Story By ANDREW DYRDAL
Brentwood outscored its opponent 10-3 in the second half on Friday, but couldn’t overcome its slow start in a 17-13 loss to Rossview at home.
The Bruins (1-2, 0-1) fell behind 14-0 before opting to kick a field goal on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line late in the second quarter. That drive, which began at its own 20-yard-line and took 13 plays, was Brentwood’s first sustained drive of the half against its Region 7-Class 5A foe.
[sliderpro id=”11″]
photos by Andrew Collignon
The Bruins didn’t convert a first down in its first five possessions, gaining just 10 yards total and turning the ball over twice on fumbles.
Brentwood coach Ron Crawford took the blame for the loss as he addressed his players after the game, saying it was obvious they weren’t ready to play.
“It was a poor job of preparing our football team by the head coach, by me, and a poor job of preparing out staff,” Crawford said. “I let my team down, I let my staff down.”
After going three-and-out to start the game, Brentwood surrendered a 13-play touchdown drive to Rossview (1-2, 1-0), which overcame three consecutive penalties and downs of first-and-29 and second-and-25.
Backed up at their own 38-yard-line, Rossview benefited from a 30-yard reception paired with a personal foul penalty, which gave the visitors the ball at Brentwood’s 14-yard-line. Rossview scored on a one-yard touchdown run moments later and never relented the lead.
Brentwood’s following four possessions resulted in two lost fumbles and two punts, one that travelled 17 yards and was coupled with a personal four penalty. That gave Rossview the ball at the Bruins’ 15 to start a drive that resulted in a touchdown and 14-point lead.
Brentwood finally got it going on its last possession of the first half when quarterback Carson Shacklett connected with receiver Christian LeBreche twice for 35 yards on a 13-play drive that ended with a 17-yard field goal. Brentwood lined up for first-and-goal from the 10 but couldn’t find the end zone after gaining nine yards over three plays.
Brentwood got off to a better start in the second half, especially on special teams, when Xavier Howard blocked a Rossview 26-yard field goal, and the Bruins ended their next possession with a 70-yard punt.
Crawford said a sense of urgency helped spark them in the second half.
“They were probably playing us a little different and not blitzing us as much,” Crawford said.
A 30-yard Rossview field goal put it up 17-3 with one minute and 55 seconds left in the third quarter before another long Brentwood drive ended in a 3-yard touchdown reception by Grant Yocam from Shacklett.
Shacklett finished 23-of-36 for 200 yards and a touchdown,
The Bruins pulled within 17-13 on a 39-yard field goal by Tucker Day with 3:17 left in the game and forced a three-and-out on defense to get the ball back with 2:17 remaining.
Brentwood drew as close as Rossview’s 41-yard-line with 43 seconds left, but a spiked ball, followed by two incompletions and a sack-fumble sealed the loss.
LeBreche led Brentwood with five receptions for 67 yards, and Collin Rudolph added 35 yards on nine carries.
[scroller style=”sc1″ title=”More WillCo Football” title_size=”17″ display=”cats” cats=”7125″ number_of_posts=”12″ auto_play=”5000″ speed=”300″]
