Buhl’s contain defense was tough against the run, and Tribe quarterback Kade Crossland’s throwing arm turned out to be the decisive factor.
Yet turnovers were the main thorn in the side of the Wood River High School varsity football team in Friday’s 14-7 non-conference loss to Buhl at Hailey’s Phil Homer Field.
Wood River coughed up three fumbles and had three interceptions, meaning the Wolverines (1-1) had six turnovers on a rainy night. Junior running back Champe Kotara (14 rushes, 40 yards) scored the only Hailey touchdown on a three-yard run just five minutes into the game.
Buhl (1-1) scored all 14 of its points in the second half as 6-4 senior Crossland threw two touchdown passes, one for nine yards to senior wide receiver Adam McLean and the game-winning 58-yard post pattern pass to junior JC Juker with a little less than 10 minutes left in the game.
Wood River’s top offensive player was junior Hayden Thayer. He led the home team in rushing (12 carries for 65 yards) and accumulated 150 total yards including his kickoff and punt returns, and a 36-yard interception return that set up Wood River’s only touchdown.
Statistically, the teams played evenly, 305 yards in total yardage for Buhl and 294 for Wood River. The Wolverines rushed 39 times for 122 yards while Buhl’s rushing game (32 carries for 81 yards) also found tough going against the Hailey tacklers.
Jackson Toothman (11 tackles), Thayer (11) and Cody Richmond (9) were the leading defensive players, and Alec Nordsieck had one of the two Wolverine interceptions.
But Wood River defenders couldn’t manage much pressure against the passing of quarterback Crossland (11 completions in 20 throws for 143 yards).
In contrast, occasional Buhl blitzes flushed Wood River sophomore quarterback Nordsieck (7-for-19, 59 yards) from the pocket and he couldn’t find his downfield receivers.
Wood River plays its first road game Friday, Sept. 20 at Gooding, with a 7 p.m. opening kickoff. Gooding (2-0) held on for a 14-12 home victory over Wendell (2-1) last Friday. The Senators also won 53-6 at Valley.
Last year Gooding (10-1, 7-1 home) captured third place in the State 3A grid playoffs.
Since Wood River won 20-6 on its last visit to Gooding in 2011, coach Cameron Andersen’s Senators boast a combined 17-3 winning record. Gooding won 13-0 in Hailey last September, stuffing the Hailey offense (64 rushing yards, 111 total yards).
Gooding leads the all-time grid series between the two teams 26-10, but Wood River has won seven of the last 11 meetings by a combined 225-75 score.
The Wood River junior varsity football team plays its first home game Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. against Gooding.
WRHS Line Score
Buhl 14, Wood River 7
| BUHL |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
| wood river |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
1st half
Wood River—Champe Kotara, 3-yard run (Kotara kick); 7:00 1st (7-0 WR).
2nd half
Buhl—Adam McLean, 9-yard pass from Kade Crossland (Kade Crossland kick); 8:08 3rd (7-7).
Buhl—JC Juker, 58-yard pass from Kade Crossland (Kade Crossland kick); 9:27 4th (14-7 B).
| KEY STATS |
BUHL |
WOOD RIVER |
| Offensive plays |
68 |
67 |
| Time of possession |
24:59:00 |
23:01 |
| 1st downs, rush |
3 |
8 |
| 1st downs, pass |
3 |
2 |
| 1st downs, penalty |
2 |
3 |
| 1st downs, total |
8 |
13 |
| Rushes, yards |
32-81 |
39-122 |
| Yards per carry |
2.5 |
3.1 |
| Fumbles lost |
0 |
3 |
| Completions, passes |
11-20 |
7-19 |
| Completion percentage |
55% |
37% |
| Passing yards |
143 |
59 |
| Yards per completion |
13 |
8.4 |
| Intercepted by |
3 |
2 |
| Sacks by, yards |
1-10 |
1-2 |
| Returns, yards |
6-83 |
5-123 |
| Total yards gained |
305 |
294 |
| Third down efficiency |
2-11 |
2-11 |
| Fourth down efficiency |
0-3 |
1-2 |
| Penalties |
11-99 |
8-71 |
| Punts, yardage |
6-197 |
4-128 |
| Yards per punt |
32.8 |
32 |
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS—Wood River
Rushing—Hayden Thayer 12-65, 3 1sts; Champe Kotara 14-40, 1 1st, 1 TD; Cooper Bailey 9-15, 4 1sts; Alec Nordsieck 2-9.
Passing—Alec Nordsieck 7-19, 59 yards, 2 1sts, 3 interceptions.
Receiving—Cooper Bailey 4-32, 1 1st; Hayden Thayer 2-18, 1 1st; Austin Savaria 1-9.
Kickoff returns—Hayden Thayer 2-57.
Punt returns—Hayden Thayer 1-10.
All-purpose yardage—Hayden Thayer 150.
Interceptions (2)—Hayden Thayer 1 with a 36-yard return; Alec Nordsieck 1 with a 20-yard return.
Sacks (1)—Gunner Gibson 1-2.
Tackles (69)—Jackson Toothman 11, Hayden Thayer 11, Cody Richmond 9, Cooper Bailey 8, Gunner Gibson 7, Champe Kotara 6, Parker Bingham 5, Hagan Barsch 4, Austin Savaria 4, Alec Nordsiech 2, Christopher Lentz 1, Austin Krenz 1.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS—Buhl
Rushing—Kenny Gutierrez 19-46, 1 1st; Tegon Tonge 7-14, 1 1st; Matt DeKruyf 2-11, 1 1st; Kade Crossland 3-10.
Passing—Kade Crossland 11-20, 143 yards, 3 1sts, 2 TD, 2 interceptions.
Receiving—Adam McLean 6-62, 2 1sts, 1 TD; JC Juker 2-62, 1 TD; Kenny Gutierrez 1-10, 1 1st; Tegon Tonge 1-8; Cruz Modesto 1-1.
Kickoff returns—Adam McLean 2-30.
Punt returns—Adam McLean 2-32.
Fumble recoveries (3)—Christian Centeno 2, Brandon Smalley 1.
Interceptions (3)—Brayden Israel 1 with a 14-yard return; JC Juker 1 with a 7-yard return; Scotty Carnell 1.
Sacks (1)—Ian Compton 1-10.
Tackle leaders—Brady Wonenberg 12, Christian Centeno 11, Ian Compton 8, Scotty Carnell 7, Brandon Smalley 5, Adam McLean 5, Brayden Israel 4, Dylan Burnum 2, Matt De Kruyf 2, JC Juker 2.
Wood River quarterback Alec Nordsieck dodges the tackle at-tempt of Buhl’s Brayden Israel during Friday’s game won by the Tribe 14-7 in Hailey. Photo by Roland Lane
