Homecoming game is big win for Wolverines

Weiser Wolverine football faced the Payette Pirates this past Friday encompassing Homecoming and senior night all in one.  
 The Weiser community came out in droves and the hill was once again filled for the fall time tradition.  
 Coach Tom Harrison gave a speech Thursday to the student body during Homecoming activities showcasing what the football team means to the community.  
 “These boys represent all of you on the field and off of the field. They truly know what it means to do this and when they win, the entire community wins,” Harrison stated.  
 Weiser definitely represented their community well with a win against Payette 70-15.  
 It was a game of going back to basics for the Wolverines as they worked the run game with just five passes made in the game for a total of 145 yards.  
 Brett Spencer did have one ball in the air for an opening touchdown early in the first quarter to Kooper von Brethorst for a 74-yard reception and put the first points on the board for the Wolverines.  
 Spencer then added another late in the third quarter to Carlos Arana for some icing on the cake.  
 Weiser totaled 495 offensive yards which is quite the feat in high school football. Also offensively, the Wolverines may have set a record, and it was a record for Tom Harrison as a football coach to have eight different people scoring touchdowns in the game.
 Scoring for the Wolverines with great help from the offensive line blocking was: von Brethorst, Willy Shirts three times, Jack Burke, Beau Shields, Nick Swank, Arana, Clayton Beesley, and Levi Estes.
 On the rushing side of the offense, Weiser had 29 rushing attempts for 350 total yards.  They averaged just over 12 yards per run, working efficiently down the field.  
 Notably Weiser’s Michael Youngberg had two carries for 79 yards, Shirts worked the ball down the field six times for 74 yards, Brett Spencer added five runs for 53 yards, Brock Spencer rushed three times for 44 yards, Burke added three runs for 39 yards, and Swank had two runs for 29 yards.
 “When you have as many options for running backs to make plays like we do, life is good,” head coach Tom Harrison stated.  
 On the defensive side of the ball, Weiser took command of the field.  
 Defense never gets the credit it deserves, but there were many tackles, one sack, an interception, a blocked punt, and a blocked pass to make the evening interesting.  
 Weiser’s defense held the Pirates efficiently, allowing 27 rushing attempts that averaged just 1.3 yards each and held their offense to just 136 total yards.  
 Payette punted the ball in the first half and Youngberg knocked it down using his helmet. Also in the first half of the game, Shields batted down a pass by the Pirates and forced them to punt on fourth down.
 Rylee Willet sacked the quarterback in the third quarter, which turned the ball over on downs for the Wolverines and Brayden Walker intercepted the ball in the second half of the game for the Wolverines.
 “These guys play both sides of the ball and never get a break, so forcing as many turnovers as they did is a great accomplishment,” coach Harrison said.
 After the game coach Harrison also shared a story about how great our community is. He has had many parents, individuals, and businesses step up and ask what they can do to contribute and notably, John Harris, owner of Sears Hometown in Ontario and a Weiser resident, gave the incentive of $50 per touchdown scored for the homecoming game.  
 “You know, we have the best group of people in this town.  Everyone is willing to give their time and energy to these boys and to their community.   I have moms making dinners, individuals and businesses bringing us water and supplies and now to have John do this is just amazing,” Tom stated. Thank you Weiser for a great Homecoming!
 Weiser will face McCall at home this next Friday in a conference game.