling quarterback is junior Mickenzie Boggs, who scored three TD runs in the Jackpot triumph.
Kirkland said about Carey's defensive challenges against Camas, "With our size, we should be able to handle the middle of the line, and our speed should enable us to contain the outside."
He said, "On offense we'll keep it mixed up and keep them guessing and playing good Panther football. This week we will practice hard and work hard on the things we do best, and continue to condition."
Carey had an easy afternoon at Jackpot (Nev.) last Friday, winning the mercy-rule shortened non-conference game 51-0 behind three TDs by Heith Adamson, two scores by Antonio Gamino and a quarterback plunge by Caleb Cenarrusa.
Brad Peck kicked a 19-yard field goal. Carey put a pair of two-point safeties on the board—Hunter Malarkey and Blair Peck bagging one, Gonzalo Zarate, Tyler Chavez and Wacey Barg getting another.
Leading Panther tacklers at Jackpot were Blair Peck, Shane Bingham, Caleb Cenarrusa and Brett Adamson.
Here are Carey's Homecoming activities:
Today, Wednesday, Sept. 24: Scavenger hunt 7:30 p.m. and pep assembly and bonfire 8:30 p.m. The Homecoming royalty will be announced during the bonfire.
Thursday, Sept. 25: Girls' volleyball with Richfield at 6 p.m. at Carey School gym.
Friday, Sept. 26: Homecoming Parade at 2 p.m. Football game 7 p.m. with Camas County and royalty coronation at halftime. Cheerleaders' "Movie Night" for grades 7-12 on the football field afterward.
Saturday, Sept. 27: Homecoming Dance from 9-11:30 p.m. in the auditorium, $6 singles, $10 couples, for students in grades 9-12, Carey students only and their dates.
