Borah football: JV season recap

In early December, I interviewed Borah (Idaho) JV football coach Jason Burton and we talked about the team's season. This is the article that will appear in the school's football yearbook.

New coach praises the SIC champs

Borah’s turnaround

goes on as JV squad
rallies for a fine season

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             The intention of Borah’s junior varsity football team is to not only have a successful season, but set the table for the varsity the following year.

            First-year coach Jason Burton said this year’s JV team did just that. They won the SIC title with a 7-2 record and will be sending plenty of talented players upward in 2013.
            “It was a great season,” said Burton, who had been at Bonneville High previously. “The thing that stood out was that the kids got better. It was a huge for us.”
            The Lions got off to a slow start, and a 33-12 loss to Mountain View gave them a 2-2 record. However, Borah won its last five games – with the highlight being a 26-7 home victory over Eagle. They clinched at least a tie for the crown with a 42-20 win over Capital and then took it outright by beating Rocky Mountain.
            “Eagle and Rocky were the best teams we played,” Burton said. “We actually played Eagle twice because Meridian did not have a JV team. Beating Eagle the second time was the sweetest game. Getting that revenge.”
            The Lions were led by Noah Brandt, who played linebacker and blossomed as the season progressed.
            “At the start of the year, we weren’t sure he would play on the defensive side, but he got better every week. After the Mountain View game, he was a leader and put the defense on his back. Any time there was a big hit, it was because of him. He was the glue for our defense.”
            The JVs had one shutout during the season (Boise) and, over the last five games, gave up an average of 13.8 points per game. Justin Stern and Harley Emery also were among several players that had good years.
            On offense, Austin Lisonbee was the top player. Wide receiver Shane Layman fared well, too. The quarterback was Connor Gray, who looked good thanks to the line anchored by Justin Fox and Tyson Ruble.
            “Our strength was the unselfishness of the players,” Burton said. “Every day at practice was a battle.”
            Burton said there were two major highlights during the season. The first came against Timberline. On a counter play, Dalton Schlund made a huge hit on a Wolves player that resulted in a 40-yard touchdown run.
            Also, in the season finale against Rocky, the Lions rallied to win. Gray scored the go-ahead touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
            Burton said beating Eagle and Rocky gave the team a lot of momentum.
            “They had all the glitz and glamour and probably 70 kids on their sideline,” he said. “After we beat Eagle, we were in charge of our destiny and we took care of business.”