The Azalea Middle School Bruins started the season on a win streak, first handling Sunset Middle School 46-0 and then outscoring Winston Middle School 30-6 behind 3 touchdowns from #4 Kallen Christiansen.
However, on a warm 80 plus degree Tuesday afternoon, they ran into a physically larger and stronger Suislaw Middle School team that proved to have their number.
Coach Thorsen who recently arrived to the Brookings area from Las Vegas, brought a new team mindset to an Azalea team that permeates what he calls a great group of young kids. Coach Thorsen said Tuesday that his team came out flat but showed their resolve in the second half.
The Suislaw Vikings broke out to a 24-0 lead by the end of the first half.
In the second half, the middle school Bruins came out determined to stop the Vikings and showed their resolve with some tough defense and some big hits.
The Azalea Bruins showed the character Coach Thorsen spoke of by holding the bigger Suislaw Vikings to one touchdown and a field goal in the second half. They had some big gains on the offensive side of scrimmage but just could not get into the end zone.
The game ended a 35-0 win for Suislaw, but the Azalea Bruins came away with a better understanding of what their team is made of as they prepare for North Bend next Tuesday, October 3, at Bruin stadium.
