Execution is everything for the Carey High School football program. Panther players run plays in unison, finish their tackles, stay away from penalties and pile up championships in record-setting fashion.
Last November, Carey became the first Idaho school to win five state eight-man prep football titles when the Panthers (11-1) used a 32-8 second-half explosion to conquer Garden Valley 62-36 in the 1A Division 2 championship game at Eagle High.
About the only thing Carey (53-6 overall and 26-2 home over 5 seasons, 39-1 in league play since 2005) hasn't accomplished as a football program is winning a state championship in an odd-numbered year.
Eleventh-year head coach Lane Kirkland (85-19) would like that to change in 2011.
Despite losing eight seniors who peeled off state football and basketball championships in back-to-back fashion last season, Kirkland senses his new 20-player Carey squad can rise to the playoff summit.
"It's time for an odd-year championship to happen, but it really doesn't matter if it's odd or even—we just want two in a row," said Kirkland. He has guided the Panthers to three state football titles in five years to go with the 1994 and 1998 state grid crowns won by his father, Heber Kirkland.
Helped again by assistant coaches Lee Cook and Lane Durtschi, Lane Kirkland said, "We want to stay humble, focused and hungry. We're working hard to do those things. We can sense a hunger from other teams to beat us. We just want to keep hogging the trophy."
Carey opens its title defense Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. with a home non-league game against the 1A Division 1 Oakley Hornets (5-3 last year, undefeated state champion in 2009) at Derrick Parke Memorial Field in Carey. A 4 p.m. junior varsity game precedes that game.
Kirkland acknowledged Carey has lost quite a bit from last year's team that won its final seven games and outscored opponents 538-116 (45-10 per game on the average) including 128-42 in three state playoff victories. Carey piled up a school-record 632 total yards and eight touchdowns in the 2010 championship game victory over Garden Valley.
"That was a good group, with a lot of first-team All-Staters and overall good athletes," he said. "We've got some holes to fill, but I'm excited about this year's team and I think we should have a very competitive season."
Carey's past successes have always derived from having strong offensive and defensive lines and team tackling. Last week, after eight practices, the first thing Kirkland said about the remodeled Panther front fender was, "It's a great line."
The interior offensive line consists of 6-2, 215-pound junior left guard Garrett Lee; 6-0, 250-pound junior center Francisco "Pancho" Gamino; and 6-1, 200-pound junior right guard Glen Andrews. They're flanked by two seniors—left tight end Jack Cenarrusa and right tight end Baley Barg.
New quarterback is 5-11, 150-pound junior Jordan Dilworth (3 TDs, 3 TD passes as a reserve last year).
Kirkland said, "Jordan is mobile, pretty slippery and very coachable, and he has a tremendous accurate arm. He'll be throwing to Jack Cenarrusa, Baley Barg and (senior) Dillon Cenarrusa. I really like those three—their long arms, big hands, good speed and the way they run their routes."
Halfback is senior Charlie Rivera, last season's second-leading scorer (11 TD, 9 conversions for 84 points) who tallied twice in the championship game including a 77-yard gallop putting Carey ahead for good 22-20 in the second quarter.
"Charlie looks strong and quick, a good straight-ahead guy who also has quick inside-and-out moves," said Kirkland. His championship team scored 75 touchdowns—46 on runs from scrimmage, 21 on passes.
Blocking back is senior Chance Chavez, Carey's starting offensive center in 2010. Kirkland said, "Chance has earned his spot as halfback. He's worked on his speed and done footwork drills. He has great blocking skills."
"I think it's a good offensive unit. They execute well and adjust during the game," said Kirkland. The punter and placekicker is Baley Barg.
Lee ("so fast," said the coach) and Gamino ("unstoppable, like a truck") are the guards on the defensive line. Andrews and Dillon Cenarrusa are the defensive ends. Linebackers are Chavez and Rivera. Safeties are Barg on the left and Jack Cenarrusa on the right.
Carey doesn't have a lot of extra players, Kirkland said, but he likes the team's depth, especially the promising "3 Amigos," sophomore trio of Tori Alvarez, Christian Zarate and Luis Garcia. Having a junior varsity program is a great way for the young players to gain experience, he said.
The Panthers are fortunate to avoid Division 2 teams like Castleford (10-1 last year, 3rd at state), Murtaugh (5-4) and Rockland (8-2) on their nine-game regular-season schedule. And they don't encounter tougher Division 1 teams like Grace (6-6, 2nd at state) and Hagerman (8-3, 3rd at state).
Aside from always-tough Oakley, Carey will have to contend with an improved Raft River team at Malta Sept. 2 and will go against Challis (6-3) for their second of six home games on Sept. 9. Kirkland expects both North Gem (5-4 last year, 11-8 two years) and Dietrich (6-4) to be challenges.
Homecoming has been changed to Sept. 23 with Richfield. Here is Carey's roster:
Seniors—Dillon Cenarrusa, Charlie Rivera, Chance Chavez, Baley Barg, Jack Cenarrusa and Adrian Alvarez.
Juniors—Francisco Gamino, Jordan Dilworth, Glen Andrews, Garrett Lee, Sheldon Hansen, Gunner Thompson and Patrick Baird.
Sophomores—Christian Zarate, Luis Garcia and Tori Alvarez.
Freshmen—Matt Whitworth, Alex Durtschi, Chris Peck and Nate Adamson.
Carey head coach Lane Kirkland, pictured here during last fall’s state championship season, is leading the Panthers into the season for the 11th year. Carey debuts Friday, Aug. 26 at home against the Oakley Hornets, the 2009 State 1A Division 1 state champions. Photo by David N. Seelig
