By DON EDEN
Niles Daily Star

The collective group of seniors for Brandywine walked proudly together the entire field and back after buzzing the Bridgman Bees 30-0 in a Lakeland Conference match-up Friday evening.

“The kids responded the last 2 weeks for a couple W’s that the seniors deserve and showed unity at the end to become better men,” stated Brandywine coach Mike Nate as he watched the seniors in an arm embrace. “Jesse busted his butt for us this year and couldn’t be prouder of my first group at Brandywine High.”

Running for a career high in his finale was Jesse McCombs, who accumulated 135 yards on 17 carries as junior Dustin Sater fell one yard short of the century mark on the same number of totes.

The pair ran the ball 16 times between them in the first quarter with the senior gaining a dozen more yards (42-30) on two more carries as time ran out before the Bobcats could score. Sater broke through the middle on the first play of the second stanza going the other way for 19 yards on a fourth and short blast.  Junior quarterback Stone Hadley found classmate Jacob Frazier open for the two-point conversion.

Hadley scored the second touchdown on a sneak from 2 yards with McCombs sweeping right for two points and a 16-0 intermission lead.

Brandywine (3-6, 1-6) finished the first half with 152 yards split evenly between McCombs and Sater with Frazier catching the only completion for 28 yards. Bridgman (2-7, 0-7) had four yards rushing and 25 yards on a pair of catches by senior Jeff Demko. Penalties were the best thing going for the visitors as the Bobcats committed two 15 yard infractions on one play and 50 yards altogether before half time.

“We were out-muscled and out-powered tonight and is frustrating that the kids weren’t into the last game by making silly mistakes and dropping balls,” noted Bridgman coach Erik Haskins. “We lose only four seniors so now is time to get ready for next year to spend a lot of hours trying to get stronger and we also have good numbers at middle school and rocket football which is good in the long run.”

Connecting on another aerial for a score was Hadley to Frazier on a fourth and 15 slant pass near the end of the third quarter from the 26-yard line.

McCombs scored the final eight points with another sweep for two points after the juniors third quarter success and then scampered 45 yards with eight minutes remaining on the season.

“The offensive line was great for me in my last game and it was a good way to end with two victories,” said McCombs. “Coach Nate is nice and a great guy to see the program improve.”

A total of 309 yards were gained with 13 first downs by Brandywine compared to 35 and eight for the stung Bees. The Bobcats fell short of the three digit mark in penalty yardage with 95 on 10 flags as Bridgman was whistled for 45 on six infractions.

“Everybody played well tonight and went out in style as it was a great way to end a tough season,” concluded Nate.

Bridgman 0 0 0 0 – 0
Brandywine 0 16 8 6 – 30
BW – Dustin Sater 19 yard run (Stone Hadley pass to Jacob Frazier)
BW – Hadley 2 yard run (Jesse McCombs run)
BW – Hadley pass to Frazier 26 yards (McCombs run)
BW – McCombs 45 yard run (run failed)