Grizzlies prep for big rivalry game
By Scott Ford - Argus Observer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:49 PM PDT
Fruitland - It has been hyped up ever since the horn sounded at the end of last year’s game. A game that Fruitland won 33-30 on their way to a Snake River Valley and state title.
But it is time again to strap on the helmets and don the gear of gridiron battles.
Friday Fruitland will travel a short way up Highway 95 to take on its nemesis, the Weiser Wolverines, in what many consider the great football game to be played this season.
Both teams are off to a great start, Weiser 4-0, and Fruitland 3-0. Both teams have had their way with their opponents this season, but Friday, one of these powerhouses will fall.
Fruitland coach Bruce Schlaich is expecting a battle.
“Friday will be a great measuring stick for Fruitland. Schlaich said Weiser is one of the best teams in the state at the 3A level,” Schlaich said.
Brian Walton, a senior at Fruitland has been in this game three times before and he said the team has been waiting for this game all year.
“It a game that everyone gets up for. It is a big game for us, its a big rivalry”
Being the defending SRV and state champs, Walton knows his team is wearing a huge bullseye on their backs.
“We take them (our opponents) one game at a time, and we know we have to bring our “A” game every week,” he said.
The senior center added it will be important for the line to win the battles in the trenches and he said it will be the team with the strongest defense which will win the game.
Fellow senior Kole Olinger, a running back and outside linebacker said that Friday night’s game is a huge game for both teams.
“It is going to be a huge game, the crowd will be huge for both teams,” Olinger said.“This is the biggest game of the year for us, so far.”
Olinger said the message to the team has been clear all week from coach Schlaich.
“Coach has been telling us to keep the mental mistakes down and that we have to take care of the football.”
Looking at the Wolverines, Olinger feels the Grizzlies will have to
shut down Scarborough - their main guy, play penalty free football and keep the turnovers to a minimum.
Do the Grizzlies feel the pressure?
“We welcome and relish the pressure,” Olinger said.
Coach Schlaich commented on Weiser by saying,
“Weiser is a charter member of the Snake River Valley Conference and we are the new comers to the league.
We have a storied history as does Weiser.”
As for any guarantees, Schlaich did have one. “I will make one guarantee for the game. That is, Fruitland will travel very well and we will have as many fans there as Weiser does.”
Weiser is a disciplined team on defense and it is always a challenge to try and find ways to move the ball against them, according to Schlaich.
“But this game is not so much about X’s and O’s but more about Jimmies and Joe's,” the coach said.
“The team that executes the best will win this football game.”
Schlaich said they cannot expect to stop the Weiser running backs. But instead he just hopes to slow them down.
“Both backs (Jacob Scarborough and Colton Chandler) are a threat,” Schlaich said.
Which team has the advantage in this storied rival game?
“The advantage for them is they are playing at home, for us we are the defending state champs,” Schlaich said.
Being the defending SRV and class 3A state champs applies a lot of pressure to the Grizzlies.
“The pressure is huge for us because we are going to get everybody's “A” game.
The coach said his basic message to the team is for them to play disciplined Fruitland football.
“We have to be better than what we were a week ago, and better than what we were a year ago.”
Schlaich is expecting a classic smash mouth prep football game.
Coming into this game, Fruitland is ranked number one in the state in 3A and Weiser is ranked third.
Alma wrote on Aug 28, 2009 8:22 PM:
Im so very proud of you, you did AMAZING!! Yet still very young and have years to improve, which seems scary. I know grandpa was cheering for you, chanting #1, #1... Keep up the great work kido. "