By Staff
Lindsay Vaught, Sports Correspondent
Brewer ventured on their longest road trip of the season last Friday surviving the thunder, rain, and lightning just fine. Then came kickoff and it really started pouring – points that is.
The Bradshaw Bruins jumped out to a 21-point first quarter lead and never looked back on their way to a 49-0 thrashing of Brewer who falls to 0-4 while Bradshaw is 2-2.
Bradshaw boasts one of the top running backs in the state in sophomore Daniel Jackson who burned the Patriots for 313 yards on 20 carries. Jackson, who scored two first quarter touchdowns on runs of 47 and six yards, now has rushed for 955 yards in four games. He also scored twice in the third quarter on runs of six and 14 yards.
It took until the five-minute mark of the second quarter before Brewer recorded a first down on a draw play by quarterback Samuel Mason. The Patriots had only 32 yards of offense in the first half. The lack of offense kept punter Larkin Morris busy with 4 first half punts that averaged a respectable 30 yards.
Brewer's defense held strong in the second quarter on a goal line stand with key stops by DE Eric Fields and LB Josh Cavender. The halftime deficit would have been worse if not for Christian Region's touchdown saving tackle of Daniel Jackson who broke off a 43-yard run as time expired in the first half.
Brewer had success using the spread offense in the second half. Doug Webster returned to action and gained nine yards on a screen pass and rushed twice for 12 yards. Mason hit Nathan Rigoni on a 13-yard pass in the third quarter as Brewer crossed midfield for the first time. The drive ended when Mason fumbled on fourth down at the Bradshaw 40. Travis Boyd replaced Mason with six minutes left in the game and the Patriots trailing 42-0.
Coach Robert Peppers said he was frustrated by his teams' performance.
"Mentally we just didn't come ready to play. We just didn't have that intensity. We'd have a good play followed with a bad play. We are just struggling right now," Peppers said.
The Patriots problems were compounded by injuries. Lineman Casey Bailey played every snap but came out in the fourth quarter with a twisted knee. Peppers praised the big lineman.
See BAILEY, B4