Bears ground Eagles to punch state ticket

BREWSTER – The difference was a one-point extra point. The Bears made theirs when they needed it and Reardan missed theirs when it counted. That and some outstanding offensive and defensive plays gave Brewster the 14-13 victory over the Reardan Eagles in a District 7 crossover game on Nov. 3.

The Eagles struck first on a touchdown with 4:20 left in the first quarter, kicked the extra point and took a 7-0 lead.

A 30-yard pass play from senior quarterback Brady Wulf to senior wide receiver Mario Camacho put the Bears in the Eagles’ end zone with literally no time remaining in the quarter. Junior Fabian Nava’s extra point kick was also good, and the teams were knotted, 7-7, at the start of the second.

The Eagles managed a second TD at 6:59 in the second quarter but missed what would be the crucial deciding point when their extra point attempt went wide. The Bears had a chance to close within four points after a Wulf-to-Henry Miller pass put Brewster within field goal range. That attempt was also wide, and the Eagles maintained their six-point lead going into halftime.

Neither team had scored through 11-plus minutes of the 12-minute third quarter when senior QB Cort Gebbers took the snap from center and galloped 30 yards for the Bears’ second TD with just five seconds remaining on the third quarter clock. Nava again split the uprights giving the Bears a 14-13 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Eagles threatened again late in the fourth making it inside the Bears’ 10-yard line when Gebbers sacked their QB for a huge loss. As insurance he took down the QB again on the Eagles’ fourth down to give the Bears possession of the ball with 49 seconds to play. Brewster took a knee twice to run out the clock and punch the ticket to state.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483, michael@ward.media