Herriman football: Canyon Hansen profile

In late December, I interviewed Herriman's Canyon Hansen, who starred on defense, but also played a role on offense as this third-year school quickly became one of the state's top teams. Here is the article that will appear in the team's 2012 football yearbook.

Canyon Hansen:

 His versatility and amazing recovery

fueled Mustangs’ bid to be a contender

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             After being part of Herriman High School’s football program in its initial two years, Canyon Hansen was looking forward to a special season in 2012.

            He was known for his versatility. As a senior, he was 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, but played multiple positions, mostly wide receiver and defensive back.
            “He’s a guy that never wants to leave the field,” said Herriman coach Larry Wilson.
            Wilson noticed him right away and tried to plug him into the lineup in as many different ways as possible. Hansen said he loved being part of Herriman’s history.
            “It was fun to finish off the season with my fellow seniors that I grew up playing football with,” he said. “It was fun to see the kids up and coming and see them develop. It was fun to spend the year with the coaches. It was a good time and I loved it.”
            Hansen was a two-sport athlete (football and rugby) and a three-year varsity football player. His junior year, he starred on defense, but also carried the ball 24 times for 171 yards and scored twice as the Mustangs finished 8-4 and advanced to the 4A state playoffs.
            In the 4A play-in game, Hansen had an interception in the Mustangs’ 44-22 win over Springville. Even after a tough loss to eventual champion Logan the next week, Herriman was highly motivated entering 2012.
            And it started well.
            On the first play of Herriman’s opener at Orem, Hansen caught a pass from quarterback Tueni Lupeamanu and used his speed to spring the rest of the way for a 69-yard touchdown.
            Hansen remembered the play well.
                “I was split out in the slot,” he recalled. “It was an all-streak route and I had an opening. The (Orem) guys didn’t me any respect. I just burned it down the field. I caught it on their 30-yard line and just ran the rest of the way. I didn’t get touched.”
            He had another reception for 46 yards as the Mustangs rolled to a 49-21 win. Hansen said that game was clearly his season highlight.
            “That was my only touchdown (of the season),” he said. “After that, we were running scarce at corner(back), so I ended up playing more of that.”
            Hansen had just seven catches on the season, but averaged a team-high 24.4 yards per reception. In Herriman’s seventh game – a 42-9 win over Olympus – he broke a bone in his right hand. That may have sidelined most guys, but Hansen was too eager to play. He only missed the game at Murray the following week, and was back in the lineup after that.
            The way he handled his injury affected a lot of people, including Wilson.
            “We lost him for a little bit, but he did everything he could to come back,” Wilson said. “Against doctor’s orders, he suited up pretty fast and started against East.”
            “I wanted to be back for senior night (against Westlake). I had a cast on and I played,” Hansen said. “High-school football is always what I wanted to become and I had looked forward to it. It was important to be recognized.”
            Hansen said it was also important to show others that Herriman football was something special.
            “With our success, and as we gradually build our record, people will realize we’re not just another team,” he said. “We’re growing as a community the football team is getting more recognition.”
            Hansen felt it started when Herriman made the playoffs in its first year, but the Mustangs’ 29-28 overtime win over rival Riverton in 2011 made a lot of people notice.
            “We showed the state and Riverton that we were not just another second-year program,” he said. “We had the talent and ability to achieve our goals.”
            Hansen also felt that playing rugby helped.
            “It made us more physical,” he said. “It’s like a spring football season. Most of the football guys play, so it allows us to build as a team. When the football season comes around, we have that same chemistry.”
            Hansen said he planned to serve an LDS Church mission after graduation and then enroll at Southern Utah University, majoring in sports broadcasting and earning a minor in music or dance – his favorite class at Herriman.

Herriman football: Lupeamanu profile

In late December, I interviewed Herriman's Tueni Lupemanu, a three-sport athlete who was so important to the football team. He has amazing athletic ability and huge potential at the college level. Here is the article that will appear in the Mustangs' 2012 football yearbook.

Tueni Lupeamanu:

 Team’s star elevated the program

and gave it a quick step forward

By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 
           Since Herriman High School opened, Tueni Lupeamanu has been the figurehead of the football program.

            He was already big and talented, but by his senior year he was listed at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. After being forced to be a lineman in Little League, he was asked to try quarterback here.

