Pirates and Grizzlies prep for the battle of the trenches
Coaches expect game to be won or lost with line play

Larry Hurrle | Argus Observer Fruitland’s Jordan Martin shoots through a hole created by his offensive line during the first meeting between the Pirates and Grizzlies. Payette won the contest 26-21. Friday, these two teams will match up again, but this time the stakes will be much higher. The winner of the contest will advance to the 3A state championship game.

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Friday, when Payette visits Fruitland for the second time this season, that battle will be renewed, but this time with vengeance.

The Fruitland offensive line will be seeking victory for supremacy to lead its team to victory, and the Pirates defensive front four will be looking to force the Grizzlies’ blocking corps to bow in submission.

Over the grueling course of a long, hard-fought season both regiments of warriors have become seasoned gladiators and will test their mettle in an epic showdown few will ever gain full understanding of its merit.

But when championships are won and banners held high, it’s the battle of the trenches that come full circle.

For the Pirates, these trench heroes are named Tyler Kuder, Chris Avila, Travis Blackwell and Joey Barbion and they know what they need to do come Friday.

“We have to play hard. We cannot give up on any down and we can’t take any plays off,” Payette defensive tackle Kuder said. “We take a lot of pride in what we do. All four of us are close and we work hard.”

Kuder's job is clear, but Fruitland senior lineman and veteran gladiator Justin Wallace also has a mission, and that is to stop Kuder and his clan from succeeding.

“The first game was pretty brutal. They have good size, and they are pretty quick,” Wallace said. “It was tough in the trenches to say the least. We want to come out and set things right and beat Payette.”

Fruitland head coach Bruce Schlaich said his young line has been steady week to week and it continues to improve.

“Payette’s front is the biggest and most physical front we have faced,” Schlaich said. “How our offensive line does will determine how the Fruitland Grizzlies will do.”

In the previous game between these two squads, Wallace said the battle in the trenches was intense.

He added that Payette brings a physically strong front four into this game, and he is expecting another tough battle.

“I am looking forward to battling Kuder again,” Wallace said. “He is bigger than me, but I think I am a little faster. It’s going to be a  hard-fought fight come Friday night.”

Kuder said in the first meeting with Fruitland the game was very physical, and he is expecting more of the same.

“Hopefully, we will play even better Friday than what we did in that first game,” Kuder said.

Payette head coach Troy Gleave said the entire Pirate defense revolves around the front four.

“They have caused so much disruption and made so many plays that our linebackers and defensive backs get upset because they don’t get as many opportunities as they have before,” Gleave said. “They (the front four) all pursue the ball well. They control their gaps. They make tackles, and they do their job.”

Facing the stout Pirate defensive line, Schlaich will pull every play he has in his playbook to give his team the best chance to win, which could mean more passing for the Grizzlies, something they do not do a whole lot of.

“We will throw the ball, both deep and short,” Schlaich said.

As for key matchups, Schlaich said the Wallace/Kuder matchup will be a dogfight all night.

With these two teams and communities in such close proximity, the ties between coaches, players and fans intermingle all the time. But Wallace said not this week.

“Yeah, we all know each other and even hang out at times, but not this week,” Wallace said. “This week it’s all business.”

Payette and Fruitland will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday in Fruitland.