The playoffs: the ultimate games
Thursday, November 5, 2009 11:02 AM PST
It all starts on the final whistle from the year before. When a team’s season comes to an end in that final game, whether it be a win or a loss, thoughts of the next playoff season begin.
Reaching the postseason is why teams compete. They want that bragging right, the stigma of being better than the majority. Ultimately, the goal is a championship, and we know how hard those are to come by, unless you’re a Vale Viking, but even they have not tasted the glory of being the best in quite a while.
This year, it looks like the western Treasure Valley could have a total of eight teams competing in the post season. There are already five going at it with New Plymouth, Parma, Weiser, Payette and Fruitland on the Idaho side of the river, and, if my picks hold up, they will all be competing again next week. In Oregon, only two teams have secured a playoff berth, Ontario and Vale, with Nyssa playing for its playoff life Friday, hosting Vale.
The three powerhouses from the Snake River Valley Conference have all made clear statements to start the 3A playoffs, and it makes me wonder how far these three will get. Hopefully, next week, the fans and media will get round two of the Payette/Fruitland battle. If so, this will be one great game. In the last meeting, there were nine turnovers combined, and Payette came away victorious. That will be a tough game to pick the second time around.
Weiser (6-3) hosts South Fremont (8-2) in quarterfinal action at 1 p.m. Saturday and after the Wolverines’ big 28-7 win at Buhl, I have a new found respect for these gridiron warriors. The Cougars rolled Snake River last week 31-14, and it’s apparent that this game has the makings of an offensive explosion by either or both teams. But since Weiser is hosting, I like them — Weiser 33, South Fremont 20.
Payette hits the road to northern Idaho, and, hopefully, the coach bought these Pirates some parkas. Who knows how the weather will be? Regardless, football is supposed to be played on frozen tundra right? Payette still has that dominating defensive line, and I do not see Timberlake being able to contain them. I have sailed with Payette all season, and I am not about to walk the plank just yet — Payette 33, Timberlake 28.
Finally, Fruitland (6-3) has the luxury of home cooking and warm beds as they prep for Orofino (6-3). The Maniacs have lost some numbers and will come into this game hoping for no injuries because they will not have many bodies to replace the fallen. I think Fruitland will play on that and come out aggressive and physical, which will lead to a victory — Fruitland 60, Orofino 12.
New Plymouth and Parma both had an extra week to think about their games this week. Parma (8-0) hosts Nampa Christian (5-4), the second time these two will play, but just like the first go-around, the Panthers throttle the Trojans — Parma 40, Nampa Christian 12.
The Pilgrims (5-3) are on the road at Kamiah (6-2), and I like the fact that New Plymouth has such a balanced offense and can score points on the ground or through the air — Pilgrims 28, Kamiah 6.
In Oregon, the playoffs are still a week away, but some key games are being played. Ontario (7-1) seeks the outright title to the Greater Oregon League with a regular season finale at Mac-Hi (2-6), and they will secure that title over a hapless Pioneer team — Ontario 66, Mac-Hi 6.
In the Eastern Oregon League, Vale (5-3) travels to Nyssa (3-5) for an important game for both schools. A win for Vale, and they are the league champs. A win for Nyssa, and they make it to the postseason. Add in the fact that this is a huge rival game, and anything can happen. However, Vale is playing great ball right now, and Nyssa is not — Vale 36, Nyssa 18.
Scott Ford is the sports editor for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at scottf@argusobserver.com. Want to comment on this story? Go online to www.argusobserver.com and check out our blogs. The views and opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Argus Observer.
