Last modified: Thursday, September 11, 2008 11:16 AM PDT ARGUS OBSERVER FILE PHOTO Weiser quarterback Gavin Eisenbarth (left) hands the ball off to a teammate during practice in this Argus Observer file photo taken last year. Eisenbarth and the Wolverines hit the field Friday at home against 4A La Grande. Weiser ready to silence critics By Ray Rodriguez Argus Observer Weiser — Many thought after Weiser’s opening game, 18-14 loss to Emmett and the injury to top lineman Dakota Taylor, the Wolverine season was on the brinks. Not head coach John Srholec. Those negative thoughts puzzled Srholec, who has always believed his team had the potential to win some ball games. “It’s funny. I guess everybody thinks Emmett stinks. They’re not a bad football team. Are they the best in their division? I don’t know, but it doesn’t mean they are not capable,” Srholec said. “With opening games, you don’t know much. It’s a guessing game. I would smirk at those who jump to conclusions on this football team.” Weiser rebounded with a 20-6 victory on the road in Baker City a week ago, and now the ship has been righted. “We beat a good Baker team last week, and that is pretty good. If we would have lost, then we would have been worried,” Srholec said. “Everything we did wrong in the first game, we corrected. It was about fixing the small mistakes and making sure everyone was doing what they needed.” Next up for Weiser is a home game against 0-2 La Grande Friday at Walter Johnson Memorial Stadium in Weiser. In their two games this season, both losses, the Tigers have scored 23 points and allowed 80, last week losing 41-16 to Vale. The Tiger offense has struggled in the early going, with 367 total yards in two games. The Tigers have passed for 125 yards and rushed for 242 yards on 72 attempts with a 3.36 yard per carry average. Starting quarterback Andy Godfrey is the leading passer and has posted 10-of-30 for 110 yards and four interceptions. Wesley Burgess is the leading offensive standout for La Grande with 82 yards rushing on 19 attempts, and he is the leading receiver with two catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Burgess is followed up by running back John Tuck, who has rattled off 13 carries for 55 yards. “They like to mix it up a little bit and like to throw a bunch. They are an I-back team and at the high school level, you don’t see it that much. They like to pound it out, run some misdirection and open it up with the vertical game. They’re pretty balanced,” Srholec said. “They’re a good team with good speed at the skill positions, so we are going to have to contain that.” The main plan on offense is to keep La Grande’s weapons off the field with long, time-consuming possessions. Srholec’s first order of business is to get the running game going, which so far, has garnered 317 yards on 61 attempts for 5.2 yards per attempt. Trent Winegar leads the running backs with 201 yards, and fullback Spencer Chandler has totaled 51 yards on 10 rushes. “The running game keeps the other team off the field. If you get that rolling, everything else can come off of that,” Srholec said. “Our main priority is to get the linebackers blocked, so we can run the ball. They have a good middle linebacker (Max Nicholson), who is real active and moves to the ball. If we can run it a little, it will force their defensive backs up and gives us the ability to take some shots.” The leading shot taker is Weiser’s senior quarterback Gavin Eisenbarth. Eisenbarth, in his second year as the signal caller, has had his hands on every offensive score, going 22-of-37 passing with 345 yards and two touchdowns. He also has two rushing scores to his credit. Eisenbarth’s biggest weapon on the outside has been Trent Coleman, who has five catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Alton Funk, Weiser’s 6-foot-4 inch wideout has six grabs in two games for 96 yards. Srholec has been impressed with Eisenbarth and expects his signal caller to get his team to the next level. “Every week, we see bigger strides from Gavin, and we hope that continues,” Srholec said. “He gets better with every practice and soaks up more knowledge. We’re happy where he’s at development-wise.” Weiser takes the field at 7 p.m. Friday.