Nitros, Tornadoes clash for Bell

"Coming into the game, we know we've got to stop the run," Long said. "We've got an opponent who we feel we are equal to in talent. We know they're going to run the ball and try to stay on the field as long as possible.

"Our goal is for our defense to try and get off the field and hopefully we can get back on track on the offensive side of the ball."

Glendale will rely on junior quarterback Alex Yoon, who leads the team in rushing with 494 yards and five touchdowns, and running backs Chan Kim and Alex Manukian to control the game, while taking stock in the fact its defense was fairly solid all season with its glaring weakness being a tendency to wear down in the second half.

"It's gonna come down to us playing defense and special teams have been a sore spot for both of us and it's pretty obvious why," Eberhart said. "Those same guys playing special teams are all our starters and they're tired."

Either way, when the final whistle blows Friday, both teams will put football behind them until next fall.

One of them, though, will have a reason to look back on the 2010 season with a bit more fondness.

"We're both two teams that are struggling; this game goes either way," Eberhart said. "I'm going in with the approach that if we win it would be great because I want to see these kids succeed and if we don't, it's over, and that would be a big relief because it's been a long season."