Grizzlies remain perfect

By LARRY HURRLE - Argus Observer
Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:57 AM PDT

Fruitland running back Tommy Macfarlane breaks through the hole and looks for running room late in the game Friday against Wood River. Macfarlane carried the ball 14 times for 122 yards on the night, leading Fruitland to a 49-20 win over Wood River.

FRUITLAND - Fruitland’s high-scoring offense didn’t disappoint Friday night as the Grizzlies took on Idaho 4A contender Wood River. It was the Grizzly defense, though, that stole the show.

Fruitland gave up just 196 total yards, including just 45 yards total offense in the first half against the Wood River en route to a 49-20 badgering of the Wolverines. Wood River’s only first-half score came on a 90-yard kickoff return by Matt Staskiewicz late in the second quarter. By that time, Fruitland has run up 35 points on the scoreboard and put the game well out of reach.

“Defensively, we really got after them,” Fruitland coach Bruce Schlaich said after the game. “I thought we played extremely good defense for three quarters.”

Wood River was able to chalk up 151 yards total offense in the second half, but most of that yardage came against Fruitland’s non-starters and many junior varsity players.

“We play as many kids as we can,” Schlaich said. “Some teams like to leave their starters in and run up the score, but we don’t. These kids come to practice every day and they deserve to play.”

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It was difficult to tell Fruitland’s starting offense from its second offense, though, as both units moved the ball strongly against the Wolverines. In fact, Fruitland junior running back Tommy Macfarlane, a second-team member, led Fruitland with 122 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown.

While Fruitland’s defense shut Wood River’s offense out in the first half, the Grizzlies were busy grinding out a strong running game and putting on a passing clinic — unusual for a team that runs out of the Wing T formation.

Three of Fruitland’s first five touchdown came through the air as Nawahine connected with Kyle Smith on a third-and-25 play for a 75-yard touchdown with 2:44 left in the first quarter. Nawahine then found Aaron Smith alone in the flat for a 22-yard pass, which Smith ran the final 18 yards to pay dirt with 10:37 left in the second quarter.

Nawahine also connected with Micah McMurry on a quick-out play and the Fruitland fans watched as McMurry outran the Wood River defense 70 yards down the right sideline with 3:18 left in the first half. The score gave Fruitland a 35-0 lead.

Staskiewicz’s 90 touchdown return came on the ensuing kickoff.

Fruitland’s other two scores in the first half came from the Grizzlies’ grinding offense. Caleb Crim scored on a one-yard plunge into the end zone after the Grizzlies put together a 6-play, 70-yard drive on their first possession. Kole Olinger found some running room on a counter play with 6:26 left in the first half for a 25-yard run up the middle for a touchdown.

Fruitland picked up in the third quarter where it left off in the second banging out nine plays and covering 80 yards for a touchdown on its first possession of the second half. Joey Ramirez capped the drive with an eight-yard run into the end zone.

Fruitland’s next touchdown of the game came with 4:25 left in the third with Caleb Howard hauled in another Nawahine pass, this time for 15 yards and a touchdown.

The final score came on Macfarlane’s 52-yard burst to the north end zone with 1:21 left in the third.

Place kicker Bridgette Teunissen added a 7-for-7 performance on the night on extra points. She is currently 20 of 22 on the year.

Nawahine had a strong day passing for Fruitland with just one incompletion on the night. He was also sacked once by the Wolverine defense. The senior finished the game 7-of-8 from the air with no interceptions and 240 yards.

Fruitland’s ground attack amassed 442 yards, putting the Grizzlies at an arm’s length from 700 yards total offense with 682 total yards.

The only drawback for Fruitland would have been in penalties as the Grizzlies were tapped for 70 yards on seven penalties.

“Our kids are being aggressive and trying to make plays,” Schlaich said. “Sometimes they get carried away.”

Fruitland opens Snake River Valley Conference play next week when they travel to Weiser for a 7 p.m. contest Friday.