Friday night, the Ava Bears open the 2016 season with high hopes. Not the biggest, strongest or fastest, but these small town boys have heart, dedication and trust of each other.
“We’re about family, brotherhood, unity and being together for each other,” said senior Briston Dobbins.
"We're not always the most talented, but we've got a lot of guys that like to play football," said Ava head coach Dan Swofford.
The Bears play host to a Marshfield squad they beat 45-27 to open last season.
In order to gear up for the big game, Swofford and the Bears’ 12 seniors stopped by Autumn’s Café and Grille to take on the “Heart Attack Challenge”.
It’s a one-pound double cheeseburger with bacon, fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and an onion ring on top.
Autumn's opened on Father's Day in 2014. Since that time they've been serving the Ava community with a variety of dishes named for their patrons; Bus Driver Special, Fox Trotter Skillet, Copeland Burritor, Ava Bear Croissant to name a few.
"It's kind of like Cheers where everybody knows your name," said owner and Ava native Autumn Sharp. "It's just the extra love and attention we give everybody when they come in."
Before the Bears take on this task the Bears explained their motto.
It ain’t nothin’ but a thang!
Tensions were riding high over the summer when one of the seniors stepped in and said, “it ain’t nothin’ but a thang.”
The expression seemed to calm the situation and the Bears embraced the slogan; one that will be prominent on their senior t-shirts.
“Even when we get down on ourselves, ain’t nothin’ but a thang helps us get back up,” said senior Brandon Johnson.
The motto was uttered frequently as the Bears’ dozen took on the “Heart Attack Challenge” as part of our Taste of the Town series.
“We’ve got big stomachs, so we’re going to eat and we’re going to win,” said senior Cage Kirkland. “We’re going to crush them.
TEAMS
D-Ends
Team USA
Flying Squirrels
Average Joes
Purple Cobras
The Wombats
The winner? You’ll have to click on the video and see.
Catch a live report of from the KSPR Game of the Week Friday night at 10:20 and later at 11:30 on the Ozarks CW.
IN THE ZONE (WEEK 1 PREVIEW)
