Team Preview:
Written By: Sven Alskog

After back-to-back seasons with a 3-5 record, Buhl hopes to take the next step and put together a winning season this time around.

Third year head coach Seth Blick has a team that came close to a four or five win season a year ago, leaving the group hungry to prove they can compete for a playoff spot in 3A Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference.

Six All-Conference players have departed to graduation, including dual-threat quarterback Austin Azevedo and Garrett Montgomery, a big difference maker at linebacker on defense and running back on offense.

Garrett Bowman is one of the pieces that does return for the Indians, along with lineman Jose Cortes and Second Team All-Conference linebacker Marco Oviedo.

Bowman, Adam Lauda and Jade Juker represent some of the skill position talent that Buhl has at its disposal on the offensive side of the ball. The goal heading in to the new year will be to become more explosive after being held to 24 points or less each week outside of a 56-6 blowout victory over Wendell.

Defensively there were multiple bright spots from the 2017 season, with other coaches describing Buhl as a “scrappy” bunch, which is always a compliment a coach would like to hear about his team.

Oviedo should anchor the defense again this year, with Alex Cordoba and Cortes on the line and Lauda, Juker and Bowman the guys leading the defensive backfield.

Buhl has multiple games that look good on paper to start the season, including opening at Weiser and hosting Burley on Thursday night in week two. The matchup against the Wolverines is a rematch of an overtime thriller which was won 21-20 by Buhl last season. Both of the first two games for the Indians will be broadcast live and free on IdahoSports.com.