After being on the road for the last two weeks, BHHS varsity football was home Friday evening, hosting the South Umpqua Lancers who made the over three hour trip to Brookings from Myrtle Creek.
The first quarter of play turned into a defensive battle between the two teams after South Umpqua took the opening kick-off and put together an over four minute drive that resulted in a Lancer field goal that would be the only points by either team the entire quarter.
In the second period, South Umpqua put together another drive, building off a 65 yard pass play that put the ball on the Bruins 25 yard line. The Lancers would find the endzone once again a few plays later on a short dive into the endzone, extending the Lancers lead to 0-10.
The Bruins would answer moments later, on a quarterback run that broke junior quarterback, Grady Maylin, #12, for a 70 yard touchdown run with just under 7:00 minutes left in the second quarter.
On the Lancer’s second offensive opportunity in the second period, the South Umpqua line would open a hole that allowed a 35 yard gain down inside the Bruin 5 yard line that they would cap off with a 3 yard blast into the endzone extending the Lancer lead to a comfortable 7-17 lead midway through the second period.
Minutes later, the Bruins, looking to answer, would turn the ball over on an interception over the middle at approximately midfield, with just over 4:00 minutes left in the half. An opportunistic Lancer team drove to within the 20 yard line and hit a 30 yard field goal with no time left in the half to take a 7-20 lead into the half time break.
The Bruins would receive the kick to start the second half, and unfortunately, would pick up right where they left off, turning the ball over on the second play of the new half with another interception, giving the ball back to the Lancers who would take advantage and drive the distance, including another 25 yard pass play over the middle, making the score 7-27 with over 10:00 minutes left in the third quarter.
But the Bruins weren’t done, taking the next possession and putting together a 5:00 minute drive topped off with a long 43 yard run to the endzone on a jet sweep to the right side by junior running back, #10, Owen Austin, putting the Bruins on the board for the first time in the second half, making the score 14-27 with approximately 10:00 minutes left in the third.
On the Lancers next possession, the Bruins would return the favor, creating their own defensive interception giving the Bruin offense another opportunity, hitting a long pass down the left sideline for 30 yards before Bruin quarterback, Grady Maylin hit Owen Austin in the endzone closing the gap to 21-27 to end the third.
The fourth quarter would be played in the middle of the field as both defenses stopped the others offense until very late in the final period, when South Umpqua completed a long time consuming drive to put the game out of reach at 21-34, with seconds left on the clock, to take home the 21-34 win.
“Kids played with great effort tonight, especially in the second half.” coach Bavaro said after the game. “We need to find ways to start faster, so we don’t dig ourselves a hole in the first half.”
The Bruins are back on the road next week, traveling to Florence to challenge the Siuslaw Vikings, coming off a three game win streak, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.
