Homecoming a chance to turn Broncs season around

 
After a promising start to the 2022 under a new head coach, the Broncs have come back to earth with a thud. Two straight losses including a beatdown last week at the hands of those other Broncs that have proved Jackson’s nemesis these past few years.
“I told the kids after the game, ‘Hey, Cody is a better football team than we were tonight. They have a better program right now and good coaching,’” coach David White said. “But still, I think we were a little intimidated. You kept hearing the name Talich, Talich, Talich all week. They were the better team but we still didn’t play really well. A better version of us should have showed up Friday for sure.”
Cody showed why they are firmly positioned at the top of the 3A West standings and likely a shoe-in to repeat another undefeated run toward their 3rd straight state championship. Jackson (2-3, 0-1), meanwhile is still firmly in the mix for a playoff spot. After Star Valley, the rest of the pack—which includes Jackson, Powell, Evanston, and Green River—is wide open and anyone’s game.
“It’s no time to rip up the playbook and tear down everything we are doing here. [With the Cody loss,] you just have to own it and say, ‘If we stunk, we stunk…and learn from it and get better,’” White assured. “We have to worry about the ‘how’ of what we do. Get t playing physical with an attitude, some passion, and start fighting for those playoff spots after Cody.”
That’s what makes this homecoming all the more important for the Black & Orange to get back in the win column and pick up a much-needed conference win against a beatable opponent.
Bedeviling Evanston
Evanston (1-4, 0-1) is also hunting their first conference victory. Expect them to be hungry and play with desperation. 
The Red Devils pose very real problems for the Broncs. While Jackson is ranked #4 in all the 3A to Evanston’s #9, the Devils have a talented mobile quarterback with size in Cohen Morrow (6’2” 185lbs). That particular combination has given the Broncs fits this season beginning with the Week 0 opener against Teton, and showing up again in South Fremont and last week versus Cody.
“QB run game at Teton beat us. QB at South Fremont was a one-armed bandit, beat us. Luke [Talich] beat us with his athleticism. That quarterback position has beat us three times,” White admitted, expecting the same type of play from the Red Devil signal caller.
Morrow is a dual threat two-way player who not only leads his team in rushing, but plays a real downhill game at the mike on defense. From his linebacker position, Morrow reads plays quickly and loves to disrupt the running game in the backfield.
Game plan
The Broncs are dealing with some key injuries, depleting their backfield and hampering the rushing game. That might not be a bad thing against Evanston, who have been strong against the run this season but susceptible to the pass. Even when healthy, Jackson hasn’t exactly been lighting it up in the rushing game, ranking #9 out of 12 teams.
Coach White said Jenkins is good to go with the knee injury. Backup running back/cornerback Ayden Gralund is likely out with a hand. Backup running back and slot receiver Thomas May is a gametime decision.
It should be a festive atmosphere at the Mac for homecoming. Something Coach White says he will let his kids feed off of.
“I don’t want to be the Grinch on Friday. We’ll let them embrace the atmosphere,” White said. “It goes back to the ‘how.’ How are you going to run out of that shed onto the field? How you going to play that first snap to the last? It’s fun to go out there and compete, but it’s not fun to look like a clown and go out there and get embarrassed.”
It might be time to air it out early and often for the homecoming crowd at William T. McIntosh this Friday.
Evanston vs Jackson. William T. McIntosh Stadium. Friday, September 30. Kickoff at 6pm. Game will be broadcast live on Jackson Hole Radio YouTube channel.
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