Bruin football was Home Friday night, taking on the Sutherlin Bulldogs who were coming off a loss to Douglas the week prior, and looking to get in the win column.
The Bruins received the kick to start the first quarter and couldn’t sustain their opening drive as they put their gameplan into place, and ultimately turned the ball over after a fumble.
An eager Bulldog offense took over at midfield and would put together a long drive that would end with a touchdown on their opening drive after a 2 yard dive into the endzone late in the first quarter.
Now trailing 0-7, the Bruins would take the kick and put together a sustained drive of their own, with the run game and the passing game coming together on a drive that would get senior, Michael Varitek, #8, into the endzone on short run up the middle, to tie the score at 7-7 with almost 8:00 minutes in the second period.
But the night was just getting started, as the Bruins and Bulldogs exchanged scoring drives in the second quarter, and the Bulldogs drove again to the endzone, to take the 7-14 lead once again.
With under 3:00 minutes left in the first half, the Bruins would rally, driving over 60 yards to inside the Sutherlin 5 yard line, and again the Bruins called on a #8 Michael Varitek dive into the endzone to make the score 13-14 at the half.
Both teams would struggle offensively to start the second half, with the Bulldogs finding the endzone to take a 13-20 lead and the Bruins offense would match, putting together a long drive before turning the ball over in the endzone after Sutherlin interception.
Sutherlin would pile on some points late in the fourth making a close game seem not so close in the record books, but the Bruins left some opportunities on the field as the Bulldogs took the 13-37 win home.
“Love how the kids played with great heart and effort all night.” coach Bavaro told the Compass after the game. “We made some plays early and had opportunities to capitalize late in the game and didn’t get it done, but the kids continue making progress and improving.”
The Bruins will be on the road next Friday, traveling to Myrtle Creek to challenge the South Umpqua Lancers, who will be coming off a big win against Coquille, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00pm.
