Weiser rolls past Fruitland 24-0

Weiser ended the 2022 regular season on Friday with a 24-0 win over Fruitland, the team’s fifth shutout of the year.

 The road victory resulted in an 8-1, 3-1 record and a second place SRV conference finish. Weiser and Fruitland were tied for the No. 2 spot behind No. 1 Homedale before Friday night’s matchup. 

 Weiser’s only loss came at home against the Trojans who beat the Wolverines 21-7 on Oct. 7. Homedale is unbeaten in the SRV, the Trojan’s only loss coming against non-conference Sandpoint by a 28-21 score.

 The Idaho High School Activities Association uses MaxPrep.com’s final regular season rankings to determine seeding going into the state championship playoffs.

 According the IHSAA, Weiser was No. 6 behind No. 2 Homedale in 3A state rankings. Both teams have 8-1 overall records. Sugar-Salem occupies the No. 1 spot in the state with an 8-0 overall record.

 According to the state 3A state bracket, Weiser now faces No. 14 Timberlake (Spirit Lake) at home on Friday, Oct. 28 in the first round, which is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. The Tigers are 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the 3A Intermountain conference.

Weiser v. Fruitland

 The Grizzlies took first possession in Friday’s game, senior Malakye Scott ending Fruitland’s drive with an interception, but the Wolverines were unable to capitalize. 

 Junior kicker Ryndon Olsen was first to put points on the board, making good on a 23-yard field goal attempt with 1:33 left in the first quarter.

 Senior quarterback Andrew Enders later completed a pass to one of his backs for a first down deep in Grizzly territory, triggering a Fruitland timeout. Three plays later, Enders, unable to find any open receivers, pulled the ball down and sprinted to his left where he found the corner of the endzone for the 18-yard touchdown run, giving Weiser the 10-0 lead with 7:04 left in the half.

 In the third quarter, Enders would connect with junior receiver Brock Spencer who was streaking open down the left side of the field. He caught a perfectly thrown ball in the endzone for the 14-yard touchdown, with 6:08 left in the third quarter.

 Senior Michael Youngberg scored in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 24-0, with 4:00 remaining in the game.

 Weiser generated 351 yards total offense on 68 plays, averaging 5.2 yards per play, recording 97 yards passing and 254 yards rushing.

 Fruitland had 167 yards of total offense, with 37 through the air and 130 on the ground.

 Enders was 8 of 11 passing, with 75 yards and 1 touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Kolin Cook went 3 of 5 for 22 yards.

 Olsen made good on all three point-after attempts.

 Youngberg led Weiser’s running backs with 12 attempts for 67 yards and 1 touchdown, followed by Spencer who had 9 attempts for 64 yards. Jayden Walker ended the night with 7 attempts for 48 yards followed by Kaleb Grove who ran the ball 8 times for 31 yards. Enders rushed 7 times for 28 yards and 1 touchdown. Maddox Stevens added 6 attempts for 17 yards.

 Spencer led all receivers, hauling in 6 passes for 56 yards and 1 touchdown followed by Youngberg who caught 3 passes for 27 yards. J. Walker added 1 catch for 9 yards and Braden Walker had 1 reception for 5 yards.

 On defense, J. Walker led the defense with 4 tackles and 3 solos, followed by M. Scott who had 3.5 tackles and 3 solos. Senior defensive lineman Blake Moser had 3.5 tackles and 1 solo. Stevens, Youngberg, and Grove all recorded 2.5 tackles apiece. Cook, B. Walker, and Levi Estes all had two tackles apiece.