by Blake Murphy

On a brisk 40 degree evening at the University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium, towels swung and cowbells rung as the Bruins took the field.

Brandon Johnson and Michael Nebrich warmed up to “The Final Countdown” with five minutes until game time. Chris Lavery, Khamrone Kolb and Neil Yarbrough met mid-field on top of the University of Virginia logo for the coin toss. The Bruins kicked-off to the Thomas Dale Knights of Chester. The Knights received it on the 15 and ran it to the 27. On what would prove to be an omen for the afternoon, the Knights marched down the field capping the drive with a touchdown only three minutes and 19 seconds into the game. Bruin fans cheered after the Knights missed the extra point.

Bruin Peres Nubong caught the ensuing kick-off on the 10-yard line and returned it to the 22, where a penalty against the Knights moved the Bruins to the 37. The Bruins high-powered spread offense was stymied in the first quarter by a Knight defense that played three down lineman and eight remaining defenders in a drop-back defense. The first quarter ended with the Bruins down 6-0.

The second quarter saw the Knights and the Bruins trade touchdowns. The Knights blocked Nate Fleming's punt and recovered the ball on the Bruins’ 15-yard line. The Knights' star running back scored the second touchdown of the day. The Knights converted on a two-point play putting the Knights ahead 14-0 with 8:53 left in the half.

As the Bruins marched down the field, Nebrich threw an interception to the Knights' Mike Edmund and a penalty moved the Knights to the Bruin 25. In one of the more exciting plays of the game Ross Renzi intercepted the Knights’ pass after Bruin Jake Holmes tipped the ball. The Bruins ran a powerful series mixed with Nebrich's completions and runs. On fourth down the Bruins lined up for a field goal but an off-sides penalty against the Knights gave the Bruins a first down. The drive culminated in a one-yard dive play by Nebrich for the Bruins’ first touchdown, and Nick Weiler booted the point after. The first half ended with the Knights leading 14-7.

In the third quarter, Ralpheal Wheat showed the power of Thomas Dale’s running game after three consecutive running plays that brought Thomas Dale to the one-yard line. On a play which proved to be a back-breaker, Wheat was scampering towards the end zone when a Bruin defender delivered a devastating hit, causing a fumble on the one-yard line.

The Bruins recovered and appeared to end the Knights’ drive. The referee ruled that the player was down and gave the ball back to the Knights. Unfortunately for the ref, Scott Stadium is equipped with a massive jumbo-tron which showed the replay of what was clearly a fumble and a Bruin recovery. Bruin fans were astounded at the call and a chorus of boos was quickly drowned by cheers from the Knights’ fans as Thomas Dale scored on the next play to go ahead 21-7. 

Later in the same quarter Nebrich was intercepted and Edmunds ran it for a 22-yard touchdown with 4:38 left in the quarter giving the Knights a 28-7 lead . Edmunds jumped into his coach’s arms for a bear hug after the play. Nebrich then put the Bruins team on his shoulders and ran a series of quarterback scrambles putting new life into the Bruin offense. Johnson caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nebrich, and Weiler got the point after making the score 28-14. 

Late in the fourth quarter the Knights marched back down the field with Demetrius Campbell completing a pass to Airek Green for a 35-14 Knight lead. The Bruins scored again late to trail 35-21 and attempted an unsuccessful on-side kick. 

The combined attendance at the game was estimated at more than 6,000 people with both sides of Scott Stadium’s lower bowl filled between the 20-yard- lines. Knight Edmunds was awarded the “All-State Good Hands” player of the game.