Bruin Stadium has become a proving ground.

Unstoppable Nampa running back Mahonri Bostrom met the Twin Falls football team's unmoveable will power Friday night, with the Bruins emerging victorious - a 28-21 decision to send Twin Falls back to the state semifinal round.

"This was tough," said Bruin defender Cannon Sims Clark, "but we wanted to win."

Although Bostrom, the Bulldogs' top offensive threat with more than 2,000 rushing yards following the game, ran over the Bruin defense for 280 yards and three touchdowns (two of which came on carries of 50 and 76 yards), Twin Falls was able to perform when it mattered most: the fourth quarter.

The Bruins had just scored to regain the lead with barely 2:30 to go and had pinned Nampa back to its 19-yard line following the kickoff. Clark sacked quarterback Hayden Wright for the second time -linebacker Zak Slotten met Wright behind the line earlier in the game - during the half and cost the Bulldogs 5 more yards. A false-start penalty on the next play pushed Nampa back further, and before the Bullodgs knew it, it was fourth down. A first-down pass put them on the 31-yard line with 90 seconds left.

Abandoning the running game for lack of time, Wright took to the air four times and four times came up with an incomplete pass, ending any hope for a comeback. Wright finished 5 of 11 for a mere 29 yards.

"I just had to be quick and fast," Clark said of the sacks. "Quick and fast and keep the pads low."

Meanwhile, Bruin quarterback T.J. Ellis was able to remain upright for the most part thanks to his offensive line. The junior signal-caller went 13-for-21 for 150 yards, one touchdown and one pick and was not brought down behind the line of scrimmage even once. He called the line's performance "impressive."

Lineman Clayton Rushing said communication was key.

"(Nampa) was tough," he said. "It was hard work, but we kept talking. A lot. Picking up blitzes … talking got us through."

Ellis did have a scare halfway through the second quarter as he threw what would have been his second pick of the night as the Bruins drove deep into Nampa territory. Although Nampa's Josh Seward came down with the ball, the play was overturned on a roughing-the-passer penalty. The Bruins resumed the drive with a first down inside the red zone and scored less than 30 seconds later to make it 20-7.

Ellis' main targets were Jon Pulsifer (32 receiving yards, 1 TD), Brennon Lancaster (47 yards) and Brady McNew (45 yards), who also caught a crucial 2-point conversion pass late in the fourth quarter.

On the ground, the Bruins rushed for a little more than 130 yards. Mark Christensen carried for 28 yards and two scores, while Josh Settlemoir had 48 yards and one TD. Ricky Akridge contributed 35 yards.

The Bruins will next host the Blackfoot Broncos, who defeated Bishop Kelly of Boise 27-14. McNew said the team must continue the string of progressive, up-tempo practices as it prepares to make a run for the Class 4A state championship.

Said Clark:"We have to picture it in our mind and think about winning."

Twin Falls 28, Nampa 21

Nampa 7 0 7 7 - 21

Twin Falls 7 13 0 8 - 28

First quarter

Twin Falls - Mark Christensen 7 run (Dustin Hegstrom kick) 6:58

Nampa - Mahonri Bostrom 76 run (Chase Wangen kick) 6:44

Second quarter

TF - Christensen 3 run (Hegstrom kick) 10:49

TF - Josh Settlemoir 1 run (kick failed) 5:25

Third quarter

N - Bostrom 11 run (Wangen kick) 0:55

Fourth quarter

N - Bostrom 50 run (Wangen kick) 8:13

TF - Jon Pulsifer 4 pass from T.J. Ellis (Brady McNew pass from Ellis) 2:42

Bradley Guire may be reached at bguire@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3229.

Read more on the Bruins on the Magic Valley Overtime blog.

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