I just want to leave a quick thought, the morning after the game against the Blaze. Even though we came out on the short end of this contest, the game itself was something else. I hope the fans that attended came away with as sated a feeling as I had, purely from a fan perspective. There was only one score, albeit a 52-yard jaunt from the far from fleet-of-foot Buckie Brawley on what we later found out was a broken play, but last night was not about offense. It turned into one of the most fierce defensive duels I have ever witnessed in person, and would surely dispute anyone who claims it was boring or a showcase of sub-par offenses. Despite what claims have been made about Justin Nixon and the Blaze rush game, both teams identities are securely rooted in the athleticism and cohesion of their defenses. Again, that is not a slam against either team's offense, but what I saw last night were two teams who wouldn't give an inch. Not for themselves or the man beside him. Not even for the man 3rd in line at his position who wanted so desperately to have one series or even one play to show that he wasn't giving an inch either. It was an exceptional display of true team defense.
So after a good night's sleep, as good as one can get after a defeat, I truly believe that, win or loss, that game made us better as players, as coaches, and most assuredly as a team. I can only hope we had the same effect on them. Sure, we get a rematch in Washington-Grizzly Stadium in two weeks, hopefully with a different outcome, but I'm excited that we are making each other better because we can beat each other up all we want, but it's the Championship that matter. And as the "Southerners", from the other states in this league, have made abundantly clear, we Montana teams need to make a strong showing against teams from Idaho and Utah to be taken seriously. I think both the Phoenix and the Blaze took another step towards that end last night.
I wish the Blaze good health in their game next week against the Knights. (I feel it's in bad taste to wish luck to the Blaze against a winless team that plays as hard and unified as the Glacier Knights, who I'll be rooting for to get a win this season since I don't want them to beat us in the regular season finale. No slight or animosity towards the Blaze, I assure.) If both teams are as prepared and ready as we both were last night, the rematch will be an epic. (Not to mention a possible Championship Game matchup.)
Monson