As it is in the fall here in Brookings, two things are a certain…, football on Friday night, and cool misty evenings, and we had both last Friday night. Coach Bavaro’s Bruins football team, riding a 3 game win streak ran out onto the field to the roar of a proud excited crowd, and with Coach Bavaro’s team came the excitement of Coach Bavaro’s ‘Win Now’, and the smell of victory in the air.
Friday night, Brookings-Harbor was matched up against the 2 and 3 Lancers of South Umpqua. Both teams came out fired up as would be expected with the Lancers receiving the ball first and the Bruin defense rose to the challenge. “We are making some big plays on defense, and our defense and defensive staff are doing an outstanding job,” said Coach Bavaro after the game.
The Bruins stopped the Lancers on their first drive down the field and forced a punt. Both teams went back and forth taking up most of the 1st quarter. Late in the 1st quarter, the Bruins intercepted a Lancer pass ending a South Umpqua drive inside the 10-yard line, and immediately fumbled and turned the ball over on their 15-yard line. The Lancers pounced just minutes later, taking a 0-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter.
Midway through the 2nd quarter, the Lancers returned the favor, turning the ball over on their 11-yard line. The Bruins wasted no time driving the ball to the 2-yard line before sophomore quarterback Andrew Burger #4 dove through the middle of the line getting the Bruins on the scoreboard. The Bruins followed up with 2 points extra point attempt putting them up 8-7 with 6:00 minutes left in the half.
The 3rd quarter played out much like they have the last few weeks, played by both teams in between the 30-yard lines for much of the quarter. But as the Lancers were poised to score, driving inside the 20 yard line, the defensive line broke through and forced an early pass by the Lancer quarterback that was tipped and picked off by #55 junior linebacker Jesse Lutge and dramatically returned 80 yards for the touchdown with just 20 seconds left in the 3rd period.
With Bruins leading in the 4th period 15-7 the final period proved to be fast and furious. Both teams feeling the pressure of the running clock and the Bruins defense came up big with another interception that was followed by a 15 yard Burger pass intended for #86 junior receiver Manny Zamora that was tipped at the line and caught in the endzone by sophomore #42 Derek Bonde putting the Bruins up 21-7.
(video courtesy Jeremy Armentrout)
But the Bruins weren’t done yet, as the Lancers were determined to get themselves back into the game and went all in to get the ball down the field and into the endzone as the clock became a late factor. With 4:32 left in the game, the Lancer quarterback went deep down the middle one too many times, and sophomore speedster #7 Payton Armentrout read the pass, stepped in front of the receiver and then out-raced the field to the endzone, tearing the heart out of the Lancers and spiking it in the endzone.
After Coach Bavaro received his flu shot test with an ice water bucket shower courtesy of the team, the clock ran out and Coach Bavaro left the field with another consecutive win. We asked Coach Bavaro what was the first thing on his mind after the win.., “Our kids are starting to play with relentless effort. As a Coach, I can’t ask for much more!” Coach Bavaro went on to say “the staff is really starting to settle into their roles and we’re starting to operate as an efficient group….Proud of my guys!”
As an observation, the “relentless” that Coach Bavaro speaks of, starts at the top and it is obvious that the intensity and relentlessness of the team comes from his leading by example. Nobody is more intense or relentless on that field than Coach Bavaro and none of his staff or players want to be the one that is NOT following his example.
The Bruins will be tested next week when they take the show on the road when they travel to a matchup against the Douglas Trojans next Friday night at 7:00 pm.
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