When we look back on our high school football careers, most of us guys can rattle off stats, scores, plays, and even name a few cheerleaders that donned the sidelines. We can give you our overall record against our conference foes, who was all-state, and who caught the winning touchdown in the State Championship Game. We can tell you the teams we beat, the titles we won, and who spewed Gatorade in the huddle.
For the Twin Falls Bruin seniors, there are plenty of accomplishments and memories they can share. They can tell you of the conference titles, their third place finish at state, and how the team danced for the cameras (rumor has it that it’s on YouTube); but the one thing they cannot say is that they have beaten the Minico Spartans. The last time Twin Falls beat Minico, several of Twin players sat in grade school building booger mosaics on their notebooks. Ok, maybe it wasn’t THAT long ago, but for Bruin fans, it seems like forever. Even last year, when the Bruins won the conference title, they lost to Minico 14-13.
For the fan we see a conference title. For the coaches and players, they see the future. The winner of Friday’s game will play at home all the way until the semi-finals. The loser pays a visit to the backyard of Napoleon Dynamite, and both coaches told me they do not want to go to Preston.
The Bruins come into the game with just one blemish on their record: a 22-21 loss at Pocatello. Last week, Twin gave up a staggering 34 points to a Jerome team that wasn’t supposed to score in double digits. Raise the red flags. And the Bruin defense had better not hit the snooze button on this wake up call as the Minico Spartans have as many offensive weapons as the 1999 St. Louis Rams. However, after talking to Bruin head coach Allyn Reynolds, he said, “Half of our defense starters haven’t played game speed in three weeks as several of them got hurt in the Pocatello game. The focus this week is to get 11 guys in the camera at the end of the play.” With chants of “Remember the Bruins,” you can bet the Twin Falls defense will be ready for the high octane Spartan offense.
The Minico Spartans came out of the gates like a snail on valium, falling to 1-2 and searching for an identity. However, after the blistering that Elizabeth, Colorado laid on them in Holt Arena, the Spartans ditched their demons and now carry their hopes in a lunch pail which they carry onto the field each game. The workman like attitude the Spartans have found has enabled them to be nothing short of dominant coming down the stretch. Coach Perigot recapitulated the new found confidence perfectly, “Our kids know they are good. However, they are not taking that for granted. Besides, you can’t against a team like Twin.” Minico certainly remembers how this season started and where they are now.
Minico has had Twin’s number over the recent years. Since Reynolds took over at Twin Falls, the Bruins have never beaten the Spartans--at any level--Freshmen through Varsity. When you think about that, it is the epitome of dominance. However, this week all of that could change as the Freshmen, Sophomores, and Varsity all play Minico for their conference championships. So what will those teams remember?
With all the hype surrounding this game, there can be only “One.” What will be the defining play that leads to a title? Twenty five years from now they will still be able to smell the grass, hear the crowd, and remember how it felt in the huddle before the big play that changed it all. For me, I still get chills when I hear “Trips right stack, z-motion, 93 zoom.” What will these guys remember about tonight!
Catch all the action at 6:55pm Friday night on www.idahosports.com and the Magic Valley Game of the Week brought to you by the following sponsors:
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