The Bruins were all smiles, beaming with joy and pumping their fists at the conclusion of last night’s game against the Hickman Kewpies; the mood differed drastically from the losses in each of the past four weeks.
Players congratulated one another, bursting with cries of elation. Kewpie fans’ chants of “0 and 4” at the start of the game would no longer be viable; the Bruins were no longer winless. They had beaten Hickman for the seventh straight year in a 39-8 pounding of the overmatched Kewpies, Hickman being on its own home turf no less.
Following its handshake with the demoralized Kewpies, Bruin players circled up for their ritualistic meeting with the team’s coaches. Unlike past talks, this one was brief. There simply wasn’t as much to go over.
“[The win] is just a big momentum shift,” senior quarterback Grant Hajicek said. “Obviously we’ve had a rough four weeks, but this win will hopefully turn around our season.”
Hajicek opened the Bruins’ scoring with a 10-yard rushing touchdown five minutes into the game. Almost as soon as the Kewpies got the ball back, they would return it to their rivals.
Senior quarterback Jevean Brown sat in the pocket, his lineman giving him a great deal of time to decide what he would do with the ball. Maybe too much time, as it allowed him to procrastinate until his options were limited. Brown aired the ball downfield right into RBHS junior cornerback Marquis McCaster’s fingertips.
McCaster proceeded to make a hefty return to the Kewpie’s 24-yard line, putting the visitors in a good position to convert. Just a few plays later, senior kicker Will Norris helped the Bruins capitalize on the turnover with a 25-yard field goal.
“I made a big play, so I [knew] that would carry over some momentum,” McCaster said. “I kind of saw the ball when it was released, so I kind of figured if I played it right, I could get to it.”
The Bruins would go on to score 22 points in the half, shutting out the home team until Bruin senior cornerback Spencer Nivens was charged with a personal foul for a late hit on Brown, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and keeping the Kewpies’ drive alive. A few plays later, Brown connected with senior wide receiver Talin Kemp for a 26-yard touchdown pass with just one second left in the half. After a successful rushing 2-point conversion attempt by Brown, the Kewpies narrowed the score to 22-8.
The second half didn’t fare much better for the home squad; the Kewpies would remain at just eight points for the rest of the game, while the Bruins went on to score 17 unanswered.
A large part of the team’s success was Hajicek, who threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another. He attributed the lack of mishaps for the offense’s scoring efficiency.
“We didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot,” Hajicek said. “I still want to get more efficient in the passing game, but we didn’t really have any costly mistakes, and we moved the ball down the field.”
Hajicek ran the ball many times throughout the game, gaining substantial yardage and getting an aforementioned touchdown. Staying modest, Hajicek spoke of the spectacular play of the offensive line. Despite shaky performances in prior games, allowing a horde of sacks, they raised a force on the field last night.
“I really [have to] credit the offensive line,” Hajicek said. “That’s probably the best I’ve ran the ball ever in a game. They came out from the get go, really giving me the holes to run through.”
Hajicek took advantage of the offensive line by maximizing on rushing opportunities. Contrasting to other quarterbacks, Hajicek puts everything on the line when he runs the ball, diving and propelling his way forward, undaunted by approaching defenders.
“[My coaches] tell me to [slide] but at the heat of the moment… I’m a competitor. I want to get that extra one or 2-yards,” Hajicek said. “It’s worth the extra few yards to take a few hits here and there.”
“[The win] is just a big momentum shift. Obviously we’ve had a rough four weeks, but this win will hopefully turn around our season.”
— Senior quarterback grant hajicek
Head Coach Van Vanatta is proud of the Bruins’ display on the field, but he is not surprised. He said he knew the potential and preparation of the team was capable of significant victory, but there just needed to be a lack of mistakes.
“We worked hard. [The team] came together. We didn’t miss as many assignments as [we have], and the kids did their job,” Vanatta said. “I’ve been saying it for the last five weeks; if we can start doing our jobs we’ll be successful.”
Although the focus will soon be on the next game, Vanatta won’t miss out on the opportunity to savor the Bruins’ first win of the season.
“I’m going to enjoy it right now,” Vanatta said. “We’re going to go to work tomorrow morning at eight [to watch film] and that’s how we’re going to prepare for next week.”
The Bruins hope to build on its success when they take on another district foe, the Jefferson City Jays [2-3], next Friday Oct. 4 for their annual homecoming game.
What did you think of the Bruins’ first win of the season? Let us know in the comments below.
