HELENA -- On Friday, the Helena Capital Bruins will take on the Butte Bulldogs in the first round of the Class AA football state playoffs. Very seldom does anyone get a chance to correct a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" situation, but this week the Bruins will get a chance to do just that when they take on the Bulldogs.
“We're up 13-0, two minutes left in the first half, and then we manage to lose that one 20-13," said Helena Capital head coach Kyle Mihelish. "I told the kids (Monday and Tuesday), that not a lot of times in life that you get to make a wrong a right. We have an opportunity to do that.”
When the Bruins suit up for Friday night’s matchup, they’ll look to right the wrongs that cost them a home playoff game this year. Though they’ll be playing on the road, that doesn’t take away from the severity that will go into this Friday night’s game. For Helena Capital senior Kevin Northey, the task is daunting, yet exhilarating, and he’s confident they’ll be able to get it done.
“I'm a little anxious, but I'm also very excited because ... we're fortunate enough to have made the playoffs. Two teams in the West didn't get it, don't have this opportunity to play, but I'm really excited to go beat Butte at Naranche Stadium,” said Northey. “That field goal there, that ended up costing us a little bit of shift in momentum, but I feel real confident we've learned from our mistakes and we're ready to go beat Butte.”
The Bruins are a young team and, as many gear up for their first playoff game ever, they just want to put on a good showing to give their seniors at least one more game.
"This is the first in my career, so it's a big game and I'm ready to go," said Hayden Opitz. "I'm very nervous, but at the same time, we're super excited to play with these guys. I mean, this could be the last game of the season for the seniors. So, I'm just trying to give it my all, so we can come out on top."
The Helena Capital Bruins will look to right their wrongs from earlier in the season when they travel to Butte to take on the Bulldogs on Friday at 7 p.m.
