By MIKE MORRISON

Leader Publications Contributor

NILES — With the Eastern Equine Encephalitis scare around southwest Michigan, the Brandywine homecoming football game was moved up to a 5:30 kickoff as opposed to the normal 7 p.m. start.

It was hot with very little wind, but the seventh-ranked (Division 6) Bobcats matched the heat and provided the wind to the backs of Wyoming Lee (1-3) with a dominate 63-0 victory Friday night at Selge Field.

This is Brandywine’s second shutout victory of the season, its first such season of multiple shutout wins since 2015, holding the visiting Legends to only 81 total yards of offense.

The defense was led by seniors Connor Janowiak (nine tackles), Brock Prenkert (eight tackles) and Ty Mickiewicz (six tackles).

Veteran Brandywine head coach Mike Nate knew that his team could take control early and keep the pressure on all night.

“We knew we could throw the ball, and they couldn’t cover Shane (Brown), and that was evident from the start,” Nate said. “The crowd was great tonight, and we put on a good show for the alumni. It was a complete team effort on both sides of the ball.”

Brandywine’s first score came with just over a minute into the game as quarterback Gabe Gouin found Brown for his 19th career touchdown, a reception from 32-yards out, to put the Bobcats ahead 8-0. Big plays continued to be the theme of the night as Brandywine scored quickly and often as each offensive scoring drive lasted less than 60 seconds all night.

The second half would start with a mercy clock as the Bobcats held a 49-0 lead at the break.

Gouin had another good game as he went 7-of-7 passing for 158 yards and three touchdowns.

In the third quarter, Gouin returned an interception thrown by Lee’s Niko Mena 47 yards for the score. Brandywine did not run an offensive play during the 3rd quarter on a super clock mercy rule.

Senior Jordan Abrams was held to a season-low 99 yards rushing on only four carries, but managed to score a pair of touchdowns (32, 14) in the first half. Junior Jacob Luczkowski added a 15-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter and senior Jaelen Briggs had a Barry Sanders-like touchdown run of juking and breaking arm tackles on his only carry for a 77-yard for a score in the fourth quarter.

Brown had three receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown, while junior Cam Barrier also had three receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Brandywine finished with 408 total yards of offense (250 rushing; 158 passing).

Brandywine has now outscored their opponents 214-18 during their four-game homestand to start the season as they take their momentum on the road for the next three weeks, starting with a trip to Fennville next week for the inaugural meeting between the two schools under Friday night lights. Fennville is a returning Division VI playoff qualifier.

“Four of our last five games are on the road, but what we did to start the season at home was exactly what we wanted to do,” Nate said.

Kickoff  Friday is currently set for 7 p.m.