            By the time he left, he held more school records than any other player, and many will last a while.
            “Phenomenal,” was how coach Larry Wilson described him. “He’s a great story.
            “He was the heart and soul of the program. He was so valuable on offense that we had to be careful on defense, or he would have been our most dominant player there.”
            As a junior, he had a bout with pneumonia and missed a few games during the basketball season. As a senior, he also had to sit out some games after losing four of his front teeth thanks to an opponent’s elbow. In football, however, he was almost always on the field.
            Lupeamanu could bulldoze a linebacker and even some lineman. On offense, he was known for his incredible arm strength, his ability to block and keep plays alive with his elusiveness.
            “A play was never over with him,” said Wilson. “He could turn nothing into something really quick.”
            In three seasons, he passed for 4,370 yards and ran for 1,454 more. He threw for 33 touchdowns and was best friends with his running backs, wide receivers, lineman and, certainly, the coaches. He made them all look good.

            “Tueni made the biggest difference,” said teammate Canyon Hansen. “It was his overall focus during the games and holding us to a higher standard. That made us achieve our maximum potential.”

            And it wasn’t just for football. Lupeamanu was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and rugby) and helped quickly turn Herriman into a contender in each (and even a state championship in Rugby). He ended up having more colleges chasing him than high-school girls.
            “I just did what I could,” said Lupeamanu. “The wins were great, but my best memories will be more about the relationships with the players and coach Larry (Wilson).”
            He said his best friends on the team were Francis Bernard and Sialao Mobley and, of course, Wilson, who began tutoring him shortly after accepting the job in Dec. 2009, when Lupeamanu was a freshman at Riverton High.
            “I was staying with my uncle (former NFL player Ed Mulitalo) and he lived right next to Herriman,” Lupeamanu recalled. “He said he was going to coach at Herriman because of Larry and I went with him.”
            On the field, Lupeamanu became part of a deadly 1-2 combination with Bernard, who also dominated the school record books. Lupeamanu said he didn’t have a favorite receiver, but if Bernard lined up as a slot receiver, “I knew I was going to him.”
            One of Lupeamanu’s favorite memories came in 2011. The Mustangs were on their way to winning their first five games. At Timpanogos, Herriman led 28-10 in the second quarter when Lupeamanu took the ball on the option and found running room. About 30 yards downfield, he pitched the ball to Bernard, who ran the rest of the way for a 61-yard score.
            In its first three seasons, Herriman was an anomaly. The Mustangs had a 20-14 record, a fact rarely seen with new schools. In the school’s first game (2010), Herriman scored first against Hillcrest before falling 17-7. The Mustangs won their second game (at Lehi) by jumping to a 27-0 lead.
            Herriman made the playoffs each season and even defeated its rival – Riverton – in just its second attempt. In Lupeamanu’s senior season, the Mustangs averaged almost 42 points per game and eclipsed 50 five times. If not for a crazy post-season, which forced Herriman to play powerhouse East, the Mustangs probably would have reached at least the 4A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
            “Football went really good,” Lupeamanu said. “It didn’t turn out like we wanted, but everything can’t go your way.”
            Still, Lupeamanu tried. With the running attack stopped for the only time all season, he set a school record with 39 passing attempts and 327 yards.
            “We had to put everything in his hands,” Wilson said afterward. “He was the only guy they couldn’t contain.”
            With all of his athletic abilities, Lupeamanu’s future looked bright. In all likelihood, his greatest athletic successes still await. In the meantime, his accomplishments here will never be forgotten.

Mtn. View football: John Munger profile

In mid-December, I interviewed Mountain View (Idaho) lineman John Munger and we talked about the Mavericks' 2012 football season, as well as his sports career, in general. Munger anchored MV's offensive and defensive lines and has a chance at last to play at the college level. Here is the article that will appear in the team's 2012 football yearbook.

John Munger:

 ‘Big John’ used his high energy level

to create holes in opposing defenses

 By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             For as long as he can remember, John Munger has been bigger than his friends.

