Weiser scores six touchdowns in win over Ontario


Weiser’s Juan Garcia looks to pick up some yards and avoid Ontario’s No. 71 during Friday night’s home game at Roy Dickerson Memorial Field. Weiser’s No. 6 Kooper von Brethorst and No. 13 Brody von Brethorst throw a couple of blocks on the Tigers. Garcia had three carries for 18 yards and another 50 yards receiving. Weiser had 238 yards rushing the ball and 159 yards passing in the win over Ontario. The Wolverines improved to 2-1 on the season in non-conference play. Below, the Wolverines indicate they came up with the ball after a Tiger fumble. Weiser recovered two fumbles in the fourth quarter. Photos by Steve Lyon
By: 
Steve Lyon
The Wolverines scored a season-high six touchdowns at home on Friday night to beat a scrappy Ontario team 41-33 in a non-conference matchup.
 It was also a night of big plays on the special teams for both Weiser and Ontario, with each running a kickoff back for 99 yards and 98 yards, respectively, for touchdowns.
 The Wolverines put together their best game of the season so far, with 397 yards of total offense and a mix of passing and running the ball. The Wolverines collected 159 yards through the air and 238 yards on the ground.
 The two Ontario turnovers that Weiser’s defense recovered in the fourth quarter were big, Weiser coach Tom Harrison said, and the offense was able to put points on the scoreboard with some lengthy drives down the field.
 “We dug down and put together the drives that were necessary to win the game,” he said. “We made some plays tonight. We just made a couple of more than they did.”
 Ontario grabbed the early momentum when the Tigers recovered a Weiser fumble on the first possession of the game for the Wolverines. The Tigers had the ball on the Wolverines’ 36 yard line and were looking to score.
 Ontario’s Jose Flores got the carry and sprinted 26 yards down the middle of the field for a Tiger touchdown with 10:07 left in the first quarter. Ontario took the early lead at 7-0.
 Minutes later, it was Weiser’s turn to march down the field. After a couple of running plays that didn’t gain much, quarterback Brody von Brethorst connected with Juan Garcia for a pass play that covered 30 or so yards and the Wolverines were inside Ontario’s 20 yard line. 
 Weiser’s sure-handed runningback Braden Bumgarner carried the ball on a sweep around the left side and found paydirt 19 yards down the field in the endzone for Weiser’s first score. 
 After an extra-point kick by Angel Magana, the score was tied at 7-7. 
 In the back and forth scoring, Ontario quarterback Kenji Teramura threw a long ball that was caught deep in Weiser territory with three minutes left in the first quarter. 
 Brandon Rodriguez, an explosive runner for the Tigers, punched it in from five yards out for the second touchdown of the quarter. The Tigers went for the two-point conversion but didn’t get it and the score was 13-7.
 Late in the second quarter, Weiser was able to put together a sustained drive down the field. On a keeper play, von Brethorst ran the ball in from nine yards out and put Weiser in front 14-13 at halftime.
 In the third period, Ontario scored two touchdowns. It looked like the Weiser defense might be able to stop the Tigers on the Wolverines’  nine yard line, but a penalty moved the ball to the two yard line and Flores was able to run it in. 
 After a successful two-point conversion the Tigers were back in front 21-14 with 7:05 left in the third quarter.
 Weiser answered with another drive and touchdown. Bumgarner caught a pass that put the ball on the Ontario five yard line. A penalty moved the Wolverines back to the 10. 
 After one run attempt  to get in the endzone by von Brethorst didn’t work, Bumgarner got the ball and sliced and diced his way into the endzone for the Weiser score.
 The excitement continued and the momentum shifted once again when Rodriguez, with just seconds left in the third quarter, found a big hole in the Weiser defense and returned the kickoff for 98 yards and another touchdown for Ontario. The Tigers went for the two-point conversion but didn’t get it.
 The Wolverines returned the favor early in the fourth quarter with a 99-yard kickoff return by Logan Wood, who is the speedster this year on the Weiser squad. Wood returned three kickoffs for 216 yards on the night.
 Weiser capitalized on a couple of Ontario fumbles in the fourth quarter. One fumble recovery by Tim Reed gave Weiser the ball on the 30 yard line. Weiser benefitted from a personal foul penalty when the Tigers were called for roughing the passer. 
 Bumgarner ran it in from seven yards out and Weiser was again in front 34-27 after Magana’s extra point kick was blocked by Ontario. Bumgarner led the Wolverines in rushing yards with 25 carries and 131 yards. He also scored three touchdowns.
 Weiser’s Trae Gluch recovered a second fumble with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter by Ontario. Tim Reed picked up 42 yards on a carry for Weiser and moved it to the Ontario 12 yard line. Von Brethorst kept the ball and ran it in with 3:01 left in the game. Weiser scored 27 points in the second half and held a 41-27 lead with minutes left in the game.
 The Tigers still had some life in them and scrapped to the end of the game. 
 Rodriguez took the ball 65 yards for another Ontario score. A missed extra point made the score 41-33 in Weiser’s favor with  two minutes left in the game. 
 Ontario tried an onside kick that was covered by Weiser’s Kooper von Brethorst. Weiser was able to run out the clock to end the game.
 Another key stat in Weiser’s favor was the third down conversions. The Wolverines went 10-for-12 and 1-for-1 on fourth down conversions. Ontario lagged with 4-for-10 on third down conversions.
 Von brethorst had a good night passing the ball. He went 11-for-16 on pass attempts and collected 135 yards in the air. He also scored two of Weiser’s touchdowns on the ground. 
 Weiser’s Brett Spencer had one interception and also threw one pass on a trick play that picked up 24 yards. 
 Weiser is on the road again this week visiting Vale on Friday night.
 

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18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
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