Three games into pre-season play, head coach Shaun Bavaro and the BHHS varsity football team hosted the Etna Lions, who made the 4 hour trek from south of Happy Camp, California, to the coast for the Friday evening contest.
The Bruins would choose to receive the kick and start on offense to start the first quarter and the offense went right to work. Three plays into their first offensive series, the Bruins would strike, with senior, Kevin Hooper, #42, tearing off a 52 yard touchdown run to give the Bruins a quick 6-0 lead.
After watching the Bruin offense jump out early, the Bruin defense came out with high energy, shutting down the Etna offense by getting in the Lion backfield and covering the passing lanes forcing an Etna punt.
Picking up where they left off after the first offensive attack, the Bruins would sweep junior running back, #10, Owen Austin, around the right for a big pick up followed by a deep pass deep would put the Bruins in position to score again. Austin would again find the edge for a touchdown run from just inside the twenty.
Before the first period would end, special teams would give the Bruin offense another opportunity to find the endzone after a punt block and a big play put them inside the Etna 20. Coach Bavaro would call on senior running back Jonathan Devereaux, #34, and the offensive line, running straight ahead for another Bruin touchdown, followed by a quarterback keep the middle by junior quarterback, Grady Maylin, #12, to complete the 2 point conversion and a 20-0 Bruin lead.
Etna would turnover the ball early in the second period and another long run by junior runningback, #10, Owen Austin, would set up another crushing blast up the middle by #34, Jonathan Devereaux, expanding the Bruin lead to 27-0.
The Bruin defense was relentless, forcing another turnover on the Lions next possession that would be recovered by senior defensive back, #16, Isaac Hughes. Owen Austin, would finish off the series of plays with another 30 yard sweep to the right for another Bruin touchdown.
Sophomore Levi Ratliff, #57, would block another Etna punt attempt deep in Lion territory that would lead to senior, Kevin Hooper, #42, finding the edge and race for a 32 yard touchdown.
“With events during the week, we just focused on what we could control,” coach Bavaro said after the game. “We had a really good week of practice and the kids brought that Friday night as well. We moved some guys around hoping we could create a spark and I saw a lot of growth from the kids”.
After rolling to a 49-0 win, the Bruins will be home again next Friday when they host the St. Mary’s Crusaders in their final pre-season next Friday evening with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.
