Grizzlies hit I-84 for opener against La Grande
Fruitland has many questions to answer
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:48 AM PDT
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| Fruitland’s Nick Varriale spots an opening down the sidelines in this Argus Observer File Photo. The Grizzlies travel La Grande Friday. |
Fruitland ” The start of the 2008 football season is only a one day and 118 miles away for the Fruitland Grizzlies as they travel to La Grande to take on an experienced Tiger football team that is returning a lot of starters from its 1-9 2007 season.
“We expect them to be an improved team from last year,” Fruitland head coach Bruce Schlaich said. “They have a lot of athletes that played against us last year, so I am sure they will be ready.”
The question is, can La Grande get revenge from its 56-0 loss a year ago to the Grizzlies?
Fruitland comes in with less depth, but still has plenty of talent, and boast running backs Caleb Crim, Zack Fabricius, Nick Varriale and Tommy Macfarlane.
Opening on the road is not a big concern for Schlaich; in fact he said the team is excited about finally having the season begin.
“They (the team) are looking forward to knocking heads with some one other than themselves,” Schlaich said.
After an intense battle for the quarterback position, Caldwell transfer Dillon Stringfield gets the nod, beating out R.J. Edwards.
Fruitland will continue to run the winged-T offense and Schlaich feels good about the athletes he has running the ball.
Defensively the Griz have a solid core of returning players coming back to hunt down Tiger ball carriers.
Anchoring the d-line will be Tyson Flannery and Kyle Blackwell, and in the linebacker slots, Schlaich said he believes the Grizzlies have the fast core of linebackers he has ever had with Crim, Macfarlane, Stringfield, Derek Keeton and Fabricius.
As for concerns for the veteran coach, Schlaich said he does have some.
“There are always concerns going into the first game,” Schlaich said. “Until you get them against another team, you think you know where you are at. But until you get them into a game situation, you really don‘t have a measuring stick.”
The Grizzlies are facing concerns right off the bat, and it is the lack of depth they are used to having.
“We are not as deep and we will have a lot of athletes going both ways,” Schlaich said. “We will have to see if we are in good enough condition to do that.”
The last time the Grizzlies traveled to La Grande they came home with a 22-20 loss in 2006.
Despite that loss, the Grizzlies went on to win the Idaho 3A state championship with a 27-21 win over Buhl.
“We are ready to play and we are excited to play,” Schlaich said.
KSRV 1380 will broadcast the game live at 7 p.m.
