When you're making a power sweep around the end behind a couple of ferocious pulling guards, numbers mean a lot in the game of football. They give you an advantage.
Second-year Wood River High School head football coach Kevin Stilling hopes a bigger turnout of 80-plus players for the 2010 Hailey grid program will give the Wolverines a numbers advantage this year and in the years to come.
Wood River (2-6 last fall including two 1-point wins) will take its rebuilding program to Buhl's Bowers Field on Friday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. for the first of eight regular-season games.
"I'm extremely happy with the turnout," said Stilling Friday, after Wood River teams returned from a long, hot day of pre-season jamboree football at Columbia High School in Nampa. "In our first two-and-a-half weeks of practice, the kids have been awesome with their work ethic and attitude."
The increased numbers show up in various ways, although Stilling and the boys would like numbers to show up in the win column more times.
Getting on the bus last week, Stilling joked to assistant coach Pete Naumes, "Hey, Pete, I just counted 28 kids. Go back and count again! Last year we might have had 15 or 16 kids."
Last year's turnout was 60 to 65 players. It's about 20 more this year. The new varsity roster has 43 players—22 seniors, 13 juniors and eight sophomores Last year's varsity roster was 32 players. There was no freshman team last year. Already, this year's freshman team has played a game.
Practically, what does increased turnout mean? Stilling said, "It means we can scrimmage 11-on-11 and not have four coaches holding bags. It means there's a little more competition for jobs. It means we have kids coming up.
"Last year, (junior varsity coach) Matt Nelson did a great job with our JV—making it fun and making sure those 20 freshmen got into the games. The 16 or 17 freshmen who returned to the program this year are a testament to what he did."
Bidding for continuity, Stilling made sure last year that the high school and middle school football programs were on the same page. "The interaction between the middle school and high school programs has been great," Stilling said.
He installed a Wing-T offense last year. This past spring, Stilling traveled with Naumes and middle school coaches Rob Swanson and Chris Malmgren to a national Wing-T clinic at Pittsburgh, Pa.
"We need to establish our running game and take advantage of play action. We had varying degrees of success with it last year," said Stilling. "I think our lines are going to be fine. But we need better blocking on our outside running."
Offensive linemen include senior center John Siegel, quick senior guard Kasey Barker and senior tackle Alex Thomas. Kevin Cooley, a junior, is a guard/tackle. Rangy junior Connor Braatz is a receiving threat over the middle who will improve his blocking.
Wide receivers are seniors Jake Miczulski and LaShon Smith. Wingbacks include senior Alex Padilla plus juniors Connor Farrow, Trace Tupper and Braxton Parish. The quarterback is senior Kevin Jensen, who hides the ball well, with sophomore Tommy Bailey a promising back-up QB. Senior Tanner Farrow will fit in somewhere on the offense.
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Senior fullback Nathan Farrow "brings a lot to our running game," according to Stilling. Farrow was last year's leading scorer with four touchdowns and 24 points. Junior Greg Lindbloom is also doing well at fullback, Stilling said.
Wood River's strength on defense is at linebacker, with inside backers Nathan Farrow and Barker, and outside backers Braatz and junior Conner Bennett. "That is probably our most solid and set position," the coach said. "Nate doesn't shy away from contact."
The "defensive line by committee" will likely include Thomas, Cooley, seniors Willie Dugger and Jimmy Williams, and junior Jake Vegwert. Said Stilling, "Jake is 5-10, 180, but has shown willingness to mix it up with guys twice his size."
In the secondary are safety candidates Lindbloom, Connor Farrow and Padilla, plus players at the corners like Parish, senior Ryan Chapman and LaShon Smith. Stilling said, "There are a lot of things to be determined in the secondary."
The punting, however, is solid with Kasey Barker, and junior Haylee Thompson has already shown nerves of steel—winning both games with her placekicking last fall.
Buhl opener is Friday
Wood River opens its eight-game season Friday, Sept. 3 at 3A Buhl and then has two home games—Sept. 10 against 2A Wendell and Sept. 17 for Homecoming against 2A Gooding.
Buhl historically is one of Wood River's toughest rivals, owning eight straight wins and a 31-9 advantage in the 40-game rivalry. But the Tribe (40-10 over 5 seasons, 10-0 road in 2008 and 2009) is tough, period.
Stilling said, "Buhl is physical and fast, well coached, a tough team. They're a good measuring stick for us because they're similar to Fruitland, big and fast with skilled kids." And Wood River saw a lot of perennial power Fruitland in Thursday's Nampa jamboree.
Last fall Buhl (8-1) lost to eventual state semi-finalist Weiser 28-7 at home in the first round of the State 3A playoffs, so the Tribe will be hunting for Wolverine when the whistle blows Friday at Bowers Field for the first time since that loss.
Buhl was the 2006 State 3A runner-up, losing in the title game 27-21 to Fruitland in Pocatello. Fruitland has been the state runner-up for three straight years since that win.
The Tribe runs the ball, judging by its 356-yard rushing attack in last September's 46-0 win over Wood River in Hailey. The Wolverines haven't scored against Buhl in two years, losing 37-0 at Buhl in 2008.
Here is the varsity roster of 43 players plus coaches:
Seniors (22): Nathan Farrow, Kevin Jensen (huddle leader HL), Tyler Bartlett, LaShon Smith, Alex Padilla (HL), Wyatt Edgerton, Ryan Chapman, Tanner Farrow, Christian Gonzalez, Isaiah Garza, Kasey Barker (HL), Ben Hofferber (HL), Jimmy Williams, John Siegel (HL), Alex Thomas (HL), Skylar Tolman, Andrew Leckrone, Kelly West, Ben Thompson, Jake Miczulski, Willy Dugger and John Bartoletta (HL).
Juniors (13): Connor Braatz, Colton Larkin, Connor Farrow, Greg Lindbloom, Braxton Parish, Trace Tupper, Conner Bennett, Chance Larkin, JR Hill, Jake Vegwert, Brandon Van Horn, Kevin Cooley and Haylee Thompson.
Sophomores (8): Tommy Bailey, Nick Brunker, Ben Williams, Calub Castle, Karel Kaiser, Buck Horn, Chris Carnes and Drew Barsch.
Varsity: Head coach and offensive coordinator—Kevin Stilling (2nd year). Defensive coordinator—Jason Fry. Special teams—Shannon Flavin. Running backs/defensive line—Pete Naumes. Running backs/defensive backs—J.C. Nemecek.
Junior varsity: Head coach—Matt Nelson. Staff—Jeff Loomis, Ken Bennett and Baba Street.
Freshmen: Head coach—Tim Flaherty. Staff—Boomer Gibson, Christian Ayala and Adan Sanchez.
