Fruitland Football Boosters would like to help you get to know Mark Vidlak & welcome him as a community into his new role as Head Football Coach of the Fruitland Grizzlies!
Coach Vidlak began his high school coaching career in 1998 at Bend Senior High School. He later coached at Hidden Valley High School in Grants Pass, Oregon, serving as a varsity WR, RB, QB coach, and OC.
As an OC, his offenses have led both Oregon and Idaho in points and total yards. He has coached 2 State Players of the Year at QB and helped develop multiple All-Conference and All-State athletes.
Over the past four years at Fruitland High School, Coach Vidlak served as Varsity Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach. In 2022, 2024,& 2025, Fruitland quarterbacks earned First Team All-Conference honors each season, with Conference MVP awards in 2024 and 2025. The 2025 quarterback was named State Player of the Year.
His offenses have produced 3 All-State offensive linemen and 3 All-State receivers. In his final season as offensive coordinator, Fruitland led the state of Idaho in offense, finishing 10–1, winning the conference championship, and advancing to the state semifinals.
Coach Vidlak brings nearly 30 years of experience, a strong background in QB development, and a proven ability to be a successful Coach.
Thank you for continuing to build our team this upcoming season Coach Vidlak!
The Yotes walked back into Butte—the ONLY place they lost this season—and left NO DOUBT.
College of Idaho dismantles previously UNDEFEATED Montana Tech 41-26 in the NAIA Quarterfinals at Alumni Coliseum!
💥 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Rylie Byington | 25 carries | 206 yards | 4 TDs TD runs of 1, 39, 2 & 65 yards—his 65-yard DAGGER with :26 left in the 3rd capped a 20-point Yote explosion that broke the game wide open.
🛡️ DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tanner Steele | 8 tackles | 2 PBUs Locked down Tech’s passing attack when it mattered most.
⚡ GAME-CHANGING MOMENTS: ▪️ Mason Priddy forced fumble → Chase Brown recovery on Tech’s 2nd play ▪️ Priddy INT in the red zone at the CI 8 ▪️ Tucker French tips a pass → Jacob Sisson INT at the Tech 45 ▪️ 3 TURNOVERS FORCED. ALL CASHED IN.
The Yotes dominated on the ground: 356 rushing yards vs. just 92 for Tech. Caden Young added 81 rushing yards, a TD, and 127 passing yards. Ryken EchoHawk’s 43-yard TD run in the 4th put the nail in the coffin.
College of Idaho (11-1) advances to the NAIA Semifinals riding a REVENGE win, a dominant ground attack, and a defense that delivered game-tilting plays in EVERY quarter. 💜🐺
Today, Fruitland’s own became Idaho’s SECOND EVER 5-star recruit and put pen to paper with the Utah Utes. This is a moment that will be remembered in Idaho football history forever.
📊 By The Numbers: ⭐ 5-Star Recruit (247Sports Composite) 🏈 #24 Nationally | #4 Offensive Tackle | #1 in Idaho 📋 25 Division I Offers
🏆 The Resume:
2025 MaxPreps Idaho Player of the Year
2025 SRV Lineman of the Year
2024 All-Idaho OL & DL
Back-to-back SRV 1st Team selections
127 career tackles | 34 solo tackles
From leading Fruitland to a 10-1 season and the Semi-Finals this year, Kelvin has dominated on both sides of the ball. Programs like Oregon, USC, Michigan, Ohio State, Cal, and Wisconsin all came calling – but Utah earned the commitment back on July 1st, and today it became official.
Congratulations Kelvin and his family. Idaho is proud. 🔴⚫
Go Utes. 🙌
** Correction on graphic: It’s SECOND ever 5-Star Recruit. **
The College of Idaho Yotes delivered a commanding performance at Simplot Stadium on Saturday afternoon, dispatching the Morningside Mustangs 37-19 in the second round of the NAIA Football Championships. Playing in front of 2,194 fans in chilly, windy conditions, the Yotes improve to 11-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.
First Half: Yotes Build Cushion
College of Idaho set the tone early, marching 75 yards on their opening drive capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Caden Young to Corban Freese. The Yotes defense held firm, and Josh Horn added a 31-yard field goal to push the lead to 10-0.
Then came the play of the game. Travis Marieiro broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run on just the first play of a drive, extending the lead to 17-0 with 10:14 left in the second quarter. Horn connected on another field goal from 30 yards to make it 20-0 before Morningside finally got on the board—Zack Chevalier finding Kelynn Jacobsen for a 5-yard score with 2:11 remaining in the half.
The Yotes took a 20-7 advantage into the locker room.
