Fruitland finishes perfect season with 59-8 win
By Argus Observer sports staff
Sunday, October 21, 2007 1:03 AM PDT
Payette -The Snake River Valley Conference ended just as many believed it would with the Fruitland football undefeated and champs again as they knocked out their 17 striaight win dating back to last season with a 59-8 thumping over neighboring Payette Firday night. Weiser (7-1, 3-1), who was idle, finished in second place in the league and Homedale (3-5, 2-2) snuck in for the third place finish with a 14-0 win over McCall.
The Grizzlies (8-0, 4-0) are now set to face the playoffs and defend their state title this Friday with a home game against Filer (6-2, 2-2), of the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference, who is coming off a 28-0 loss to Kimberly (8-0, 4-0).
“I think we will be alright going in agsainst Filer, and we will be focused,” head Grizzly coach Bruce Schlaich said. “We executed well with our No. 1 offense and defense.”
Fruitland scored four first-quarter touchdowns against Payette (3-5, 0-4) with the first coming on a 21-yard run by Kole Olinger early in the quarter. Olinger added another touchdown at the 7:24 mark on a 9-yard run to give the Griz a 14-0 lead.
Late in the first quarter, Nick Varriale erupted for a 53 yard jaunt to boost the Grizzlies lead to 20-0 with 3:38 to play in the opening quarter. With the clock reading zero’s, Fruitland was in the endzone again. Nate Bake found paydirt with a 19-yard scamper to increase Fruitland’s lead to 27-0.
“We did really well and took care of business, and we played a lot of kids,” Schlaich said.
Fruitland continued to score at will in the second frame with three more touchdowns. The first came at the 3:01 mark of the quarter when Aaron Smith reached the endzone on a 1-yard run, then minutes later, Zach Fabricius got into the books with an 8-yard score. Fruitland beat the clock again just before the half with a 54-yard fumble return by Micah McMurry to take a 47-0 lead into the locker room.
In the second half of play, the Grizzlies added two more scores, one in the third on a 5-yard run, and in the fourth on a 22-yard both by Tommy MacFarlane.
Payette got on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard pass from Travis Blackwell to Bryan Brandon.
Schlaich is concerned about the number of turnovers his team still gives up each week. Against Payette, the Griz put the pigskin on the gridiron three times and lost two of them.
“We need to cut down on our turnovers and concenrtate on holiding onto the ball,” Schliach said.
Filer runs a spread offense and will try to spread out the Grizzlies defense. And on the defensive side of the ball, Filer will show a 4-4 defense with some man coverage, according to Schialch.
“Filer is a decent team, but they do not have any outstanding athletes on team, they are a pretty balanced team,” he said.
There has been a scheduling change for this game. Originally set for a 7 p.m. kick off, the game has been moved back to a 7:30 p.m. start in Fruitland.
Vale 38, Riverside 6
“We have always tried to pride ourselves on being a good road team,” Vale football coach Jeff Jacobs said. The game Friday night proved just that as the Vale high school varsity football team crushed Riverside on their own turf 38-6.
“Up front, our offensive line did a good job for us. They stayed on their blocks and gave our backs some big holes to run through,” he said. Vale’s Cam Anthony rushed for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Darin Johnson’s kick was true.
Jarrod Tucker ran a 7-yard touchdown followed by another extra point kicked by Johnson. Vale’s kicker had a good night. He also kicked a 17-yard field goal to give Vale a 17 point lead in the first quarter.
“I thought we were efficient on offense and we got several kids in the game,” the coach said. Vale started the second quarter with a vengeance and Anthony had a 70 -yard run followed by another Johnson kick. Vale quarterback Tyler Pirrie threw to Lance Erickson and he scored a 46-yard touchdown. Johnson’s kick sailed through the uprights.
Pirrie ran it in again for 26 yards and Johnson was accurate with his extra point kick, bringing the score to 38-0.
The third quarter showed no score from either team but Riverside managed to get on the board with a 3-yard pass from Van Gorder to Simpson for six points in the fourth quarter. Riverside’s extra point attempt was no good and they lost 38-6.
“We are as healthy as we have been all year,” Jacobs said. “I think we need to continue to build on our fundamentals this week as we prepare for Nyssa. Nyssa’s loss to Burns puts more pressure on us because they are going to be a hungry team this Friday night when we play them.”
Vale travels to Nyssa Friday. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.
Parma 13, Cole Valley 12
The Parma Panther’s Varsity football team continue to roll forward, beating Cole Valley 13 -12 on Friday night. Parma’s Dalton Koplin scored a touchdown in the first quarter with a 47-yard run. Kicker Devon Erickson’s kick was good for the extra point, giving Parma an early 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, both teams played strong defense and shut each other’s offense down and the two squads went into the half with Parma ahead by seven.
