Great expectations

Brady Brunelle will play college football.

It may not be on scholarship, but that didn’t stop his older brother, Ross, from walking on at the University of Montana, where he currently is the Grizzlies fullback.

The East Valley senior running back/linebacker isn’t entirely sure where, but he will play college football.

“Definitely,” Brunelle agreed, adding that it helps to see his brother already playing at that level. “It drives me to play better because I have big shoes to fill.”

Brady Brunelle fills those shoes just fine. As a junior starter he helped the Knights reach the State 3A quarterfinals, where the team lost a heartbreaker to Kelso, 41-32.

After starting the season with back-to-back losses to Coeur d’Alene and Gonzaga Prep, Brunelle and the Knights have posted wins over Central Valley and Cheney to even their record at 2-2, tied with West Valley with the best record among Class 3A teams in the Greater Spokane League.

“That was definitely disappointing,” Brunelle said of the season-opening, 34-20 loss at Coeur d’Alene. “Oh, man, it was tough (in practice that next week). The coaches didn’t think we played all that hard. It only made us work that much harder, and I think now we realize just what they expect from us every game. We can meet their expectations now.”

Same with his own expectations for playing college football.

It’s not a surprise that the Brunelle brothers are intent on playing college football.

Their mother, Kim, is the longtime gymnastics coach at Central Valley. Their father, Steve, was West Valley’s starting quarterback in 1975 and earned a scholarship to play at Eastern Washington University, but walked away from the game without every playing a single down.

“My husband is just so focused on his kids playing college football,” Kim Brunelle explained. “He made the team, and then he didn’t play. There were many reasons, but he started out at Eastern and then didn’t stay with the game. His father passed away as a sophomore and he had a full-ride scholarship without playing and that had something to do with it.

“But I think that’s why he wants his sons to have the experience of playing. He still kicks himself for not taking advantage of the opportunity himself.”

Ross Brunelle certainly has taken advantage of his own opportunity. After redshirting as a freshman linebacker, he suited up for every game last season, including the Grizzlies 31-21 loss to James Madison in the Division I-AA championship game.

“Never played a down, but went to the national championship with the team,” Kim Brunelle said. “This year they moved him to fullback and he’s started every game. He’s doing great, and he just loves it over there.”

Brady Brunelle has learned a great deal from his brother’s experience.

“The intensity level is so much greater, and you have to know your stuff that much more at that level,” he explained.

He added that he’s working now to incorporate habits that will help him adjust better next year.

“I just make sure I know my rules and everything about my position and work hard in the weight room,” he said.

Having a father who played quarterback and a mother who is a successful coach makes for a pretty intense focus on sports in the Brunelle household, Brady said.

“That’s pretty much all the conversation is when I get home from practice,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from my mom and watching her teams compete. It just tells me that I need to work hard and that you always have to be focused on what you’re doing.”

Same holds true for coach Adam Fisher and the rest of the East Valley coaching staff.

“It’s different this year,” he said. “The coaches work us a little bit harder this year because they know what we’re capable of accomplishing. On top of that, there’s a confidence level with this team that we didn’t have last year. We know we’re a good team, and we work hard to prove it on the field.”

As for next year, Brunelle is keeping his options open. His 3.87 grade-point average gives him more options than most.

“Montana’s a possibility,” he said. “I know they’ve been looking at me and I would like to go play with my brother. And I’ve always thought about playing at Washington State. Other than that I haven’t made up my mind. The Ivy League is a possibility.”