Weiser gets behind early in 34-14 loss to Homedale

The usually high-scoring Weiser Wolverines were held to 14 points and 175 yards of total offense by the Homedale Trojans on Friday night in a conference showdown between the two unbeaten teams.  
 The Wolverines suffered their first loss of the season to the Trojans, who have now won 16 consecutive games at home. The final score of the grudge match on the gridiron was 34-14.
 Weiser’s winning record stands at 7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference with the loss.
 A large contingent of Weiser fans made the trip to Homedale for the big game. The loud Weiser fans filled the bleachers and equaled the Trojan crowd on the other side of the field.
 The Trojans put together a defensive scheme that all but stopped Weiser’s run game and pressured Weiser quarterback Brett Spencer all night. The Wolverines collected 116 yards on the ground on 26 carries and a season-low 59 yards passing.
 Weiser was coming off a bye week and had an extra week of practice to prepare for Friday’s game at Homedale. A case of nerves and the week off were likely to blame for some unfortunate Weiser miscues, including two snaps in a row that flew over quarterback Brett Spencer’s head.
 The Wolverines were stunned early when Homedale’s Karsen Freelove ran back the opening kickoff 80 yards for the Trojans first score of the game. Homedale took an early 7-0 lead with 11:45 left in the first quarter.
 The Trojans scored a second touchdown when Jacob Collett scampered 31 yards for a rushing touchdown with 7:15 left in the first quarter. Homedale missed the extra point and held a 13-0 lead.
 Weiser’s first couple of possessions went nowhere and the Wolverines were forced to punt the ball away. Weiser’s first big offensive play came late in the first quarter. Speedster Jack Burke broke open a 69-yard run down the field with Trojans in pursuit. He was finally tackled at about the Trojan 3-yard-line.
 With 2:22 left on the clock in the first period, Spencer kept the ball and ran it in from one yard out to score Weiser’s first touchdown. At the end of the first quarter, the Wolverines trailed by 13-7.
 Weiser’s defense started making some stops and forced the Trojans to turn the ball over on downs on one possession.
 Homedale quarterback Daniel Uranga connected with Nelson Lomeli for a 58-yard touchdown play with 7:10 left in the first half. The Trojans went for the two-point conversion and Freelove ran the ball into the endzone from three yards out.
 The first half ended with Homedale holding a solid but not insurmountable lead of 21-7. A couple of touchdowns and Weiser could get right back into the game.
 The Wolverines did score again one minute into the third quarter, when Willy Shirts carried the ball for 37 and Weiser’s second touchdown of the game. Weiser narrowed Homedale’s lead to 21-14 and was back into the contest.
 The Trojans were not done scoring either. With 5:50 left in the third period Freelove capped a long Homedale drive by punching the ball in from one yard out for another Homedale touchdown. Homedale missed the extra point. The Trojans extended their lead to 27-14 at the end of the third period.
 Weiser could not put any points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The Trojan defense was able to keep Weiser’s quarterback either on the run or throwing incomplete passes. The usually mobile Spencer was held to minus 6 yards running the ball.
 Homedale scored one more touchdown in the fourth quarter after a long drive down the field. Trojan quarterback Daniel Uranga ran the ball in from two yards out with 10:52 left in the game. The final score was 34-14.
 Weiser’s Jack Burke tallied the most rushing yards with seven carries for 67 yards. Willie Shirts had two touches for 42 yards, followed by Layten Tolman with four carries for 13 yards.
 Burke had two kick returns for 32 yards. Tim Reed had two kick returns for 27 yards, and Matt Morris had two kick returns for 22 yards.
 Kooper von Brethorst caught three passes for 40 yards. Caleb Harris hauled in one pass from Spencer for 19 yards.
 Homedale had 448 yards of offense. The Trojans collected 308 yards running the ball on 45 carries. Uranga went 9-for-21 on passes for 140 yards.
 Weiser will go on the road to play Marsh Valley on Friday at 6 p.m. in the first round of the state 3A football championships.
 Weiser is ranked No. 5 in the state by the Idaho High School Athletics Association.