On a misty cool night that makes any fan think of fall and football, the Bruins walked out onto the field celebrating the last regular season game for the seniors on the team, and their last regular season game with the possibility of a post-season appearance just 48 minutes away. A feeling of possibility that none of the players, coaches and most fans in the stands have felt in a very long time.
In order to feel the experience of playing a gridiron post-season game, the 2-2 Bruins would have to get past the 2-2 Mustangs of Hidden Valley. The Mustangs only two regular-season losses were to the same two regular-season losses the Bruins suffered during league play, St. Mary’s and Cascade Christian.
Cascade Christian, who not only went undefeated in league play, also was only scored on by two teams in league play until Friday night, Hidden Valley who managed to get 7 points, and the Brookings-Harbor Bruins, who put 20 points on the board. The Bruins scored more points against the eventual undefeated champion Cascade Christian Crusaders than ANY other team in the 3A-SD2-S Special District-2 South league.
So with both teams coming into Friday night with not only a legitimate reason to be there, both teams had legitimate reasons to believe they should be the team to move on to post-season play. The table was set, it was just going to be a matter of who would be hungrier.
Like a proud Papa, Coach Bavaro ran out with his kids who have bought into the Coaches ‘Win Now…Relentless’ program of hard work, and high expectations. For some of these kids, Coach Bavaro is their third head coach and program in 4 years, but this year, there are no excuses for not working hard and believing in themselves and the path their coach has set them on.
Both teams were ready, prepared and both teams were fired up. The Bruins kicked to the Mustangs and Hidden Valley set the tone quickly with sharp passes to the edges to get outside where Mustang receivers would be 1 on 1 with Bruin defensive backs. They made quick work of the 60 plus yards in front of them and ultimately ran a 3-yard dive up the middle and into the endzone taking a 0-7 lead early in the first quarter.
But again, it was the Bruin defense that would shine after the Bruins turned the ball over on downs. The Bruin defense held the Mustangs out of the endzone with just over 4 minutes in the first period, giving the Mustangs an opportunity to score a field goal. Hoping to catch the Bruins off-guard, the Mustangs took a chance and attempted a fake field goal. However, junior linebacker Jesse Lutge #55 would not be fooled, chasing down the runner and tackling him for a considerable loss and a Hidden Valley turn over on downs.
The Bruins started to get an offensive groove, hitting some receivers over the middle and moving the ball on the stingy Mustang defense. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Burger #4 hit junior receiver Manny Zamora #86 over the middle and Zamora took care of the rest picking up an extra 35 yards, and some momentum. Ultimately the Bruins would find the endzone just before the half as Bruin quarterback Andrew Burger hit his favorite receiver Derek Bonde #42 on a deep out pattern into the corner of the endzone making the score at the half 6-7 Mustangs.
In the third period, the Bruins would receive the kick and turn the ball over on downs. The Mustangs would drive down the field and add a field goal to the scoreboard making the score 6-10 early in the third period.
On the next possession, Burger would make a mistake, throwing into coverage on the sideline leading to an interception and turning the ball over to the Mustangs. Less than two minutes later the Mustangs got into the endzone again quickly making the score 6-17 Hidden Valley. But it was the next play that took the air out of the both the stadium and the Bruins when the Mustangs pooch kicked the kickoff and recovered on the Bruins 40 yard line. The Mustangs drove the 40 yards and just like that, it was 6-24.
However, the Bruins weren’t done yet and would put together some offense with determined play and some power running by senior running back #2 Brig Schofield. With just under 3:00 minutes left in the game, quarterback Andrew Burger would keep the option and sweep to the left corner of the endzone making the score 12-24.
Talking with Coach Bavaro after the game, he said “I’m proud of the boys. Our group of kids has really built a solid foundation to springboard us into next season…and also I appreciate the seniors buying into the philosophy when they could have gone the opposite way.” “As far as my staff” he went on to say, “I appreciate their hard work and passion helping get this program afloat and headed in the right direction, we will be back, we start Monday on ‘relentless’ 2019 Bruin Football.”
It’s been a fun and refreshing nine weeks of football. The Wild Coast Compass would like to thank the kids and coaches for working hard all season long to represent the community and entertain us with great games and ‘relentless’ play.
Congratulations on a great season and raising the bar for the teams that follow.
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