by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com
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Brookfield Bulldogs and South Harrison Bulldogs entered Friday night's game with a 6-0 record. With only two games remaining afterward, the winner would be in the driver's seat for the Grand River Conference championship.
South Harrison took the opening kickoff and drove into Brookfield territory before fumbling at the 21-yard line. Kendrell Carter started the Brookfield offense with a 31-yard run on their first snap to move the ball to the South Harrison side of the field. They would eventually get to the South Harrison 25-yard line, but a pass into the end zone on 4th and 10 was incomplete. After an initial drive by both teams, there was no score.
South Harrison would drive into Brookfield territory again on their second drive, but this time, they would be stopped on a 4th and 2 at the 39 with 2:41 left in the first. Brookfield took advantage the second time with only 36 seconds left in the 1st quarter when Trayce Switzer found Siope Pulu in stride from 30 yards out for a touchdown. Carter converted two points to put Brookfield up 8-0, where the score stood at the end of the quarter.
South Harrison cut into the deficit when Jett Cornett caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Brysan Quinley with 11:07 left in the half, but the conversion was unsuccessful, so Brookfield remained in the lead at 8-6. However, Carter wasted no time as he sprinted 55 yards up the left sideline for the score with 10:45 left in the half. The conversion put them up 16-6.
South Harrison punted on their next two possessions, and Kendrell Carter took advantage of both. He had touchdowns from 30 and 4 yards. A South Harrison fumble gave Brookfield another opportunity, but the clock ran out on them, giving Brookfield a 30-6 lead at the half.
The second half was all Brookfield. Their defense stifled South Harrison. The offense scored three times in the 3rd quarter. Carter got his 4th and 5th touchdowns of the night from 47 and 23 yards. In between those touchdowns, Colden Parrent had a 54-yard touchdown. Brookfield led 48-6 after the third quarter.
Brookfield put in their second string in the fourth quarter. They drove into the red zone but could not score, and the game ended with Brookfield winning 48-6.
Brookfield coach Cory Luke said, "Our boys played really good. They were dialed in. South Harrison's got a really good team. We knew we were going to have to show up with our A-game, and we were able to do that. We had guys flying around all night."
South Harrison had averaged 36.5 points coming into the game but was held to only six points. Coach Luke said, "With an offense like South Harrison, you really got to be gap sound. We worked on that a lot throughout the week. The kids did exactly what they were supposed to do. We had a couple plays that didn't go perfect. We were able to rebound, turn it around, and make some big stops. I am very proud of them."
Kendrell Carter had five touchdowns to lead Brookfield. Coach Luke said about Kendrell, "The kid's a stud. Up front, the guys did a great job making holes for him. There's a couple of times he got in the defensive secondary, and you just couldn't tackle him."
Coach Luke emphasized that although Carter had the touchdowns, it was a team effort. "We got eight or nine guys sprinting down trying to lay blocks down the field. Kendrell's numbers are incredible, but it takes all eleven. Couldn't be more proud of them."
Brookfield is now 7-0 and 6-0 in the GRC. Next week, they will travel to Milan before finishing the season in the Bell Game at Marceline. South Harrison is 6-1 and 5-1 in the GRC. They will host Polo and Gallatin in their final two regular-season games.
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