By Staff
SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
COLOMA – For one half, the visiting Brandywine varsity football team hung with a pretty solid Coloma squad.
In fact, early in the second quarter the Bobcats grabbed a 9-8 lead on Joel Perry's quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line.
But the undefeated Comets responded with 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 22-9 halftime advantage, which they turned in a 37-9 Lakeland Conference victory.
"That might have been part of it," answered Brandywine coach Terry Borr, when asked if his team tired in the second half. "We've got some talented kids, but not enough of them."
Borr said that mistakes in the first half, like jumping off sides, led to the Comets grabbing the 12-point halftime lead.
"We just can' afford to make those mistakes," Borr said. "It just little things like jumping off sides that we have to work on and get better at.
"But my hat's off to Coloma, they are a good football team," he added.
The Bobcats struck first Friday night with a 28-yard field goal by Greg Beaver.
The Comets responded with the first of two Nick Mannino touchdowns.
Mannino capped off a quick Comets' drive with an 18-yard run.
Mannino then carried the 2-point conversion into the end zone to give the Comets an 8-3 lead.
Perry's touchdown came after Brandywine pinned the Comets deep in their own end following a punt.
Brandywine then forced Coloma to punt and partially blocked the kick to set up a short field.
The Bobcats tried a shuffle pass on the extra point attempt, but failed to reach the end zone.
Mannino made it 16-9 on a 12-yard run and Alex Garrod's 2-point conversion.
The margin of difference stayed at seven points until late in the first half when Garrod connected with Jake Bach for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
This time the 2-point conversion pass failed and the Comets headed to the locker room with a 22-9 advantage.
Coloma added a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters to complete the scoring.
Mannino scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter, while Huston Harrison, who scored the 2-point conversion, added a 2-yard touchdown in the final stanza.
John McCormack completed the scoring with the extra point kick.
Brandywine 3 6 0 0 – 9
Coloma 8 14 8 7 – 37
B – Greg Beaver 28 field goal
C – Nick Mannino 18 run (Mannino run)
B – Joel Perry 1 run (pass failed)
C – Mannino 12 run (Alex Garrod run)
C – Jack Bach 15 pass from Garrod (pass failed)
C- Mannino 3 run (Huston Harrison run)
C – Harrison 2 run (John McCormack kick)