MSU-N Game Day Feature: Leaving opponents Bruised

No matter the circumstance, no matter the adversity, sometimes, things are perfect right where you are. And for the last five years, that's been the case for Montana State University-Northern senior defensive end Jordan Brusio.

No matter what's gone on around him, no matter who else is on the field, or on the sidelines, Brusio has always felt playing football, and going to school at Northern, was perfect for him.

And, as it's turned out, Brusio, a former West High standout in Billings, has been pretty darn perfect for the Lights too.

"I love football, and I love playing football at Northern, and I love the Havre community," Brusio said before his last-ever time playing the vaunted Carroll College Fighting Saints in Blue Pony Stadium. "There's been a lot of adversity in my time here. And it hasn't always been easy. But, football has been such a big part of my life, for so long now, and a big part of that is football at Northern. And I've really loved it. It's crazy how fast it's gone by."

It might seem like time has flown by for Brusio because he's been playing meaningful snaps for the Lights for the last four years. Then head-coach Mark Samson went with a young defensive line during Brusio's red-shirt freshman season, thrusting himself, and teammates Tyler Craig and Patrick Barnett into starting roles when they were all very young.

In so many ways, Brusio said that playing, and eventually starting for the Lights at such a young age did so much for him, on the field and off of it too.

"The biggest thing for me now is I see the game so much better," he said. "It's really slowed down for me, and a big reason for that is because I did get to play so young. I have been able to be out there for a lot of big games through my career, and you just end up learning so much that way. There's only one way to learn, and that's through experience, and I've been fortunate to have a lot of game experience during my career."

That experience has led Brusio to really rise over the last two seasons, as well as form some bonds with his fellow defensive inemen, bonds he says that will last a lifetime, and bonds he says kept him going through some trying times - times that includes three coaching changes in his time at Northern.

"(Pat) Barnett and I played together at West, and we really got to know (Tyler) Craig during the Shrine Game that summer after we graduated. We were all going to Northern, and we really started forming great friendships right there. And their support has been great for me over the years. When you have guys like that, and so many other great teammates by your side, you feel like you can get through anything. So that's been one of the best things about this whole experience, just that bond with your teammates, the friendships you form. Yeah, we went through the coaching changes and things like that, and, our win-loss record hasn't been what we hoped it would be, but with guys like that by your side, I could have never imagined giving up, or doing something else. I could have never left these guys. We've all been in this together, for a long time now, and I'm so blessed to have the support I've had in my time here."

Those bonds, formed through years of adversity, have also led to Northern having one of the best defensive lines in the Frontier Conference this season, and, they've helped Brusio become one of the most productive defensive ends in the league – even if he flies under the radar just a bit.

While Craig is closing in on the sack record at Northern during his senior season, on the other side of the line, Brusio, who stands an imposing 6-1 and 230 pounds, has strung together some outstanding numbers himself. The former two-time Class AA All-State player from Billings burst onto the scene his sophomore season, recording 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. He followed that up last year with a career-high 58 tackles to go along with another 5.5 sacks. For his career, which started midway through the 2013 season, Brusio has tallied 122 total tackles, 14.5 sacks and another 30 tackles for loss.

While Craig, who's poised to shatter some school records before his career is over, draws a lot of attention from opposing offenses, as well as media, Brusio says it's what they all do together, as a unit, that makes him successful.

"Tyler Craig is a phenomenal player, an incredible athlete," Brusio said. "And his presence is felt on the field every single play he's out there. And then you have Pat (Barnett) in the middle eating up double teams from those big offensive linemen. So those guys help me and allow me to be productive and successful. I get a lot of 1-on-1's because of what those guys and the rest of our defensive line bring to the table every snap. I do love rushing the passer, and I get a lot of opportunities to do that because of the talent we have on our defensive line."

And it's a defensive line Brusio believes in whole heartily, and is proud to be a part of.

Northern's defense took some punishment a season ago, with plenty of growing pains in such a difficult, transitional season. But, a year later, and with four senior starters playing together on the defensive front, Brusio says things are very different, and eventually, he's hoping things will be different for his entire team.

"As a defense, you can tell we're just so much more confident this season," Brusio said. "We have a lot of experience. I think our front seven is really good and we're playing really well. And I think our secondary has improved a ton this year, and that really helps us out. We just have a lot more confidence, our coaches have a game plan that allows us to play to our strengths, and most importantly, we're a really tight group, we completely trust each other and believe in each other."

Believing in his teammates, his team and his school, as well as believing in himself, is something Brusio has always done. It's what's kept him at Northern through some trying times – three different head coaches, injuries, and just seven victories in his four years of playing defensive end for the Lights.

And he continues to believe. He continues to be productive on the field, and he continues to show the heart of a Light off it. Brusio has never given up on what he believes in, and, with his career winding down, he says, that won't change.

"I am blessed," Brusio said. "I'm blessed to have been recruited to play here at Northern. I'm blessed to have met and played with so many great guys and great football players. I'm blessed to have been coached by all of the coaches I've had. Those are things that have kept me going through the years, no matter what adversity I've faced.

"And I think this team we have now, we're right on the cusp of winning, we're right on the cusp of turning this around," he continued. "But no matter what happens with the rest of my career, I am so glad I came to Northern. I love playing football and going to school here. There was no better place for me. I love Havre. The community has always supported us. And I know, even if I'm not around to see all of it, I know this program is going in the right direction. And I'll be proud to come back to games in the future. I'll always be proud to be a Light."