Weiser advances to quarter finals

Weiser hosted Teton in the State play-in game on Saturday, Nov. 1 to see who continues on in State tournament play. The outcome was not readily apparent in the first quarter. 

 Weiser had chances in the red zone but sort of imploded squandering their first opportunity to score. Teton had size in height and speed in the quarterback’s legs. He had an arm with multiple receivers who could catch and with that added height, were able to elevate above our defenders. That worked for awhile until the tenacity of our defense began to wear down the Timberwolves. The outside linebackers were having to be double teamed to keep them from attacking the QB. 

 Weiser may not be tall nor beefy but what they lack in those areas they more than make up in veracity. The saying is that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. Weiser’s defensive line would not be stopped and by the second half, owned the game. Conversely, the offensive line was just as good allowing our QB, Klete Cook, ample time to find open receivers himself. 

 Credit goes to those players: our center who has been there all season, Kolt Sarich plus Wyatt Neckels, Kaiden Peck, Dylann Ashley, Keegan Willet, Ryker McElroy, Keegan Fosu, tight ends KJ LaChapelle and Jaxon Hart. Also on defense having to cover the receivers were Reif Blanchard and Spencer Messick, both from the JV squad. Weiser won this game 47-21 advancing to the quarter finals where they will play Homedale in Homedale on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.

 Teton elected to kick off to begin this contest with Blanchard hauling in the ball and racing up the field 17 yards. Ty Cobb took the first hand off for five yards. On a busted play, the delay worked as Cook earned a first down. Rick Erickson and Brenden Youngberg carried the ball as Weiser moved down the field. Garrett Walker on a cutback gained five yards. Cobb from the Teton 25 yard line slipped two ankle tackles for an 11 yard gain. Two penalties on Weiser took them out of the red zone. Weiser tried a field goal but missed. Teton took over on their own 20 yard line. 

 Four plays later, they punted with Konner White fielding the kick and traversing back up the Wolverine sideline for 24 yards. Teton intercepted the ball three plays later. They kept to the air scoring at 2:02 and kicking the PAT for their only lead in the game 7-0. 

 Blanchard returned the kick off 29 yards to Weiser’s 44 yard line. Cobb and Youngberg went to work dragging defenders. Cobb would score from Teton’s 37 yard line with 13 seconds on the clock. Weiser executed the flea flicker for the two point conversion – Cook to Youngberg back to Cook for the pass to Nate Herrera-Garcia and the score to take back the lead 8-7. The quarter would end that way with a Teton possession.

 Weiser stepped up their coverage game in the second quarter. However, Teton was able to complete enough to move the chains. A sack and a penalty kept them idle. Cook nearly intercepted a pass but the ball popped loose when he hit the ground. Shayd Crossley rushed the QB who threw the ball away for another flag, this on fourth down. 

 Weiser was back in business on their own 47 yard line. A third down pass caught by Cobb moved the chains. Cobb followed Willet for a 15 yard gain. Teton was hit with a face mask call on the next carry. Erickson moved the ball to the six yard line. Herrera-Garcia caught the TD pass from Cook at 6:01. The PAT was run in by Youngberg who had great blocking from his teammates. Weiser 16, Teton 7. 

 Teton’s woes continued as on fourth down, the hike was way over the QB’s head with Jantsen Walker all over that ball. Weiser had 11 yards to go to score again. The first two plays gained little. On third down, the receivers were covered. Cook scrambled to his right just as Herrera-Garcia did the same towards to corner of the end zone. A low throw was gathered in by Herrera-Garcia for the touchdown! Crossley kicked the PAT putting Weiser up 23-7 wth 2:43 in the half. 

 On a controversial call, Blanchard went way up in the air to intercept the pass. He summersaulted still with the ball firmly in his hands but the call was the ball hit the ground. Incredible effort and he was robbed of that catch! A long bomb two plays later resulted in a Teton touchdown and the two point try was also good. Weiser 23, Teton 15 with 1:52 to play. 

 Crossley returned the kick off 20 yards. Youngberg found holes good for 18 more yards. Cobb up the middle for another 18 yards. It was getting dicey as the clock was ticking down. Weiser called time out with 36 seconds showing. They drew up the hook and ladder play and it worked brilliantly much to the delight of the Weiser fans. Cook threw the ball to Herrera-Garcia who looked like he might be tackled until he lateraled the ball to G. Walker who took it to the end zone for the TD. The PAT kick was good putting Weiser up 30-15 with 26 seconds to play in the first half. 

 A pooch kick was executed with Fosu making a huge stop! Teton went to the air. On another crazy play, the ball was caught but Weiser was flagged for pass interference. The clock was at zeros. If they declined the penalty, the half was over. They accepted the penalty plus the 15 yards and threw a wobbly duck pass that was intercepted by White who made it to Teton’s 37 yard line where the half finally ended. Weiser 30, Teton 15.

 If you thought the first half was wild, it just kept getting better and better. Weiser kicked off to open the third quarter. Passes were being caught but Weiser was better at coverage. White stripped a ball away for an incompletion. The QB was being harrassed mightly by our players so the run game came into play. The entire “D” stopped the QB bringing up a fourth down. Blanchard made the stop on that play just short of their first down. Weiser took over on their own 49 yard line. 

 Cobb bowled over several defenders in a 13 yard gain. Weiser was in a tight formation trying to draw Teton off sides. It didn’t work as Weiser took a time out at 5:50. Youngberg gained 3 yards and a pass to Cobb earned the first down. Cobb took two handoffs and Cook kept the ball for a down. G. Walker spun his way to the one yard line. Cook scored at 1:50. The PAT was a pass from Cook to LaChapelle. Weiser was up 38-15. 

 Teton’s luck did not hold. Issac Lopez had a great tackle. Two incomplete passes and a hold added to the insult. Another huge penalty for a blindside tackle put Teton in a fourth down situation. A bad snap and a worse throw gave the ball to Weiser on Teton’s 34 yard line. The quarter ended on the next play with Weiser leading 38-15.

 Weiser would not score a touchdown on the opening drive of the fourth quarter. Rather, Crossley kicked a 25 yard field goal. Weiser 41, Teton 15. Teton was trying to advance the ball. A fumble several plays later had Weiser recovering the ball on their own 35 yard. Unfortunately, Weiser also fumbled on the next play giving the ball back to Teton. Two penalties on Teton later, the QB was scrambling with Dylan Cortez stripping the ball and landing on it. Weiser was back in control. 

 Youngberg slipped a waist tackle for a 15 yard gain. Erickson gained 5 yards and J. Walker 6 yards. It took three players three plays to score as Cobb did on third down from the one yard line. The PAT was a bust. Weiser 47, Teton 15. 

 Teton would score at 1:38. The PAT was a pass that was knocked down by Blanchard. Weiser led 47-21. The kick off bounced twice and was as ugly as could be but Weiser recovered the pigskin. J. Walker ran twice to earn a first down. Weiser took a knee to end the contest winning 47-21.

 Coach Tom Harrison’s words of wisdom after the game: “The game was exciting and a lot of people helped contribute. Heal up, work harder and get better. I am proud of you. You made big adjustments. Rest and get ready for the next one.”

 Rushing: 296 yards. Passing: 61 yards: Total yards 357. Cook was 5 complete of 10 attempts. Rushing: Cobb 17 carries for 132 yards, 2 TDs; Cook 5/14 1 TD, Youngberg 10/66, J. Walker 7/27, G. Walker 3/26, 1 TD, Erickson 7/28. Receiving: Herrera-Garcia 3 catches for 45 yards, 2 TDs, Cobb 2/16.