Championship caliber
Semifinal showdown between Fruitland and Payette has the makings of a classic battle

By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
scottf@argusobserver.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:53 AM PST

Argus Observer file photo In the first meeting between Fruitland and Payette, the Pirates scored 14 fourth-quarter points to secure the victory. Friday, these two teams will meet again, this time with more on the line. The winner of the contest will represent the Snake River Valley Conference in the 2009 3A state championship game, and the loser will be done. The game is slated to kick off at 7 p.m. at Fruitland High School.

Fruitland — No matter which team wins on Friday night, the Snake River Valley Conference will be well represented at the 2009 3A state football championship game.

At the beginning of the season, both Payette head coach Troy Gleave and Fruitland head coach Bruce Schlaich said the SRV would be a very competitive league, and they were right.

When the final week of league play concluded, three teams shared the top spot — Fruitland, Payette and Weiser.

Now,  with everything on the line, the Grizzlies will host the Pirates for a second time in 2009, but this time, there is more at stake than just conference bragging rights. A chance to compete in the 3A state football championship is the prize.

“It’s going to be an exciting football game,” Schlaich said. “It’s exciting for the communities and for both teams. This is what high school football  is all about.”

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On Oct. 16, these two gridiron powerhouses squared off in league play, and, in a game that featured nine turnovers and plenty of missed opportunities for both squads, Payette emerged victorious, 26-21.

Friday, however, that game is a distant memory. No living on past successes or failures, it’s all about this one game.

“Very rarely do you get a second chance to play a conference team for a second time in a season,” Schlaich said. “Usually, you have to wait an entire year to get that chance. Just to have this opportunity to play Payette again is something the team wanted to see happen.”

Win and your season continues, lose and you contemplate the would-of, should-of and could-of for the next few months.

“There are always two kinds of teams in the playoffs,” Schlaich said. “The ones that are just happy to be there, and the ones that  expect to win it all. I would like to think that we are a team that expects to win it all.”

Schlaich said this matchup will be won in the trenches.

“Their (Payette’s) defensive front is talented and the most physical we have played all year,” Schlaich said. “It’s a challenge for us to go up against a quality defense that Payette throws at us.”

The Pirates have had a tough playoff road, with back-to-back  road wins — at Kimberly 36-3 and at Timberlake 28-23.

Now, even though they are still the road team, this trip is like crossing the street.

Gleave said his team is focused and has had a real good week of practice.

“There is not a chance that these kids are looking past Fruitland,” Gleave said. “They have a little chip on their shoulders. They want to prove that the first meeting was not a fluke.”

Gleave said the key for his team is to get off to a quick start and take an early lead.

“We play better when we are ahead, versus when we are trailing,” Gleave said. “The defense seems to pick it up another notch when they are protecting the lead.”

Friday’s matchup will kick off at 7 p.m. at Fruitland High School. The game can also be heard on KWEI 1450 AM.