Homecoming always adds extra emotion to any game of the season, but for some reason, football always seems to carry a little more emotional weight on its wide shoulders this particular sports week of the year. Last nights game between the Bruins Varsity boys and the Siuslaw Vikings added the final game of the season and Senior night to the emotional baggage.
The Bruins came out ready to go and you could feel the electricity between players before the kick-off as they bounced around the field eager to get the action started.
The Bruins would waste no time as Senior Bailey Stamm would take a sweep to the left side of the line and outrun the Viking defense for 30 yards and into the end zone. The touchdown put the Bruins up 7-0 just five minutes into the game, and the Bruin Pride Bell would ring loud.
However, the Vikings traveled here to play a football game and would answer on their first possession with a long series of dives up the middle, play action sweeps and a pass into the end zone that would tie the game 7-7.
After another Suislaw score, Bailey Stamm would again race to the end zone putting the Bruins in position to tie the score 13-13.
Tough defense in the middle of the field dominated play in the second quarter and a fumble recovery by Jason Vanginderen seemed to turn the momentum to the Bruins, but an interception of Andrew Burger pass would be returned for a Siuslaw touchdown giving the Vikings a 19-13 lead at the half.
Of course, half-time during Homecoming means the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen, and the Bruin students couldn’t have made better choices.
The students chose 2 senior leaders of the ‘other’ game of ‘football’, King Sam Broberg and Queen Abby Farmer, both Senior Captains of their respective varsity soccer teams.
The second half started off 19-13, with Siuslaw leading by 6 points. Junior running back Nick Martinez #35 would catch a freshman quarterback #4 Andrew Burger pass and scramble 25 yards to the Siuslaw one-yard line. Junior Brig Schofield would finish the drive with a 1-yard dive up the middle putting the Bruins up 20-19.
The Vikings would strike again putting themselves ahead 25-20 with only seconds left in the 3rd period.
A determined Bruin offense would then drive 50 yards to put themselves in position for another Andrew Burger pass of 25 yards to senior wide receiver #22 Tanner Wyatt. The Bruins would lead 26-25 with just over seven minutes in the game.
But Suislaw would have enough time to push the ball across the goal line with just seconds left in the game to take the win with a final score of 31-26.
A tough loss made all the more difficult with the weight of Homecoming, Senior night and the final game of some high school careers.
For all those who participated in the gridiron efforts this year, whether as a fellow student, a parent, a player or just a fan, one thing was very obvious throughout this season, every one of these young men played every play of every game to win, and that is all you can ask of any athlete at any level. Bruin Pride.