            By his senior year at Mountain View High School, he was 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds. He was the anchor of the team’s offensive and defensive lines. He also wrestled heavyweight and played first base on the baseball team.
            “I played with a motor,” Munger said. “I felt like I could always compete, even if I was tired. I would do my best to beat them. I have that real competitive urge to beat everybody.
            “I had a size advantage on a lot of kids,” he added. “I was pretty experienced and I felt like I had a lot more confidence.”
            Munger played three seasons on the varsity football team. As a senior, he was recognized by opposing coaches for his ability to open holes on the offensive line. He made first team all-SIC and first team all-state. Munger played a big role as the Mavericks’ 6-3 season that also featured a balanced offense.
            Mountain View coach Judd Benedick could only smile when reflecting about the team’s biggest player.
            “Big John … never missed a snap,” he said. “He was a tough kid. He’d just swallow you up. In my mind, he’s a Division 1 (college football) player, but that’s tough to figure out. He’s a mountain of a man.”
            Munger was a two-year starter on the football team and had several college football teams considering him by the end of the season. Boise State asked him to walk-on, but he had not yet decided at press time.
            “Football is the way I want to go,” Munger said. “I’ve always been a lot better in football than anything else.”
            On defense, Munger finished the season with 27 tackles and had one sack and a fumble recovery. He said his best game was against Boise, and mostly because of what happened on offense. The Mavs totaled 572 yards in that game.
            “What I remember most was that our O-Line as just pushing them around like they were dolls,” he said. “We were moving them around anywhere we wanted.”
            Munger also had good memories of Mountain View’s late-season wins over Centennial and Eagle.
            “Both of those games were great for the defense,” he said. “We really after those guys (Eagle). We were inspired and the Eagle has always been a great game. Last year, we did the same thing. We beat them at their own place this year it happened to work out again.
            “The Eagle game last year (2011) was my favorite,” he added. “They were undefeated going into that game and they had a quarterback – the No. 2 quarterback in the nation – and we came in and rolled them.”
            Munger started playing football as a fifth grader, but it was the last two seasons that were the most memorable. As a junior, he was part of a Mountain View defense that ranked No. 1 in the SIC. This season, despite losing several front-line teammates to graduation, the Mavericks dropped only to second – behind Rocky Mountain.
            “We had a lot of younger guys step up and fill their shoes pretty well,” he said. “We got away with only missing a little bit. A few experienced defensive players took them under their wings, show them the ropes so they could grow up faster.”
            That was evident, and paid huge dividends late in the season when Mountain View won three straight games, defeating Centennial, Eagle and Vallivue. Early on, it took big plays to secure victories. Munger said he had two favorites:
            “When we played Timberline, I ended up getting a forced fumble and a sack on the same play. That was pretty sweet,” he said. “It ended up that we forced three straight turnovers. With Timberline, you can’t overlook them or they will get you.
            “The other play was the Vallivue game. I stuffed a sweep to the outside in the backfield about five yards deep (behind the line of scrimmage). Their running back (Kato Johnson) was going to play on our team but he moved back (to the Vallivue area) right before the season started. It was the last game of the season, so our athletic trainer wanted me to point at her. I did, and it was pretty funny.”
            Munger said that, despite not making the playoffs, he felt it was a good season. The school had to endure the loss of three students (Tiffany Walters, Robert Rogers, Scott Hyde), who had died in recent months and the football team helped build morale.
            “It hit Mountain View pretty hard, but it also helped make us a tight-knit group,” Munger said.

Girls basketball: Bingham 53, Weber 35

On Dec. 18, I covered the Bingham-Weber girls basketball game at Bingham High School. It was my first opportunity to watch both teams this season. There was some good talent on the court, but this was Bingham's night. Here is the article that will appear in Bingham's yearbook. I'll probably adjust the Weber article a little bit.

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             One month into the girls basketball season, the Bingham Miners are 8-0 and coach Rand Rasmussen’s team is doing it with defense.

            Tuesday night, the Miners got a chance to match up against Weber’s Erin Reichle and passed another test. This time, Mackenzie Bruggeman scored 17 points as Bingham claimed a 53-35 non-region victory.
            “I like to play teams whom I know will give me a chess match,” said Bingham coach Rand Rasmussen, whose team improved to 8-0. “I was proud of the girls for the way they reacted.”
            Bingham led the entire game. At halftime, the Miners had a 27-15 advantage and senior Ashton Henderson had helped hold Reichle to just six points.
            But Reichle started the second half with a basket, and then added a three-pointer to start a 7-0 run. With the lead down to five points, Bingham called timeout to regroup.
            “I told the girls, ‘we have to find out if we’re any good,’” Rasmussen said.
            At the pivotal moment, Bruggeman took control. She scored Bingham’s next eight points. The Miners led 40-30 by the end of the period. But, more importantly, they had survived. At that point, their depth made a big difference and the Miners added to the lead when Weber was forced to foul.
            Weber coach Rick Stoeckl hoped his team learned something from this game. The Warriors fell to 6-3, but two of their losses have been to unbeaten teams.
            “Little things made the difference … like a turnover here, and their shots fell,” he said. “With a good team like Bingham, if you don’t score for 4-5 possessions, you’re going to fall way behind.”
            The team’s shooting percent was actually pretty similar (just under 40 percent), but Weber committed 22 turnovers.
            Reichle finished with 17 points, a little below her season average so far. Hannah Charlton added eight points and Hanna Buswell was a beast underneath with a game-high 12 rebounds.
             “We like playing teams like Bingham,” said Stoeckl. “We’re a young team, and need to learn quickly. They’re a challenge and, at least we held them for a few minutes.”
             Sheradyn Parker had 11 points for Bingham and Jilian Powell had nine.

