August 18, 2001, Pocatello Silverbacks vs. Idaho Falls Mustangs

POCATELLO 34 IDAHO FALLS 6

SHELLEY, IDAHO - In 5 years since semi-pro football came to Idaho, Jared Anderson and Brock Gunter of the Pocatello Silverbacks had never beaten the Idaho Falls Mustangs. They had lost 10 straight games without a win. Some blowouts, and some nail-biters.... Finally, as members of the first year RMFL Champion Pocatello Silverbacks, they finally got the best of the Silver and Black from north of I-15, by a score of 34-6. Revenge was sweet. Never mind that the game was played to a low-key, non-media crowd at Shelley Junior High School, rather than the Mustangs usual home locale, Shelley High School. Never mind that each team was missing several key players. Pocatello missing the 2001 rushing champion and fullback workhorse, Tyler Wheatley as well as star cornerback, Steve Jenkins and Greg Jolley. The Mustangs were missing starting tailback, Josh Clifford and fullback Ryan Hall. The Mustangs were also missing linebacker, Russell Cummins, but perhaps the biggest empty slot of all was the absence of head coach, Jack Klein. Also, throw out that the game had no more meaning than simple love of the game of football and pride in playing for off-season bragging rights. The victory was sweet for not only Gunter and Anderson, but the 25 other members of Idaho's Gate City, the Pocatello Silverbacks. According to head coach, Palmer Proffitt, "I just think our guys weren't intimidated. They really came out expecting to win."

Expect to win they did. Quarterback, Jeff Belnap had a monstor day against an active and hard-hitting Mustang defense that stifled the Pocatello rushing attack for much of the game. Belnap completed 19 of 28 passes for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns, 3 to the rarely thrown to, Brandon Palmer. With perrenial all-star, Gunter being double-teamed much of the evening, Belnap turned to Palmer to carry the load. Palmer responded with 6 receptions for 72 yards and touchdowns of 7, 31 and 14 yards. Gunter and Anderson chipped in strongly themselves, however. Gunter caught 5 passes for 68 yards and Anderson rushed 9 times for 58 yards. Defensively, the Silverbacks were lead by Dean Byington (6-1/2 tackles), Trent Sutton (5-1/2 tackles, interception), Al Covington (4-1/2 tackles), Tyler Dahlke (4 tackles, 1 sack) and Chris Howerton (3-1/2 tackles, 1 sack). The defense almost posted a shutout until within the last two minutes of the game, with the Mustangs simply punting away in resignation. Nobody told Ron Childes that there was any "resignation" as the punt came down into Cameron Hicks arms, Childes laid out one of more than a dozen crushing hits that the game displayed. Hicks muffed the punt and the Mustangs recovered on the Silverback 40. Bouyed by Childes big play, Mustang quarterback Abe Collard found Justin Weaver down the seam for 29 yards to the 11. Three plays later Collard took it over from the two to spoil the Silverback shutout.

The Mustangs were not without sterling performances themselves. Defensively, Casey Anderson made 7-1/2 tackles (7 unassisted), Childes had 5-1/2 tackles and a sack, Scott Worthington had 5-1/2 tackles, Justin Weaver had 6 tackles, Tom Shawcroft had 4 tackles and a pick, and Jason Lawson had 3-1/2 tackles and a sack. Offensively, the Mustangs suffered the most from the lack of coach Klein and poor practice preparation leading up to the game, depending upon big plays to move the ball or not at all. Other than a 21-yard run by Rayce Bird, a couple of big Sean Powell Receptions and the Weaver grab, the Mustang offense averaged less than 2 yards a play. Powell, a perrenial RMFL all-star and Offensive Player of the year, might have been able to assist the Mustang offense more, however, was ejected with 5 minutes to play in the second quarter.

The Silverbacks declared that this would be their last game in 2001 as they give their players a much needed off-season in preparation for opening of play for the RMFL next April. The Mustangs have two more "exhibition" games scheduled as they begin preparation to play Dixie College and the Helena Knights.

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Pocatello - Anderson 9-58, Whitworth 14-52, Belnap 3-31, Jordan 6-10. Idaho Falls - Bird 11-41, Jensen 6-8, Collard 3-6, Dial 1-0, Childes 2-(-3).

Passing:Pocatello - Belnap 19-28-1-220-4. Idaho Falls - Collard 10-33-1-158-0, Johnson 0-1-0-0-0.

Receiving: Pocatello - Palmer 6-72, Gunter 5-68, Fillingame 3-50, Whitworth 2-16, Anderson 2-8, Jordan 1-6. Idaho Falls - Powell 3-60, Johnson 4-38, Weaver 1-29, Dial 1-25, Papasan 1-10, Bird 1-6

Tackles: Pocatello - Byington 6.5, Sutton 5.5, Covington 4.5, Perry 4, Dahlke 4 (1 sack), Howerton 3.5 (1 sack), Harris 3.5, O'Hearn 2, Hicks 2, Cunningham 1, Foreman 1, Gunter 1, Anderson 1, Whitworth 1. Idaho Falls - Anderson 7.5, Weaver 6, Childes 5.5 (1 sack), Worthington 5.5, Shawcroft 4, Lawson 3.5 (1 sack), Johnson 3, Brasier 2.5, Carlyle 2.5, Jensen 2, Williams 2, Rogers 1.5, Dial 1.5, Allen 1, Elfering 1, Collard 1, Webster 1.

Interceptions:    Pocatello - Sutton. Idaho Falls - Shawcroft

Missed Field Goals: None.