In the third quarter, Parma’s Koplin had another 47-yard touchdown run but Erickson’s kick failed, giving Parma a 13 point lead.
Mitch Simmons, Cole Valley’s running back, turned the tide in Cole Valley’s favor with his 85-yard dash into the end zone, but the extra point was no good.
Simmons again showed his athleticism in the fourth quarter and ran the ball in for a 54-yard score, however, the extra point failed. The missed extra points by Cole Valley proved to be the differece in the game as Parma won by a point 13-12.
Parma rushed the football 48 times for 207 yards, and Finley went 12-51 yards. Ian Black’s number was called 15 times for 86 yards, while Koplin rushed eight times for 80 yards, and Nelson had 3 carries for 25 yards. Parma quarterback Rance Portnier went 2-11-for-17 yards with one interception.
Parma Hosts Melba at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Council 50, Horseshoe bend 0
The Lumberjacks of Council continue to cruise through league play as they put a 50-0 three quarter spanking on Horseshoe Bend Friday night. The Lumberjacks were led by Tyler Farrar who amassed 123 yards on the ground on four carries, and Lumberjack quarterback Keith Heil threw for 78 yards including three touchdowns.
Council has been plagued lately with injuries and athletes who failed to make the grade and head coach Dan Shumway said he is having to lean towards some of the younger players to step up and fill in.
“The younger kids are doing a good job, and we did not have any let downs,” Shumway said. “The main thing we wanted to see was a good team effort on both offense and defense, and we did.”
The Lumberjacks scored 24 first quarter points, followed by 60 more in the second frame for a 44-0 halftime lead. Early in the third quarter, Council added its final score on a fumble recovery in Horseshoe Bends end zone to end the game.
The Mustangs fumbled the pigskin four times and Council recovered them all in addition to picking off an arrant Mustang pass for five take aways in the game. But Council has not been challenged this season and that is a concern for the coach. Council host Wilder in its regular season finale this Friday. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.
Adrian 40, Prairie City 26
The Adrian Antelopes did themselves a favor by securing a 40-26 win Friday night over third place Prairie City and keeping them alive in post-season play. Adrian will have to defeat Jordan Valley Friday and also have to have Praire City lose their final game of the year to get in. If that happens the two teams will be tied in conference and Adrian has the tie-breaker with the head-to-head win.
Prairie City began the scoring Friday night with a 42-yard touchdown in the opening quarter of play, but Adrian bounced back with an 82-yard score by Kyle Rogers to tie the game at eight.
The second quarter began with three straight Antelope scores, a 60 yard run by Rogers, followed by a 54 yard punt return by Brandon Meyer and then Blake Ishida scored on a 2-yard run to give the Antelopes a 28-8 cushion.
The Prairie City Panthers finished the second frame with two scores to get the game close. Both scores were from 10-yards out, and the Panthers trailed 28-20 at recess.
In the third quarter the Panthers drew first blood with a 36-yard run, but failed to convert on the two-point conversion but trailed by a mere two points, 28-26.
But Adrain sealed the deal in the fourth quarter with a pair of scores. One by Rogers on an 8-yard scamper and one by Kyle Osborn on a 9-yard run.
Rogers ended the game with 223 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns.
Adrian will travel to Jordan Valley Friday for an afternoon game which will begin at 2 p.m.
Harper 44, Burnt River 30
The High Desert League continues to shuffle itself around week after week. Crane has been the constant in this league, while the other teams have been moving up and down in the standings. Friday, Harper handed Burnt River a 44-30 loss which dropped the Bulls in sixth place in the league and before the game began, Burnt River was sitting in a tie for fourth. The Win moved Harper into a tie for fourth with Adrian, both with 3-3 records in leage play, and Adrian owning the tie breaker.
Harper broke the ice in the first quarter with a 20 yard pass play and a two point conversion for the 8-0 lead. But The Bulls came back with a 40 yard pass play and failed on the two pointer to trail 8-6.
Harper’s Casiano tallied 91 yards on the game on 21 carries and a score to lead the Hornets to victory as Harper collected 359 yards of total offense in the win.
Both teams added eight points in the second quarter, and at the break the game was close, 16-14 in favor of Harper.
It was the third quarter that hurt the Bulls. Harper came out of the locker room and posted a 22 spot on the scoreboard, all through the air.
The scores came on a 47-yard catch and run, a 9-yard touchdown completion and a 36-yard scoring pass. Harper signal caller ended the game going 9-of-20 for 197 yards and four touchdowns.
In the final frame, the Bulls tired to answer Harper’s scoring output of the third, but could only score 16 points while Harper added another eight. Harper will wrap up its season Friday against Crane (6-1, 6-0). The game will begin at 3 p.m.
