TWIN FALLS — Will Neilson’s pick six changed everything. It changed the trajectory of a ballgame, the trajectory of Neilson’s night and decided who would revel championship glory. Neilson’s fourth quarter pick six (and a Minico extra point) pushed the Spartans to a 7-6 Great Basin Conference title over Twin Falls on Friday night at Bruin Stadium.
His teammates insisted Neilson, a senior linebacker, earned the trophy’s first touch. One teammate demanded he would treat Neilson to a victory dinner while Neilson never relented and helped the Spartans win their third conference crown in the past four years. After all, he housed a 74-yard interception return.
Welcome back to the show, Spartans. “I don’t know,” Neilson told the Times-News . “They have kinda been throwing that post.
That middle post all night. We were kinda getting burnt on it so I kinda like snuck under it and just jumped it and ran. I got all my buddies out in front blocking for me and just made it great.
” Dozens of Minico players, trophy in hand, congregated in front of the visitor’s bleachers before Neilson joined the party. “I love playing with him, man,” Minico running back Preston Sonner-Cranney told the Times-News . “He is just a dog out there.
He does him and makes the hits that we need. He is definitely the heart for the defense. All respect to Will Neilson.
All hail Will.” Twin Falls, the 2023 conference champions after a 43-15 win over Minico, established a 6-0 lead in the fi.
