There was no stopping the Buhl Tribe running game Friday night during the opening game of the 2009 prep football season at Wood River High School's Phil Homer Field.
Buhl, getting a mighty push from its offensive line, rushed 51 times for 356 yards and carried off a 46-0 non-conference victory over the out-manned Wood River Wolverines. Total yardage for the game favored Buhl by a 471-162 margin.
Finding lots of running room around the Hailey ends was Buhl senior Isaac McCreery (18 carries for 202 yards). McCreery rushed for four touchdowns in the first half alone as the Tribe scored on its first five possessions.
Buhl (1-0), boasting 15 seniors, brought an experienced team and coaching staff to Hailey and it showed. The Tribe (33-10 including 17-6 away from home over the last 5 seasons) has now won seven straight road games over two seasons.
The Tribe didn't commit a turnover and attempted only five passes all evening, including a 30-yard rollout touchdown pass from Scott Harris to J.D. Leckenby that wrapped up a 66-yard drive for a 6-0 lead six minutes into the first quarter.
It was all McCreery after that—Buhl getting great field possession on its next three scores and then McCreery scoring his fourth straight touchdown on a tackle-breaking 69-yard scamper with three minutes left in the first half. The halftime score was 33-0.
Highlights were few and far between for coach Kevin Stilling's Wolverines, but there were encouraging signs from younger players, many playing their first varsity game.
Sophomore Braxton Parish returned four kickoffs for 70 yards. Junior Willie Dugger rushed 11 times for 47 tough yards. Junior Kevin Jensen snagged a 35-yard aerial from senior quarterback Juan Martinez and also led the Hailey defense with 11 tackles.
The Martinez-to-Jensen pass was Wood River's initial first down, at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter.
Defensively, Kasey Barker added 10 tackles, Dugger 9, Nick Chase 8, Nathan Farrow 6, John Bartoletta 6 and Jose Patlan 6. Unfortunately, senhior Tyler Peters left the game with a concussion and senior Chauncey McGraw saw limited playing time with a leg injury.
Buhl improved its advantage to 31-9 in the 40-game rivalry and has won eight straight over Wood River football teams.
On Friday, Sept. 11, Wood River will venture into more friendly territory, at least in historical won-loss standards.
Wood River (0-1) will visit the Wendell Trojans for a 7 p.m. non-conference game. Coming off a 5-4 campaign in which they started 4-0 in 2008, coach Brad Neuendorf's Trojans (1-0) opened their season with a 14-12 overtime triumph over the Valley Vikings Friday in Eden.
Last September Wood River lost 16-3 at home to Wendell, but the Wolverine defense held the Trojans to 200 total yards and just four first downs. Wendell has now won four straight games over Wood River but still trails 20-13-1 in the series dating back to 1960.
Wood River's last win over Wendell was 28-22 in overtime on the Trojan gridiron in 2000.
WRHS Line Score
Buhl 46, Wood River 0
BUHL 12 21 6 7 46
wood river 0 0 0 0 0
SCORING
1st half
Buhl—J.D. Leckenby, 30-yard pass from Scott Harris (kick failed); 6:31 1st (6-0 B)
Buhl—Isaac McCreery, 1-yard run (pass failed); 0:48 1st (12-0 B)
Buhl—Isaac McCreery, 2-yard run (Armando Arroyo kick); 9:31 2nd (19-0 B)
Buhl—Isaac McCreery, 16-yard run (Armando Arroyo kick); 6:18 2nd (26-0 B)
Buhl—Isaac McCreery, 69-yard run (Armando Arroyo kick); 3:01 2nd (33-0 B)
2nd half
Buhl—Blake Finney, 1-yard run (kick failed); 8:57 3rd (39-0 B)
Buhl—Evan Wray, 4-yard run (Armando Arroyo kick); 10:53 4th (46-0 B)
KEY STATS BUHL WOOD RIVER
Offensive plays 66 51
Time of possession 27:05 20:55
1st downs, rush 11 2
1st downs, pass 0 1
1st downs, penalty 1 0
1st downs, total 12 3
Rushes, yards 51-356 27-67
Yards per carry 7.0 2.5
Fumbles lost 0 1
Completions, passes 3-5 3-6
Completion percentage 60% 50%
Passing yards 50 42
Yards per completion 16.7 14.0
Intercepted by 0 0
Sacks by, yards 6-51 0-0
Returns, yards 3-65 6-104
Total yards gained 471 162
Penalties 9-75 4-40
Punts, yardage 2-49 6-158
Yards per punt 24.5 26.3
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS—Wood River
Rushing—Willie Dugger 11-47, 2 1sts; Tyler Peters 3-18; Nathan Farrow 9-9; Juan Martinez 2-2; Braxton Parish 1, -4; Kasey Barker 1, -5.
Passing—Juan Martinez 3-6, 42 yards, 1 1st.
Receiving—Kevin Jensen 1-35, 1 1st; Nick Chase 1-4; Tyler Peters 1-3.
Kickoff returns—Braxton Parish 4-70; Alex Padilla 2-34.
Tackles (75)—Kevin Jensen 11, Kasey Barker 10, Willie Dugger 9, Nick Chase 8, Nathan Farrow 6, John Bartoletta 6, Jose Patlan 6, Braxton Parish 5, Alex Padilla 4, Tyler Peters 4, Isaiah Garza 2, Chauncey McGraw 2, Juan Martinez 1, Jorge Mortensen 1.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS—Buhl
Rushing leaders—Isaac McCreery 18-202 (11.2), 5 1sts, 4 TD; Evan Wray 10-73, 2 1sts, 1 TD; Blake Finney 6-34, 3 1sts, 1 TD; Cader Owen 4-24, 1 1st; Levi Smith 4-9; Bill Sheets 6-9; Scott Harris 1-2; Michael McDonald 1-3.
Passing—Scott Harris 1-2, 30 yards, 1 TD; Cader Owen 2-3, 20 yards.
Receiving—J.D. Leckenby 2-40, 1 TD; Blake Finney 1-10.
Fumble recoveries (1)—Matt Hamilton 1.
Sacks (5)—Matt Hamilton 2-19; Isaac McCreery 1-15; Eddie Gonzalez and J.D. Leckenby 1-10; Eddie Gonzalez 1-3; Jordan Puente 1-4.
Kickoff returns—Jessie Flinn 1-20.
Punt returns—Marco Avelar 1-29; Jessie Flinn 1-16.
Tackle leaders—Blake Finney 5, Jordan Puente 5, Evan Wray 4, Marco Avelar 4, Jack Hamilton 4, Scott Harris 3, Isaac McCreery 3, Matt Hamilton 3.
Wood River senior quarterback Juan Martinez tries to slip away from a Buhl tackler during Friday’s game in Hailey. Photo by David N. Seelig
