Bruins Prepare For Tough Battle Against Vikings

By Michael Hippchen

October 2, 2008

The Blacksburg Bruins look to stop a hot Northside Vikings team this Friday at the new Bill Brown stadium in Blacksburg. The Bruins (3-1), coming off a tough loss to Lord Botetourt last Friday, hope to bounce back in their first game at their new stadium against a streaking Northside (3-3) team that has won three of its last four games.

Blacksburg got off to an impressive start to the season, winning the first three games on its schedule before the match-up with the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers. However, the Cavaliers outscored the Bruins 10-0 in the fourth quarter to hand Blacksburg its first loss.

Bruins head coach Dave Crist knows the challenge that faces his team this Friday. "[The Vikings] are a very good, sound, fundamental team," Crist said. "They have size. They have speed. They do everything well."

Crist hopes his team can rebound from the loss and can look at the bright spots of the game last week to prepare for Northside.

"We pretty much did what we did in the previous three games," Crist said. "Basic runs, basic passes; our game plan stayed the same."

The Bruins offense looked impressive against the Cavaliers, lead by senior quarterback Trey Gresh, who rushed for 61 yards and threw for 167 more.

"Trey got those rushing yards from what the defense gave him," Crist said. "We don't go into any ball game asking for 'X' number of yards. We take what we can get."

The Bruins rushed for 188 total yards and two touchdowns, which may not be duplicated due to the fact that the Vikings can plant 5'10'', 365 lbs defensive tackle A.J. Johnson in the middle of the field.  Blacksburg also shut down Lord Botetourt to the tune of only 99 yards rushing.

If the Bruins are going to win on Friday, they'll have to return their stout defense again and contain Viking's sophomore running back Wardel Penn Timity, who scorched Hidden Valley in a makeup game on Monday for three touchdowns.

Despite shoddy defense on third down and giving up a punt return for a touchdown against Lord Botetourt, Crist is sticking to his practice regimen before the showdown with Northside.

"We just do things in a normal way," Crist said. "You don't change your game plan because of a loss."

Other than the obvious foe known as the away team, Blacksburg will have to deal with playing on a new field in a new venue for the first time. When asked if the players would have any trouble adjusting to the new stadium, Blacksburg's athletic director Jack Hencke thinks "only the initial wow factor" will affect the players.

"We hope two practice sessions [at the new stadium] will lessen that," Hencke said.

Crist is also confident the Bruins will handle the pressure of a new venue with ease.

"[The team] has done a great job all year focusing on the upcoming games and not worrying about who we're playing or where we're playing," said Crist. "They just go out and play."