GAME SUMMARY

 

Weber            8       7     15       5   -   35

Bingham     17     10     13     13   -   53

   WEBER (35) – Erin Reichle 5-9 6-6 17, Haley Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Hannah Charlton 2-6 3-4 8, Maren Ulrich 1-2 0-1 2, Hanna Buswell 2-7 0-0 4, Megan Bedwell 1-2 0-0 2, Abbie O’Neill 1-3 0-0 2, Alyssa Potter 0-1 0-2 0, McKenna Dahl 0-0 0-2 0, Kandice Jensen 0-1 0-0 0, Hanna Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Abri Carney 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-31 9-15 35.
   BINGHAM (53) – Madison Aulai-Roe 0-0 1-2 1, Ashton Henderson 0-5 1-2 1, Mackenzie Bruggeman 6-10 5-9 17, Jilian Powell 3-12 2-2 9, Sheradyn Parker 5-9 0-0 11, Cheril Lyman 1-5 1-2 3, Whitney Daniels 2-4 0-1 4, Monique Washington 3-4 1-4 7, Holly Sorensen 0-0 0-0 0, Molly Erickson 0-0 0-0 0, Emily Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 11-22 53.
   Total fouls: Weber 18, Bingham 11. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: Washington.
   Three-point shooting: Weber 2-9 (Reichle, Charlton). Bingham 2-11 (Powell, Parker).
   Rebounds: Bingham 31 (Henderson, Bruggeman, Washington 6), Weber 26 (Buswell 12).
   Turnovers: Weber 22, Bingham 8.

            

 

Mtn. View football: Hunter Temple profile

In mid-December, I interviewed Mountain View (Idaho) defensive back Hunter Temple. He wasn't among the team's biggest players, but there was no doubting the size of his heart. He played a big role in MV's success. Here is the article that will appear in the Mavericks' 2012 football yearbook.

Hunter Temple:

 Tenacious defender outgrew his size

and made him one of the team’s best

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             In football terms, Hunter Temple was one of the last guys coach Judd Benedick wanted to get off the bus.

            But he was among the first on the field.
            Temple didn't impress anyone with his size. Listed at 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds in the game program, he was actually much lighter. A few months afterward, he wrestled at 138 pounds. However, there was no mistaking his tenacity.
            “He is amazing,” said Mountain View coach Judd Benedick. “He’s as tenacious as they come. He’s always around the ball and has a motor that won’t quit. He plays like he’s 250 pounds.”
            Temple admitted he felt the same way.
            “I am pretty aggressive,” he said. “I’m just competitive. Waiting for things to happen isn’t really my style. I want to get it done before the other person has a chance.”
            He played entirely on defense –as the Mavericks’ strong safety or outside linebacker. He was a team captain and ranked second in tackles.
            He was also selected to the all-SIC and all-state teams. He had two interceptions – both against Centennial, including one he returned 27 yards for a touchdown. Those plays made him the Idaho Statesman’s Player of the Week.
            Even a couple of months after it happened, he still remembered the scoring play clearly:
            “That was my only touchdown of my varsity career,” he recalled. “I don’t know if it was my favorite play, but it was pretty dang awesome. I was playing on the strong side and I went to the flat. I saw the back coming out on a swing route. I looked at the quarterback. He was getting rushed and I knew he was going to throw it. I just jumped the route. There was no one chasing me when I looked back.
            “As I was running, I held up the ball. There were no Centennial guys around. My teammates came up and started hugging me. Congratulatory stuff. It was the series after I had my other pick.
            “What was funny was that John Munger told us on the sidelines that I was going to get another one and I was going to score a touchdown. It was funny that happened.”
            Temple said Mountain View’s football season didn’t go exactly how he wanted, but there were plenty of highlights, especially when the Mavericks ended it by winning consecutive games over rivals Centennial, Eagle and then Vallivue.
            “We ended it right,” he said. “We were upset that we didn’t make the playoffs because we were just hitting our stride, but I guess everything can’t go our way.”
            What made Temple so valuable was that most things did go his way. He was known for his determination and jarring hits. That was evident on the football field, but also in the other sports where he competed.
            Immediately after football, Temple was on the wrestling mat and was a candidate to win state. As a junior, he was the district champion at 126 pounds. He won his division at the Tiger-Griz tournament in Idaho Falls and placed third at state. In track, he chose to compete in the pole vault.
            “I was questioning whether to do track, but I thought the pole vault was pretty cool,” he said. “It’s just really different and I had never done anything like that before.”
            Football, however, was his favorite. Despite his size, he began to earn playing time late in the season his junior year and his efforts were quickly recognized.
            “I was always trying to be enthusiastic, even at practice,” he said. “I wanted to always be in a good mood. I tried to be a vocal leader.”
            Mountain View’s defense wasn’t as solid as in 2011, but there wasn’t much of a letdown. Despite its prolific offense, there were no shootouts. The Mavericks ranked second in the SIC in scoring defense and throttled Eagle when the Mustangs came in with an 8-1 record.
            “They were a pretty good team and we beat them pretty bad,” Temple said. “They’re kind of cocky and we always want to put the hammer on them. Doing it on Senior Night was pretty awesome.”
            Temple recognized his size might limit his potential for an athletic scholarship, but his heart and character won’t. He hoped to major in pre-med or do something with computers in college. If sports is any indication, he’ll give it his best shot.

