After all of the offensive fireworks, defense would eventually determine the outcome of Friday’s BCS Athletic Conference game between Brandywine and Cassopolis.

A game won by Brandywine, 27-26.

The Bobcats’ defense stopped the Rangers on a 4th-and-4 at Brandywine’s 35-yard line with 1:20 left in the game. Cassopolis running back Isaiah Crider was stopped for a one-yard game on a combined tackle from Charlie Rodriguez and Austin Knapp. With Cassopolis left with only one timeout, Brandywine, which improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Red Division, was able to run out the final seconds of the game.

The Rangers were in great position to win the game after their defense stopped the Bobcats for a one-yard gain on a 4th-and-3 at Brandywine’s 40-yard line with 2:28 left in the game.

“Whew, they got me off the hook,” Brandywine coach Mike Nate said about his defense. “But I went for it because I believe in these guys. It took an all around effort to win this game. One point wins are a little bit sweeter than routs.”

Cassopolis pulled within 27-26 after getting a nine-yard touchdown run from Noah Woods with 4:45 left in the game. The Rangers then gambled and went for two and lost yardage after Crider was tackled after recovering his own fumble.

“We haven’t been real sharp with our PAT and field goal unit,” said Cassopolis coach Dan Purlee, whose team fell to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in the Red Division. “It hurt us last week (in a 28-27 loss to Buchanan). We had a questionable snap and hold (against Buchanan) and the same thing happened tonight. But we feel confident that we can get three yards (on a two-point conversion) so we were going to be aggressive going for two. We just came up short tonight.”

Brandywine quarterback Andrew Duckett hurt Cassopolis with his arm and legs. Duckett rushed for 154 yards on 18 carries and had touchdown runs for 88 and eight yards in the second half. Marty Ward Jr. added 57 yards rushing on 13 carries with one touchdown.

“Outstanding night,” Nate said about Duckett’s play. “He’s just a great kid and an all-around ball player. He can throw it and do a lot of things. I can’t say enough good things about that kid.”

Crider rushed for 185 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns for the Rangers. Woods added 82 yards rushing on 19 carries.

It’s only the second win in the last 12 meetings by Brandywine over Cassopolis.

 

Cassopolis      0          12       8          6 — 26

Brandywine   6          7          7          7 — 27

B – Vinny Peel 15 run (run failed)

C – Isaiah Crider 3 run (run failed)

B – Marty Ward Jr. 1 run (Zach Schmidt kick)

C – Crider 3 run (run failed)

B – Andrew Duckett 88 run (Schmidt kick)

C – Crider 33 run (Crider run)

B – Duckett 8 run (Schmidt kick)

C – Noah Woods 9 run (run failed)