By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Coach Terry Borr's words rang like a tired, victorious road warrior, "it's good to be home!"
Maybe home cookin' was just what the Bobcats needed on Friday night at Brandywine High School, because they served up a plate of humble pie to visiting neighbor Edwardsburg' Eddies 35-7.
The score could have been more lopsided if not for some serious holding penalties that caused two long runs for touchdowns by Caleb Frazier to be nullified during what turned out to be a scoreless second quarter.
The Bobcats wasted no time to heat up the oven with Josh Benjamin sweeping for a 35-yard touchdown on Brandywine's sixth play from scrimmage after the opening kickoff. Brandywine's front line defense went right to work and shut down Edwardsburg after the ensuing kickoff. Warren Watson, Joel Perry, linemen Joe Knuckles, Robert Basker and Daniel Eaglebarger, and ferocious linebacking by Chris Ott slammed the door in the face of the Eddies all night long.
After Perry had made his only completion of the night to Danny Williams for 37 yards Perry scampered 35 yards on a keeper to make it 14-0 after Greg Beaver tacked on the point after touchdown (PAT). The score stood 14-0 at the half, but it could have been worse.
Frazier finally got his name in the books with a 75-yard burst at 6:43 of the third quarter. Edwardsburg promptly fumbled the kickoff, but an ensuing interception of an ill-advised pass by Perry, with the ball inside the ten, landed in the hands of the Eddies' Cody Kujawa to give the ball right back. Frazier was still hungry for the end zone as he soared around right end to put the Cats in commanding position 28-0 at 11:11 in the fourth. Perry capped off the scoring with a 3-yard plunge at 8:12 to make it 35-0.
With Perry's touchdown the mercy rule came into play.
Edwardsburg gave it one last shot and finally dented the scoreboard with a 1-yard dive by Justin Mann and a PAT by Brent Shuttleworth to avoid the shutout
Borr was pleased after two straight losses to return to the win column.
"Some great misdirection by Perry and a strong effort up front by the defensive line overcame some disappointing penalties (6 for 50 yards in the first half). We started coming together and filling our roles. We preached the 11 equals one philosophy all week and it worked," Borr said.
Frazier (16 carries for 136 yards), Benjamin (9 for 94), and Perry (11 for 84) were the workhorses of the night.
Brandywine finished the night with 413 yards in total offense, including 376 yards rushing.
The Eddies were limited to just 175 yards in total offense, all of which came on the ground.
The Bobcats will host Buchanan next Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Edwardsburg 0 0 0 7 – 7
Branmdywine 7 7 7 14 – 35
BR – Benjamin 35 run (Beaver kick)
BR – Perry 35 run 6:28 (Beaver kick)
BR – Frazier 75 run (Beaver kick)
BR – Frazier 11 run (Beaver kick)
BR – Perry 3 run (Beaver kick)
ED – Mann 1 run (Shuttleworth kick