By By ROB BABLER / Vigilant/Argus
NILES - Homecoming turned out to be a disappointment for the Brandywine Bobcats Friday night, but it was something to remember for a former Bobcat player and coach.
Cassopolis' coach Andy Hubbard, who played and coached at Brandywine, brought his Rangers to Selge Field for the first time, and escaped with a 28-21 win over his old team.
Cassopolis broke a three-game losing streak to move to 2-3, while the Bobcats fell to 2-3.
Early in the game, it looked as if homecoming might be magical for the home team.
Brandywine scored first on a 75-yard run by Caleb Frazier, who gave his team a 6-0 lead on its first possession.
Following the extra point, the Bobcats got a golden opportunity when the Rangers fumbled, giving Brandywine possession of the ball on the 50-yard line.
The Bobcats couldn't capitalize, however, and had to punt the ball. But on the next series, the Rangers once again fumbled the ball.
Brandywine, though, had troubles of its own holding onto the ball. Although the Bobcats did not turn over the ball, on two consecutive snaps that next series, the ball was fumbled. Bobcat coach Terry Borr said part of the reason for those fumbles may have been due to missing his starting center, Wil Johns, who went out two games ago with an injured knee.
Cass started moving the ball on its next series and drove to the Bobcat 14-yard line before turning the ball over on downs early in the second quarter.
The Bobcats moved the ball, but again encountered problems when consecutive penalties stalled their drive.
Cassopolis tied the game with five minutes left in the first half on a nine-yard touchdown run by sophomore Terence Moore. Moore was one of six Ranger backs who carried the ball for 273 yards.
While the touchdown was a rushing touchdown, the score was set up by a 21-yard play-action pass from Paul Curtis to running back Larry Harris. Curtis would connect on that same pass two more times in the evening, one being another touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Rangers the lead for good, 21-14.
Hubbard said the play was something special for the Brandywine game.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Curtis scored on a 10-yard run to put Cass up 28-14.
Reminiscent of its 13-point comeback last week against Buchanan, however, Brandywine responded with a 65-yard scoring drive, led primarily by freshman Brett Gilpin, who had six carries for 35 yards on the night.
His two runs of 12- and 15-yards set up a one-yard score by quarterback Joel Perry to cut the lead to 28-21.
An onside kick was recovered by the Rangers, but the Bobcats had them with a third and eight with about two minutes to go in the game, when Cassopolis used its Harris-to-Curtis pass one final time for 33 yards. While the Rangers didn't score on it, it helped them to run out the clock.
Despite the disappointing loss, Borr was still positive.
Cassopolis 0 13 8 7- 28
Brandywine 7 0 7 7 - 21
B – Caleb Frazier 75 run (Matt Duckett kick)
C – Terence Moore 8 run (Lonnie Williams kick)
C – A.J. Ballard 6 run (kick failed)
B – Caleb Frazier 18 run (Matt Duckett kick)
C – Larry Harris 25 pass from Paul Curtis (Rodney Lewis pass from Curtis)
C – Paul Curtis 10 run (Lonnie Williams kick)
B – Joel Perry 1 run (Matt Duckett kick)