MOSCOW — Arm-in-arm, Moscow’s 11 seniors walked the gridiron for the last time, from the 50-yard line to the end zone, surrounded by their brothers.
Hugs were given, tears were shed.
On an emotional senior day, the Moscow Bears beat the Timberlake Tigers of Spirit Lake 27-13 in a 4A Intermountain League game Friday at Bear Field.
“It just took fighting and scratching and clawing,” Moscow coach Rob Bafus said. “I’m really proud of the guys. We talked about it at halftime, to come out and finish what we started. And they did that.”
A foundational senior class
Among the group of fourth-year Bears (6-3, 1-1) who left Bear Field after their final regular-season game together are team leaders Paul Dixon and Jericho Pike.
“They were 1-15 at one point, and they never gave up, and they stayed together as a unit, and they persevered through a time that was really, really down and negative,” Bafus said. “They could have said, ‘Oh, woe is me.’ And they didn’t. They just clenched their fists and fought. And really, they’re the reason this program (got) turned around.”
Dixon, a multi-sport offensive and defensive lineman, bought into Moscow’s ascent.
“You can’t stop buying in,” Dixon said. “You got to keep pulling your buddies up, pulling them with you. And that’s how it happens.”
It was a bittersweet moment when Dixon walked off the field as one of the last Bears to leave. For Dixon, football is family.
“We work our butts off together, and that creates a pretty special bond on and off the field,” Dixon said. “I know those guys have me anywhere.”
Marzolf takes off
The Bears started fast and slammed the door shut on their league foe thanks to the tenacity of sophomore running back Mason Marzolf.
Marzolf took the most prominent ball-carrier role of his young career, racking up 125 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Bafus said that Marzolf is a versatile and dependable player, spending time along the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker for the Bears over his young Bear football career.
“He can play anywhere,” Bafus said. “Shoot, if we put him at quarterback, he’d say, ‘Okay, whatever,’ and he’s just such an incredible individual. He plays piano, he’s a smart kid. He does things that are just high character.
“I love that kid. The whole staff loves him, and he’s just a great example of what Bear football is. And he’s the future.”
Mazolf said his versatility and dependability stem from a desire to help the team.
The Bears were viciously efficient in the first quarter, scoring twice and doing the bulk of the work for a third score within the game’s first 12 minutes.
Moscow’s third TD — a Marzolf 8-yard run — came five seconds into the second quarter.
After Charles Vasquez picked off Timberlake’s QB in the end zone, Moscow quarterback Wyatt Cross started sizzling hot for the Bears.
Cross found running back Kolten Kendall wide up the middle for a 35-yard score to put the Bears on the board.
The Bears dialed up an onside kick and recovered. Then, Cross hit up junior wide receiver Ryle Chaney for 30 yards and threw his way again for a 10-yard touchdown in one-on-one coverage.
In the span of 13 seconds, Moscow had a 13-0 lead.
The game took a turn for Cross, as the freshman tossed three interceptions.
However, Bafus said that Cross’ growth and season overall make him another kid who is the future of Bear football.
“You look around the state, there’s, I think, one other freshman that’s putting numbers even close to what Wyatt’s doing in their football program,” Bafus said. “He’s a gym rat on the football field and he will continue to get better in the offseason.”