Second Half: Mustangs Surge, Yotes Answer
Horn’s 34-yard field goal in the third quarter pushed the lead to 23-7, but Morningside came out swinging in the fourth. A grueling 17-play, 75-yard drive ended with Max Hough punching it in from a yard out, cutting the deficit to 23-13. Then Chevalier connected with Drew Sellon on a 33-yard strike just minutes later, and suddenly it was a four-point game at 23-19 with 8:20 to play.
That’s when Young and Marieiro struck again. On a critical third-and-long, Young found Marieiro streaking down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown that silenced the Mustangs’ momentum. The Yotes added one more score late—a 20-yard touchdown pass to Preston Chamberlin with 12 seconds remaining—to seal the 37-19 victory.
By the Numbers
Caden Young was efficient when it mattered most, completing 10-of-20 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team with 101 rushing yards on 21 carries. Travis Marieiro was electric, totaling 158 all-purpose yards (78 rushing, 80 receiving) with two touchdowns on just four touches.
Morningside’s Zack Chevalier threw for 276 yards and two scores but was hampered by two sacks and an interception. Drew Sellon hauled in 11 catches for 132 yards in a losing effort.
The Yotes controlled the clock (34:38 to 25:14) and dominated on the ground with 269 rushing yards compared to Morningside’s 85.
Travis Mariero was named NAIA Second Round Outstanding OFFENSIVE Player of the Game
Matthew Iwamizu was named named NAIA Second Round Outstanding DEFENSIVE Player of the Game
Up Next
College of Idaho advances to the NAIA quarterfinals, continuing their quest for a national championship. They will travel to Butte, Montana to play the #3 Montana Tech, who won against #11 Carroll 31-21.
The #13 College of Idaho Yotes rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat Southern Oregon 24-21 and claim the FRONTIER CONFERENCE WEST CHAMPIONSHIP!
Down 21-10 entering the final quarter, the Yotes put together two championship drives to complete the comeback:
14-play, 65-yard drive → Caden Young to Corban Freese 6-yard TD (9:59 remaining)
The defense sealed it with a game-ending stand, securing College of Idaho’s first Frontier West Division title and an undefeated 6-0 conference record.
GAME LEADERS:
Caden Young: 139 rush yds, 129 pass yds, TD
Rylie Byington: 123 rush yds, game-winning TD
Dee’Shon Swafford: 65-yard Pick-6
The Yotes (9-1) now await the NAIA Football Championship Series Selection Show Sunday at 5 PM.
THE UNDERDOGS HAVE SPOKEN! The Semi-Finals delivered CHAOS and we are HERE FOR IT!
GAME 1: #4 KIMBERLY 28, #1 FRUITLAND 21
REVENGE IS SWEET!
Remember that 49-13 beatdown Fruitland put on Kimberly earlier this season? THE BULLDOGS JUST ERASED IT!
The #4 seed walked into the semifinal as massive underdogs and SHOCKED the #1 seed Grizzlies! After getting demolished by 36 points in their first meeting, Kimberly flipped the script when it mattered most.
The upset of the year? Quite possibly. The Bulldogs are headed to the championship for the FIRST TIME ever.
GAME 2: #3 HOMEDALE 30, #2 SUGAR-SALEM 20
REVENGE COMPLETE!
Last year: Sugar-Salem 28, Homedale 14 – Milk Bowl Champions
This year: HOMEDALE’S TURN!
The Trojans have been waiting 365 days for this moment. The defending champions came in battle-tested, but Homedale came in HUNGRY. Led by their dominant ground game and ferocious defense, the Trojans avenged last year’s championship loss in EMPHATIC fashion! – Also noted this is the FIRST TIME in 7 YEARS that Sugar-Salem WILL NOT BE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
YOUR MILK BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP:
#4 KIMBERLY BULLDOGS vs #3 HOMEDALE TROJANS
Two #3 and #4 seeds. Two massive upsets. Two teams that REFUSED to quit.
The Cinderella Bulldogs vs The Revenge-Seeking Trojans.
The quarterfinals brought the HEAT and the Milk Bowl picture is coming into focus!
#3 Homedale survived a battle with #6 Weiser in a Snake River Valley Conference rematch, edging the Wolverines 30-22 to punch their ticket to the semifinals. Both teams left it ALL on the field, but the Trojans found a way to advance when it mattered most!
Elsewhere in the Elite 8:
#1 Fruitland flexed their dominance, taking down #8 Buhl 41-27 to stay unbeaten on their championship quest
#4 Kimberly shut out #5 American Falls in a defensive masterclass, advancing with a commanding 42-0 statement win
#2 Sugar-Salem absolutely DEMOLISHED #7 Snake River 55-6, proving why they’re one of the favorites to cut down the nets
THE FINAL FOUR IS SET! Four teams remain. Four dreams alive. One Milk Bowl champion will be crowned!