Mtn. View football: Collin Sale profile

In early December, I interviewed Collin Sale, a senior at Mountain View (Idaho) High School. He had a fine football season, but it turns out he's quite a wrestler and baseball player. Here's the article I wrote about him that will appear in the Mavericks' 2012 football yearbook.

Collin Sale:

 

‘Mr. Do-It-Everything’ was a factor

in all parts of the Mavs’ success

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             Collin Sale wanted to get a head start on Mountain View’s 2012 football season.

            A three-sport athlete, his junior year ended on a sour note. A shoulder injury suffered during the winter wrestling season forced him to miss baseball. By the time he had healed, he couldn’t wait for football.
            “It ended up being a blast, hanging out with the boys at practice and making tons of unforgettable memories,” he said.
            Sale made memories everywhere. Before he was hurt, he was a candidate to win district and possibly state at 138 pounds. During the Box Elder tournament in Utah, he won all four of his matches and was given a plaque as the outstanding wrestler.
            “It was a total surprise. The coaches voted on it and the first thing I did was hug my mom,” he said. “The kid I wrestled in the championship match was killing me but I got a good hold and pinned him with 15 seconds left. It’s been my biggest sports highlight.”
            Mountain View coach Judd Benedick said Sale was a team captain and one of the Mavericks most important players. Sale said he spent most of the season playing slot receiver and strong-side safety but – after further review – he was much more than that.
            “He’s not a vocal guy but he leads by example. He gives 100 percent all of the time,” said Benedick. “He was Mr. Do-It-Everything for us. We couldn’t get him off the field.”
            At just 5-foot-9, Sale also played special teams. He ended up being Mountain View’s second-leading receiver, catching 36 passes for 428 yards. He also rushed eight times for 50 yards and returned a kickoff 73 yards. Sale was selected second team all-SIC.
            Sale’s extra-involvement started during the summer. He worked at Buck’s Bags in Garden City, which was the company that Benedick directed to produce Mountain View’s fancy new uniforms. Before anyone else saw the finished product, Sale was one of the guys putting the shirts and pants in boxes and arranging for delivery.
            “That was awesome,” he recalled. “I was in the shipping department and helped clip them, stack them and count them. A kid I worked with played on Eagle’s football team and he saw them, too. His grandpa owns it (the store), so he was trying to get them to do it.”
            During the season, he said his best memory was his 64-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Kai Turner. The play broke open what had been a close game in the Mavericks’ 48-28 win.
            Here’s how Sale described it:
            “I had a good move off my defender. Once I got past him, I found an alley to get open and Kai saw me. I caught the ball and undercut one defender and juked another to get to the end zone.”
            Sale was one of several good Mountain View receivers, which included Connor Armstrong, Josh Buss, Marshall Pack, Kenny Webster and others. Turner, a three-year starter, was often on target, and that gave the Mavs a potent attack.
            “Our receiving corps was really good so they (opponents) couldn’t really concentrate on any of us,” Sale said.
            That was never so evident late in the season when Mountain View whipped Eagle, celebrating its “Senior Night” with a 48-22 victory.
            “When we play them, it gets so heated,” he said. “We just wanted it more.”
            The Mavericks didn’t make the postseason, but ended the year on a winning note by thrashing Vallivue. The next week, he was on the wrestling mats, preparing for another season. After that, he hoped to play baseball again.
            And after high school?
            “I’m trying to play football somewhere,” he said. “I’m sending my video out. I’ll see what happens. I would take playing any of the three sports.”

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.”