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OLIVEHURST - Bear River landed at Lindhurst Friday night faced with the task of keeping Blazers back Lurrell Johnson from burying the Bruins under a pile of rushing yards.
Johnson and his offensive mates might have given the Bruins fits throughout the nonleague showdown of 3-1 teams, but it was Bear River that ran all over field for a 48-31 shootout win over the hosts.
Junior running back Johnny Jewett had a huge night for the Bruins, racking up 169 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, while senior teammate Jason Varni added another 59 yards and three more scores as Bear River rushed for 295 yards on the ground.
For his part, Johnson totaled 128 yards and a touchdown, but Lindhurst produced most of its yardage through the air, as quarterback Rick Davis completed 15-of-29 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns.
But it wasn't enough against a Bruin offense that didn't miss many opportunities to put points on the board.
After taking a 21-18 lead at the half, Bear River came out and score on its first possession of the third quarter. The Bruins marched 51 yards in six plays - five of them on the ground - capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by Jewett for a 27-18 lead. Bear River made its living all night long on the left side of the line behind the likes of offensive tackle Nick Michaud, guard Brandon Robinson and center Eric Szkotak.
Lindhurst answered immediately, as Davis hooked up with Eric Arroyo on three passes totaling 57 yards, including a 27 yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone for a 27-25 score after the PAT with 5:57 left in the quarter.
Bear River followed suit, scoring on its next possession in four plays, the final being a 37-yard breakaway run up the middle by Varni for a touchdown and a 34-25 lead.
Johnson and his offensive mates might have given the Bruins fits throughout the nonleague showdown of 3-1 teams, but it was Bear River that ran all over field for a 48-31 shootout win over the hosts.
Junior running back Johnny Jewett had a huge night for the Bruins, racking up 169 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, while senior teammate Jason Varni added another 59 yards and three more scores as Bear River rushed for 295 yards on the ground.
For his part, Johnson totaled 128 yards and a touchdown, but Lindhurst produced most of its yardage through the air, as quarterback Rick Davis completed 15-of-29 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns.
But it wasn't enough against a Bruin offense that didn't miss many opportunities to put points on the board.
After taking a 21-18 lead at the half, Bear River came out and score on its first possession of the third quarter. The Bruins marched 51 yards in six plays - five of them on the ground - capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by Jewett for a 27-18 lead. Bear River made its living all night long on the left side of the line behind the likes of offensive tackle Nick Michaud, guard Brandon Robinson and center Eric Szkotak.
Lindhurst answered immediately, as Davis hooked up with Eric Arroyo on three passes totaling 57 yards, including a 27 yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone for a 27-25 score after the PAT with 5:57 left in the quarter.
Bear River followed suit, scoring on its next possession in four plays, the final being a 37-yard breakaway run up the middle by Varni for a touchdown and a 34-25 lead.
The Bruins then came up with the key defensive play of the game, as linebacker Cole White caused Johnson to fumble on the first play of the ensuing possession. Cody Van Fossen recovered the ball, setting Bear River up for business at the Lindhurst 45-yard line.
After a three-yard gain by Jewett, the Bruins came up empty on back-to-back pass plays. But on fourth-and-seven at the Blazer 43-yard line, Bear River quarterback Tanner Mathias rolled right and threw back to the left side of the field, hitting Nolan Lewis for a 42-yard strike to set up first-and-goal at the one.
Varni crossed the line on the next carry, giving Bear River all the cushion it would need with a 41-25 lead after Van Fossen's fifth of his six point-after kicks on the night with 3:14 to go in the third quarter.
Bear River (4-1) returns to Pioneer Valley League play next Friday, hosting Whitney, which entered Friday night's clash with Colfax with a 4-0 record.
JV: Bear River 37, Lindhurst 12
Sam Houston rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns, including 114 yards in the first half, as Bear River's junior varsity rolled over host Lindhurst 37-12 Friday.
The Bruins racked up 240 yards on the ground, and another 53 through the air, while moving to 2-3 on the season.
Sean O'Brien and Jacob Harris each had one-yard touchdown runs to cap the Bruins scoring attack.
"It all starts off with the offensive line," said Bruin coach Chris Bean. "They're the heart and soul of this team. They haven't completely shown it before, but they did tonight.
