BY MICHAEL DAVID

It was a back and forth affair, highlighted by big scoring plays and fraught with penalties and early season mistakes. But, eventually, the Wood River Wolverines emerged victorious over the visiting Pocatello Indians 35-34 in their season opener.

It was the first time the Wolverines have ever beaten Pocatello, a larger school in a higher football division.

Wood River senior running back Turner Maza, who scored four touchdowns in the contest, dashed through the center of the line from two yards out to put the Wolverines ahead in overtime. The ensuing extra point by Taylor Koth gave the home team the lead 35-28.

Pocatello wasted no time striking back as senior quarterback Will Schumber hit Trent Cooper in the end zone on their first play from scrimmage, pulling the Indians within one point. 

Pocatello had early struggles with the kicking game, which may have led Pocatello head coach Dave Stillett to go for a two-point conversion and the victory. But Schumber’s pass fell incomplete in the end zone, igniting a wild celebration by the Wolverine players and their faithful.

Maza, a transfer from Edison High School in Southern California, struggled getting yards against the agile Pocatello defenders in the first half. But he was effective in goal line situations, scoring from two yards out and one yard out to give the Wolverines a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

Senior quarterback Cade Schott was effective, passing to a variety of receivers as he drove the team down the field to set up the Maza scores.

Pocatello shook off penalties and mistakes and turned to their hurry up offense in the second quarter. This strategy proved effective as the Indians scored on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Schumber to Braxton Staples. The Indians followed that scoring drive with another, capped by a four-yard TD pass to junior Dakota Parslow, tying the game at 14-14 at halftime.

Pocatello took the lead for the first time in the third quarter with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Schumber to Jarom Campos. 

The Wolverines battled back, as they opened the fourth quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Schott to Ike Buxton. The extra point gave the lead back to the Wolverines, 21-20. 

Pocatello drove the ball into Wood River territory and looked poised to regain the lead until Zach Nelson intercepted a Schumber pass, turning the ball back over to the Wolverines. Wood River then began to feed the ball to their 165-pound senior running back, Maza, who was gaining yards in big chunks on the ground.

“It is a testament to his character,” Wolverine head coach Kevin Stilling said of Maza. “He was not having success in the first half, but he kept battling and dominated in the second half.”

“I just feel honored to play with my brothers out on the field,” Maza said. “We all were determined and no one was going to quit.”

Maza scored on a 25-yard run to put the Wolverines up 28-20, but the visitors from Pocatello were not done yet. Schumper hit Campos on a 64-yard TD pass, and the 2-point conversion tied the game at 28.

Koth’s 50-yard field goal attempt fell short near the end of regulation, and the teams moved to OT to settle the epic season opener. The fans at Phil Homer Field were treated to quite a performance by these two talented football teams. 

“I told the team we would need a complete game to win,” Stilling said, “And I told them at half time we might need an overtime to win. I guess I was prophetic.”

The Wolverines travel to play Jerome next Friday.

Wood River 35, Pocatello 34

Pocatello             0              14           6              8              6

Wood River        0              14           0              14           7

Second quarter:

WR—Turner Maza 2 run (Taylor Koth kick)  11:28

WR—Turner Maza 1 run (Koth Kick)  6:10

P—Braxton Staples 7 pass from Will Schumber (kick fail)  2:55

P—Dakota Parslow 4 pass from Schumber (Staples 2-pt conversion) :11.6

Third quarter:

P—Jarom Campos 67 pass from Schumber (kick fail) 4:35

Fourth quarter:

WR—Ike Buxton 21 pass from Cade Schott (Koth kick)  11:54

WR—Maza 25 run (Koth kick) 10:12

P—Campos 64 pass from Schumber (Cooper 2 pt conversion) 9:25

OT

WR—Maza 2 run (Koth kick)

P—Cooper 10 pass from Schumber (2 pt conversion fail)