Blaze burn Phoenix in heated rivalry match
by STACEY LISHOK - Ravalli Republic
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Blaze running back Justin Nixon carries the ball while teammate Mike Rasmussen goes to tackle a threatening Phoenix player Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
STACEY LISHOK - Ravalli Republic |
MISSOULA - The heat of the day matched the intensity of rivalry between the Bitterroot Blaze and Missoula Phoenix Saturday on the field of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
“It was an absolute war on both sides,” Blaze coach Joe Murawa said. “It was a sweet victory for us. To beat the two-time defending conference champs in their home stadium is huge.”
In front of about 2,500 fans the black-clad Phoenix hosted the Blaze, adorned in white and red, hoping to give the visiting team its first loss of the season.
After neither team capitalized on the first few possessions, Blaze linebacker Jamie Jones blocked a Phoenix punt running the ball in 32 yards for the first points of the match.
Following a failed point after kick, the Blaze took a 6-0 lead with just under four minutes to play.
The last time the two teams met, the 6-0 margin cemented on the scoreboard as the final score in the Blaze favor.
This time, the Blaze found themselves down for the first time all season after fumbling the ball twice for a Phoenix advantage.
In the first miscue, Missoula recovered a Bitterroot fumble on the Blaze 18-yard line and shortly after, used the prime position for a run into the endzone.
Up until Saturday's match, the only points the Blaze had allowed against them was a field goal in a May 26 game against Glacier but after the Phoenix touchdown, found themselves trailing 7-6.
About a minute later, the Phoenix smothered a bad Blaze snap and capitalized on the turnover with a 45-yard field goal as the seconds ticked off to end the first half.
“I knew we would overcome that deficit no matter how big it was,” Murawa said. “It shows a lot of perseverance on our team ... they knew what they had to do and went out and did it.”
With some halftime adjustments, the Blaze came out undeterred at the newfound losing situation and started relying heavily on its strong running game.
As the third quarter wound down, Christian Brown returned a Phoenix punt to the 35-yard line setting up a successful drive for the Blaze.
Blaze running back Justin Nixon sprinted down the sideline before stepping out of bounds at about the 10 and after a couple of carries, forced his way into the endzone for a 13-10 Bitterroot lead.
While the Blaze pounded the turf, the Phoenix decided to try the air but Bitterroot's Kurt Rausch nabbed a Missoula pass out of the air for an interception late in the third.
The Blaze would once again get on the board as Buckie Brawley connected with Grant Roman in the endzone.
Erik Peterson tacked on the extra point for a 20-10 score in the final quarter.
Big defensive plays including a sack and Kyle Rausch interception kept the threatening Phoenix at bay as the Blaze held on for a 20-10 final and claimed the Rocky Mountain football League's Northern conference title.
“For us to come in here and win our eighth game and win the title, it's just beautiful,” Murawa said. “I couldn't think of a better finish to a regular season than up here in this stadium.”
The rest of the league will finish the regular season next weekend as the Blaze wait to host its first playoff game June 23 in Darby during the second round of playoff games.
Bitterroot 6 0 7 7 - 20
Missoula 0 10 0 0 - 10
B - Jamie Jones blocked punt for 32-yard return (kick failed)
M - Shane Jurasek 16 run (Mark Spencer kick) 1:21
M - Spencer 45 field goal :03
B- Justin Nixon 3 run (Erik Peterson kick) 1:49
B - Grant Roman 3 pass from Buckie Brawley (Peterson kick) 9:58
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