Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Minico
2. Twin Falls
3. Jerome
4. Burley
5. Mountain Home
6. Canyon Ridge
7. Wood River
Written by: Brandon Baney
In 2020, Wood River’s football season ended before it could really get started. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blaine County School District implemented strict policies that made playing games nearly impossible. The Wolverines took the field just three times last year, and finished with an 0-2 record.
Wood River lost to Mountain Home and Burley in back-to-back weeks in early September before the season was put on hold. The Wolverines did return to play an exhibition contest against fellow Blaine County school Carey. Because Wood River plays 11-man football and Carey plays 8-man football, the teams used 11 players when the Wolverines were on offense, and 8 players when Carey had the ball. The Panthers won that unusual contest 40-16.
Because the season was basically a wash, it’s hard to know where Wood River stands entering 2021. There are some upperclassmen who return, but for some, it’s been nearly two years since they last competed.
Third-year coach Shane Carden says Wood River’s spread offense has loads of talented playmakers returning. “We have a quarterback in Sawyer Grafft with a big time arm and a couple of very good receivers with Zack Dilworth and Gavin Hunter,” Carden said. “We also have a stable of running backs led by Jack Herlinger and Caleb Hothem, and two strong tight ends, McCade Parke and Andres Salamanca, that can also be true slot receivers which will keep the offense multiple.”
The big question for Wood River is up front on the offensive line. Juniors Micah Shupe and Daniel Servin are expected to lead that group. “We need to continue to get better up front,” Carden said.
Defensively, Carden has identified a pair of sophomores as impact players: safety Charlie Roberts and middle linebacker Caleb Hothem. “Up front, we will need our D-line with Olin Patterson, Daniel Servin, Ethan Desler and others to be physical,” Carden said. “Our linebacker crew has been spending some serious time in the weight room this off season and is led by Jack Herlinger and McCade Parke. Our back end needs to create turnovers, which Zack Dilworth will continue to do.”
Overall, Wood River is a true wild card in the Great Basin 7 conference. Because of the unknowns surrounding this team, the Wolverines have been picked to finish last in our preseason coaches’ poll. Carden says that’s a mistake.
“Our culture has changed with the majority of our guys coming to work out 4 times a week before school,” Carden said. “These guys want to compete at everything we do and the coaching staff is excited to see that transfer to the field. We have a young team so we are looking forward to these younger guys competing at the varsity level and getting larger roles as leaders. With our school board only allowing our program to have two games last year, our team understands we lost out on a lot of playing time that other teams were able to have, so we are hungry to get to play a full season this year.”