Fall showed up for some Friday night lights action at Bruin stadium as the Brookings-Harbor High School Bruins hosted the North Valley Knights celebrating Homecoming as well as their final homegame of the 2022/23 season.
The full stadium and homecoming clearly had a positive effect on the Bruins, who came out prepared for the 3-5 Knights and used the highly charged energy from the crowd to catch North Valley off guard after taking the opening kick-off to start the game. The Bruins quickly moved the ball downfield in their first possession with the help of senior Kallen Christensen, #8, after he got the edge and ran for over 30 yards down to the North Valley 2 yard line. Senior quarterback Kyle Burger, #14, pushed the ball into the endzone two plays later to give the Bruins a 7-0 early in the first.
The North Valley offense would match, driving the length of the field on their first possession, punching the ball into the endzone after a 34 yard sweep to the right side of the endzone. The extra point attempt would fail, leaving the Knights trailing 7-6 less than 5:00 minutes into the game.
The Bruins would take the next possession and again drive to the endzone. Senior wide-out Seth Valliere #7, would pull down a 32 yard pass setting up a Burger quarterback keep sweep to the right side, putting the Bruins up 14-6.
The elements began to take their toll, with loose balls and dropped passes, turning the game into a defensive struggle between the hash marks. The Knights would find the endzone in the second period, bringing the Knights within 2 points looking at a 14-12 score after a long sustained drive before the half.
The Knights, trailing 14-12 to start the third quarter, would receive the kick to start the second half of play and would put together a long sustained drive, taking time off the clock and putting points on the board, taking their first 14-20 lead of the game halfway through the third period.
The Bruins would turn the ball over twice on consecutive possessions, ending Bruin drives and giving opportunity to North Valley. The Knights would score another touchdown in the third, before another Bruin turnover would allow another North Valley score after shutting down the Bruin offense in the second half, taking a 14-34 win with them on the bus back to Grants Pass.
“The team came out strong and played very well in the first half.” Bruin head coach Shaun Bavaro said after the game. “We had some opportunities in the 2nd half to convert or get off the field, we didn’t make those crucial plays when needed, but we are happy with how the team played with great effort all game.”
The Bruins will finish their season next Friday evening on the road, traveling to Winston to take on the 3-5 Douglas Trojans at 7:00pm.
