Bruins get big win, fending off Beavers
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CALCUTTA -- Beaver Local had a chance to wipe the bad taste out of its mouth after a narrow loss to unbeaten Salem last week, but the Brooke Bruins had something else to say.
Using a bruising rushing attack led by Cole Bolen’s 18 carries for 177 yards with three touchdowns coupled with timely takeaways, the Bruins held off a second-half Beaver charge to score a 33-20 win on Friday night.
It was Brooke’s first win in three tries against the Buckeye 8 opponents. The Bruins had not scored in the first two meetings.
“It’s a very big win and that’s a tribute to our kids and the way they played,” Frank Sisinni said. “There was some explosive plays in the first half we got excited about but our kids stayed the course in the second half. Mike McKenzie does a great job with his program and we knew they were going to get a couple home runs there.”
The Bruins are 3-1 and will host Ripley next Friday. Beaver Local fell to 4-2 with two straight losses. Beaver Local is at Hubbard next Friday.
Beaver Local looked like it was in business early as the Beavers recovered a fumble on a punt return attempt and turned that into a Dillan McKenzie 14 yard touchdown reception from Reid Schwerha.
Then after a long Brooke kick-off return Brooke grabbed the lead on a Bolen 19-yard touchdown run with 10:33 left in the first quarter.
Brooke’s defense limited Beaver Local to one first down in the first half and 47 yards of total offense.
An A.J. Harvey 6-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Kamden Sperringer and a Grant Yost 50-yard interception return for a touchdown had the Bruins up 20-6 at the half.
“We just didn’t play well,” Beaver Local coach Mike McKenzie said. “Credit to Brooke. They played well and we had turnovers, dropped passes and mistakes. Obviously I didn’t have us prepared.”
The Bruins essentially landed the knockout blow with Bolen 62 and 15-yard touchdown runs within the first three minutes of the second half to make it 33-6.
Beaver did bounce back with two touchdown passes from Reid Schwerha -- 13 yards to Peyton Marin and 80 yards to Jaylen Smith -- but the Beavers were in far too big of a hole to creep back to within striking distance.
“We put ourselves in too big of a hole,” McKenzie said. “I just have to do a better job. Anytime we lose, it’s on me.”
Beaver Local had several key players out due to injuries suffered in the Salem game including leading rusher Peyton Cowdery and key skill player Zaiven Riley.
“We’re missing a few guys but that’s not an excuse we are going to make,” McKenzie said. “Everyone is dealing with injuries.”
McKenzie said he expects those players back for the next game.