Buhl slips past Weiser 9-6 in season opener

The Wolverines fell 9-6 to Buhl in the waning moments of a Thursday, Aug. 29 game at Roy Dickerson Memorial Field.

 It was the first time in at least three years Weiser did not beat Buhl in its season opener, making the close win a significant accomplishment for the Indians.

 Compounding the defeat was an injury to senior receiver Xander Gray late in the game. 

 With about five seconds remaining, Gray had leapt high into the air, with a defender in front of him and another behind him, in an attempt to catch a Hail Mary pass from senior quarterback Kolin Cook to save the game.

 All three players came down hard. The two defenders got back up, but Gray lay on his back motionless after the play as the team trainer, coaches and then Washington County Paramedics huddled around him.  

 Gray, who reportedly lost feeling in his legs on the play, was ultimately transported to St. Alphonsus Trauma Center in Boise for evaluation and treatment. 

 According to a relative’s Facebook post, Gray has since recovered feeling in his extremities and is walking.

 “Update: Xander’s tests came back normal,” the post states. “He does have some edema on his left C3, C4 ligaments. He has been up walking and will do a little PT and OT in the hospital before being released. The most pain he said he is in right now is hunger pains. That pleases all of us and fills us with joy.”

 Head coach Tom Harrison  said said in a text on Monday that he expected a full recovery.  

 He was not happy about his team’s performance on Friday and said that there is much work to be done to improve.

 “Awful football,” he told the Signal American after a post-game talk with his players. “We didn’t execute like we needed to. I think our kids got a little reality check. We thought we had a nice team, [but] we’re not that good at this point in the year.”

 The previous Saturday, the varsity football team had an impressive performance against 6A Centennial of Boise at a jamboree in Melba, seemingly in full command of a scrimmage that ended with the defense giving up only 12 points and the offense scoring five times both on the ground and through the air.

 Thursday’s game clearly lacked that same spirit and enthusiasm.

 “We are going to have to figure out a way to get that energy back a little bit for the second game,” Harrison said. “I don’t know how to put my finger on all of it, but we are not there yet. They had that big screen pass that broke our back … and that was a big hurt. We played some undisciplined football tonight, that was a big key. We are going to have to get back to some basics. We have to go back and get to work.”

Buhl 9, Weiser 6

 The first half of the game remained scoreless until running back Kash Cobb found the endzone on a second-and-goal from the five-yard line. A bad snap, however, resulted in a failed extra point attempt by senior soccer transfer Diego Delgadillo, leaving the score 6-0 Weiser. 

 Delgadillo, who also contributes on defense as a safety, was one of the few positive points in the game. He launched the ensuing kickoff into Buhl’s endzone, providing testimony to the power of his leg and his potential as the Wolverine’s kicker this season.

 Another bright spot was the defense, which had some impressive stops in the game, though gave up big yardage on a few plays that made a difference in the outcome.

 The Indians focused on their running game on the opening possession of the second half, pounding running back Gabe Finley (6-1, 225) up the middle, but the Weiser defense tightened, preventing him from finding the endzone.

 Weiser quarterback Kolin Cook was injured during the Wolverines’ first possession of the second half when he was tackled on a keeper while trying to get to the sideline. He left the game, with sophomore Klete Cook taking over temporarily. Kolin would return for the next offensive series.

 Buhl got its first points of the game with 9:19 left in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Zack Azevedo ran to his right on a keeper, but pulled up and launched a pass back to his left to Fabi Pierce who caught the ball in the left side of the west endzone for six.

 A bad snap led to an unsuccessful point-after attempt, resulting in a 6-6 tie.

 Late in the fourth, a middle screen pass to Finley brought the ball from about midfield to the 14-yard line where Weiser linebacker Cole Ingle was able to bring him down. 

 The Wolverine defense once again tightened, preventing a touchdown, but Buhl kicker Samual Zamora was able to connect on a 27-yard attempt to give the Indians a 9-6 lead. 

 Weiser got the ball back with 1:17 left to play, quarterback Kolin Cook slinging passes downfield and receivers attempting to get out of bounds as time ticked away. With just seconds left on the clock, Cook threw a bomb to Gray, who was injured on the play. The game was delayed with two seconds left on the clock.

 Once the game resumed, Cook threw another pass, this time to Luke Sarich in the right endzone, but the play was well defended and the pass was incomplete, ending the game.

 Weiser travels to north Idaho this week for a Sept. 6 matchup against 5A Lakeland. The Hawks beat Bonners Ferry 41-0 Aug. 24 and Lake City 17-7 Aug. 30.

1 2 3 4 T

Buhl 0 0 0 9 9

Weiser 0 6 0 0 6