Article Photos

Advertisement

PARSHALL - Heading into today's 9-man State Football Championship, Parshall-White Shield is looking to cap an already improbable season with a title win.

The Braves have Hankinson standing in the way of their ultimate goal of capturing the championship.

It is a goal that wasn't even a feasible reality until just a few weeks ago.

"Definitely don't think too many people expected us to be here, and really it was something we couldn't comprehend ourselves until a couple weeks ago," Braves head coach Mark Grueneich said. "For us to be in the state championship it didn't enter our minds or wasn't a possibility until late in the playoffs. So to be here in the state title game is a nice surprise."

P-WS came into the season as an underdog, being picked by many to finish near the bottom of Region 5. But after a region title, and playoff wins over Beach, Wells County and TGU, the Braves are just one win away from state supremacy.

"There has been some quality teams in the playoffs, so for us to be still alive is a testament to the players and it makes us appreciate the fact we are still playing," Grueneich said. "We told the guys going (into the playoffs) that there is a different amount of intensity and focus needed to do well and we've been able to bring that."

The Braves (9-2) will look to take the same focus onto the field today at noon at the Fargodome, where they will face a Hankinson team that also enters with a 9-2 record after topping defending state champion Hillsboro last Saturday. The last time P-WS won a state title game was in 1983, so the Braves' players know the magnitude of the situation.

"This week is probably the most focused I've seen our players," Grueneich said. "They are very, very determined that they are going to make the best effort they possible can. That's all you can ask really. If a kid comes off the field and takes his helmet off and knows he played as hard as he could, what more can you ask?"

P-WS has utilized a diverse attack up to this point in the playoffs. In last Saturday's 30-26 win over TGU, the Braves had four different players score in different fashions. The Braves won the game despite being outscored 12-0 in the first 12 minutess of the game. From that point, P-WS scored 30 straight points en route to the win.

Grueneich said diversity has played a big factor on the team.

"That's the thing that's been so good to see this season," he said. "It's always been different players stepping up and making plays. One week it's this guy, the next week it's a couple of guys. If we can get all of them going at the same time, that would be a sight to see."

Running backs Payton Two Crow (twice) and Cole Hendrickson each scored touchdowns in the Braves' semifinals win. P-WS wide receiver Harris Zacher also caught a touchdown from quarterback Jaren Enockson, who was kept of the end zone but rushed for 144 yards.

Much like the Braves, Hankinson also posesses a multi-faceted offense according to Gruenich. The Pirates also overcame a first quarter deficit to earn a 29-20 win after trailing 14-0 after a quarter and 20-8 at the half against Hillsboro.

With two capable offenses, Grueneich feels the game will likely come down to defense.

"We've seen Hankinson play and they have a power running attack but they also can spread it out four-wide," he said. "We need to contain them defensively because we don't want them to get on a roll, we've seen they score in bunches. They're the type of team that no matter what you do, you are going to have to play good defense to win.

"We'll be looking to do just that."