Weiser blows out Emmett 46-19

By Scott Ford - Argus Observer
Sunday, August 26, 2007 2:36 AM PDT

Weiser’s Trent Coleman sprints upfield after catching a pass from the Grizzlies quarterback. Weiser racked up 46 points and 469 yards of total offense in the win.

Weiser - The Wolverine football machine knocked off the rust at the expense of the Emmett Huskies at Walter Johnson Memorial Field Friday night, winning 46-19.

The Wolverines posted 20 points in each of the first two quarters of play and their defense settled in after the first quarter.

Weiser is loaded with senior experience, and has 17 returning lettermen from a year ago. That leadership and experience was evident against Emmett.

Weiser wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when they found paydirt on their first possession of the game on a six-yard run by Gavin Eisenbarth.

The point after attempt was true off the foot of Ruben Perez, giving the Wolverines an early 7-0 lead.

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“It was exciting to have a group of guys come out and get after it on offense,” head coach John Srholec said. “I think a lot of folks had question about the people we had up front.

I didn’t have a lot of questions, but a lot of people did and I think we are beginning to answer those questions.”

Srholec said it was nice to see his offense come together and gel in the first half and make some big plays.

Weiser added seven more points on its second possession.

Following an Emmett punt, the Wolverines were looking at a first and 10 from their own 20-yard line when Trent Winegar broke off an 80-yard scamper with 7:20 left in the opening quarter. The PAT was good by Perez and Weiser was up 14-0.

Emmett settled in on its next possession and went to the air to get back into the game. And taking a page from the Weiser attack, the Huskies launched a one play drive covering 66 yards and the score when Emmett quarter back Brennan Fridley connected with Nick Hovda for the catch and run. The kick split the uprights and Emmett cut Weiser’s lead in half, 14-7 with 7:03 to play.

The quick score by the Huskies did not cause the Wolverines to fret, and on their next possession, only needed two plays from scrimmage to cover 78 yards.

Running backs Colton Chandler and Jacob Scharbrough got the calls. Chandler busted a 12-yard gainer on the first play of the drive, then Scharbrough broke free with some nifty running as he covered 66 yards for the score. Weiser’s third touchdown of the quarter came at the 6:16 mark, the PAT failed but the Wolverines led was 20-7.

On Emmett’s third drive of the game, they went back to the air, sending as many as five receivers into the Wolverines secondary.

“I wouldn’t say our secondary was suspect, but how many guys do you want to put into pass coverage?” Srholec said. Emmett went to the air six straight times on their scoring drive with completion’s of five yards twice and the big one of 40 yards for the score.

“We made a few mistakes in the secondary, but when they go five wide, eventually they will get you,” Srholec said.

The first quarter came to a close with Weiser sustaining their first real drive of the game - no big plays on this 12 play scoring drive. The Wolverines stuck to their game plan, that being run, run and some more running.

And little by little they ate up yards and pushed the Huskies up against the goal line.

With just a few ticks off the second-quarter clock, Eisenbarth punched the pigskin into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game, giving Weiser a 26-13 lead. Perez booted the PAT and the Wolverines enjoyed their biggest lead of the game at 27-13.

Emmett ran into a motivated Weiser defense on its first set of downs in the second quarter.

The Wolverine “D” stepped up and applied good pressure to the Huskies quarterback, forcing him to hurry passes which resulted in a quick three and out for Emmett.

The Weiser offense thanked its defense with another score, as Willie Overgaard pulled in a 26-yard pass from Eisenbarth extending the Wolverines lead to 33-13 with 5:30 to play in the opening half.

Again, Weiser was patient on offense using eight plays covering 79 yards for the score, and eating up the clock.

The Huskies answered back with a 82 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but there was one problem with the effort.

A yellow flag was laying on the turf, signifying a hold on the play and negating the score.

Emmett again went to air, but this time the Weiser defense was ready, and on the sixth play of the drive, Ethan Kohl was “Johnny on the spot” when the pass was tipped and Kohl pulled it in for the interception.

Weiser capitalized on the Emmett turnover with its sixth first-half touchdown. The score came via the air when Eisenbarth connected with Brandon Richins on a 31-yard catch and run. The PAT was good by Perez and Weiser was up 40-13.

The opening half came to an end with a interception in the back of the end zone by Overgaard that ended a 11 play drive by the Huskies.

Both teams added touchdowns in the third quarter, with Emmett finding pay dirt on a 20 yard run, and Weiser scoring on a three-yard scamper by Scharbrogh to end all scoring.

Eisenbrath finished the day with 12 attempts and six completions for 123 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Scharbrough ran for 125 yards on 12 carries to lead the Wolverines.

Coach Srholec graded his team with a “B” on their performance.

“There is room for improvement and I was happy we did not turn the ball over tonight,” he said.

Weiser will host Baker City Friday at 7 p.m., and Srholec said they will be Baker City’s opener and that gives them the advantage.

“I do not know anything about them, and they are going to get a good look at us.” Srholec said.