Friday night, October 4th, was the Homecoming football game for The Brunswick Railroaders.
Before kick off the homecoming the senior king and queen were elected! Jacob Genos was elected king and Taylor Fry was elected queen. The couple have been dating and smiled together before the start of the game. Brunswick was playing South Carroll and the student section was blacked out for the game.
To start the game South Carroll won the coin toss and elected to defer. Brunswick would start out their first drive by not getting a first down and being forced to punt on their first drive. South Carroll would have a bit more success slowly working the ball downfield inside of the 10. South Carroll was starting to gain momentum. Luckily, Nathan Borawski, junior, turned the tide by getting a pick six. The extra point was good and Brunswick went up 7-0. Here is what Borawski had to say after the game:
What was the game plan going into this matchup? What did the defense work on in practice?
NB: “We had to focus on containing the two running backs. They have two very good running backs. We knew we had to contain the quarterback who does a lot of RPOs [run pass options]. We just didn’t want to fall for things like fake passes and stuff like that.”
What did you see on that pick 6?
NB: “I saw the receiver go inside and needed to make sure he didn’t get an easy slant. I saw him cut back outside and I was right on him. The quarterback threw it a little behind him and I was able to get to the ball and take it down the sideline.”
South Carroll would get the ball back but not be able to do much with it. With a sack by Mark Cook, senior, South Carroll was forced to punt and that would end the first quarter.
Brunswick would get the ball to start the second quarter and while they were able to get a few first downs but would eventually have to punt. On the next drives South Carroll and Brunswick would be forced to punt. When Brunswick went to punt #13 blocked the punt and South Carroll was able to retain the ball. South Carroll would work down field and on 4th and 6 they would fake a punt and try to run the ball but would be stopped. For the rest of the second quarter Brunswick and South Carroll would go back and forth stopping each other and forcing each other to punt and after the first half Brunswick would be up 7-0 in a very defense oriented game.
South Carroll would receive the ball to start the second half but couldn’t do much with their drive and were forced to punt. Brunswick would have a quick drive downfield that would end with a touchdown pass to Ben Guyton, a junior. Here are Guyton’s post game thoughts:
What do you think was the biggest key to the offense’s success against South Carroll’s defense?
BG: “Kind of half and half the line did really well the second half and Ethan did well the first half. It was a real combination of teamwork.”
How did you try to keep the team engaged with you guys having the lead going into the second half?
BG: “Get the energy up and just play football. No other distractions.”
After the extra point kick was good Brunswick was up 14-0. South Carroll would get the ball back and finally put some points on the scoreboard making it now a one possession ball game with Brunswick still up 14-7. On the next drive Brunswick had a tough time running the ball. They would attempt a field goal but the field goal kick would be blocked. To end the third quarter South Carroll would throw a bomb down field for a 65 yard pass play.
After their big play to end the third quarter South Carroll would try to get more points on the board and went for it on 4th and 9 but they could not convert and they’d turn the ball over. Luckily for South Carroll they’d get the ball right back on interception catch by #5. Brunswick played great defense though and stopped another 4th down attempt by South Carroll to retain the ball. Brunswick would then run the ball a lot to chew up the clock and with two minutes left Ethan Houck, senior, would get a rushing touchdown to put the nail in the coffin. Sam Verosto, senior, would kick the extra point and Brunswick would be up 21-7, and that would be the final score of this thrilling homecoming game.
Photos taken below in the gallery by Carlee Poole of the homecoming game display all of Brunswick’s spirit from band, student section, players, to coaching staff, and the beauty of our stadium under the lights.
Friday night skies at the station never disappoint.
Photos by Carlee Poole, freshman photographer in Journalism Club.