Coming off of a convincing win over the Etna Lions at home last Friday evening, the Bruins were looking to build on that momentum going into league play next week taking on the St. Mary’s Crusaders.
Head coach Shaun Bavaro brought out a high energy team Friday evening that received the kick-off and came out firing to start the first period. After a power sweep to the right side and a long pass down the left sideline the Bruin offense found themselves in scoring position just minutes into the quarter.
But a lapse in focus would lead to a series of procedure penalties, pushing the Bruins back and ending an early Bruin scoring opportunity. This put the Bruin defense on the field that would shut down the St. Mary’s offense and returning the ball to the Bruins.
Both teams would struggle offensively early with each moving the ball effectively before stalling just short of finding the endzone. But the Bruins would put together a drive late in the first period that would find the endzone after a 25 yard blast through the line that senior running back #34, Jonathan Devereaux, putting the Bruins on the board, 7-0 as the first period came to a finish.
Much of the second period would be the same, possessions by both teams that would fail to find the endzone because of procedure penalties for the Bruins, and a tough Bruin defense dominating the Crusader’s offense for St. Mary’s.
However, the Bruins would again find the endzone late in the period after another Bruin touchdown from a Jonathan Devereaux run for another Bruin touchdown just before the end of the first half.
Starting the second half with a 14-0 lead, the Bruins again could not find the endzone offensively, and it would be a defensive play that would start the Bruin scoring in the second half. Bruins senior defensive back, #16, Isaac Hughes, jumped a 10 yard out route and returned the ball to the endzone, giving the Bruins a 20-0 lead.
The Bruin score woke up the Crusader’s offensively, putting together a long drive before hitting a 27 yard pass play, putting St. Mary’s on the board, trailing 20-7.
As time was running down in the third period, the Bruin offense would strike back, driving the length of the field to ultimately hitting a 40 yard Bruin quarterback, #12 Grady Maylin to sophomore wide receiver, #11, Evan York for a 40 yard touchdown pass down the left sideline.
The Crusaders, trailing 26-7 would drive into Bruin territory after receiving the kick after the Bruin touchdown, and after working into a call a blast right up the middle for 12 yards, cutting into the Bruin 26-13 lead.
But the Bruin defense would rise up late, shutting down the St. Mary’s offense with a senior defensive back, #5, Preston Gerovec interception, to end a desperate late Crusader drive.
The Bruins would end the game with a 35 yard touchdown pass for the Bruins final 32-13 score after the interception to put the game out of reach early.
“The kids played hard tonight.” coach Bavaro told the Compass after the game. “Really proud of their growth in the last two weeks. But we will need to clean up some penalties on offense and improve our open field tackling as we start league play next week. Overall, solid win for the program and good spring board in to league play next week.”
The Bruins will be on the road next week to start regular season play, traveling to Coquille to challenge the Red Devils with kick-off at 7:00pm.