"Defensively we did a good job containing them, too. It was just a complete team effort tonight."
To contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton, e-mail bhamilton@theunion.com or call 477-4240.
After a three-yard gain by Jewett, the Bruins came up empty on back-to-back pass plays. But on fourth-and-seven at the Blazer 43-yard line, Bear River quarterback Tanner Mathias rolled right and threw back to the left side of the field, hitting Nolan Lewis for a 42-yard strike to set up first-and-goal at the one.
Varni crossed the line on the next carry, giving Bear River all the cushion it would need with a 41-25 lead after Van Fossen's fifth of his six point-after kicks on the night with 3:14 to go in the third quarter.
Bear River (4-1) returns to Pioneer Valley League play next Friday, hosting Whitney, which entered Friday night's clash with Colfax with a 4-0 record.
JV: Bear River 37, Lindhurst 12
Sam Houston rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns, including 114 yards in the first half, as Bear River's junior varsity rolled over host Lindhurst 37-12 Friday.
The Bruins racked up 240 yards on the ground, and another 53 through the air, while moving to 2-3 on the season.
Sean O'Brien and Jacob Harris each had one-yard touchdown runs to cap the Bruins scoring attack.
"It all starts off with the offensive line," said Bruin coach Chris Bean. "They're the heart and soul of this team. They haven't completely shown it before, but they did tonight.
"Defensively we did a good job containing them, too. It was just a complete team effort tonight."
To contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton, e-mail bhamilton@theunion.com or call 477-4240.
Box score
Bear River 7 14 20 7 - 48Lindhurst 6 12 7 6 - 31
First quarter
L - Eric Arroyo 50 pass from Rick Davis (Kick blocked), 9:41.
BR - Jason Varni 3 run (Cody Van Fossen kick), 5:54.
Second quarter
BR - Johnny Jewett 24 run (Van Fossen kick), 8:44.
L - Lurrell Johnson 14 run (Pass failed), 4:45.
BR - Brandon Vallero 2 run (Van Fossen kick), 1:19.
L - E. Arroyo 5 pass from Davis (Pass failed), :09.
Third quarter
BR - Jewett 14 run (Kick blocked), 9:35.
L - E. Arroyo 27 pass from Davis (Martin Rivera kick), 5:57.
BR - Varni 37 run (Van Fossen kick), 4:40.
BR - Varni 1 run (Van Fossen kick), 3:14.
Fourth quarter
L - Davis 1 run (Run failed), 11:13.
BR - Jewett 10 run (Van Fossen kick), 7:38.
Individual statistics
Rushing - Bear River, Chris Parfitt 9-34, Varni 10-59, Vallero 6-24, Jewett 19-169, Tanner Mathias 1-9. Lindhurst, Johnson 21-128, Davis 4-(minus 9), Anthony Vega 2-15, John Po'01 1-0.
Passing - Bear River, Mathias 6-13-0 for 89 yards. Lindhurst, Davis 15-20-0 for 292 yards.
Receiving - Bear River, Garrett Barbic 3-23, Nolan Lewis 3-66. Lindhurst, Kenneth Teasley 2-30, E. Arroyo 9-200, Victor Arroyo 4-62.
BR - Jewett 14 run (Kick blocked), 9:35.
L - E. Arroyo 27 pass from Davis (Martin Rivera kick), 5:57.
BR - Varni 37 run (Van Fossen kick), 4:40.
BR - Varni 1 run (Van Fossen kick), 3:14.
Fourth quarter
L - Davis 1 run (Run failed), 11:13.
BR - Jewett 10 run (Van Fossen kick), 7:38.
Individual statistics
Rushing - Bear River, Chris Parfitt 9-34, Varni 10-59, Vallero 6-24, Jewett 19-169, Tanner Mathias 1-9. Lindhurst, Johnson 21-128, Davis 4-(minus 9), Anthony Vega 2-15, John Po'01 1-0.
Passing - Bear River, Mathias 6-13-0 for 89 yards. Lindhurst, Davis 15-20-0 for 292 yards.
Receiving - Bear River, Garrett Barbic 3-23, Nolan Lewis 3-66. Lindhurst, Kenneth Teasley 2-30, E. Arroyo 9-200, Victor Arroyo 4-62.
