By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – In an explosive offensive football finale for both visiting Brandywine and host Berrien Springs, the Shamrocks rolled for over 400 yards of offense and a decisive 59-30 winner.
The front-running feature of the night was an amazing performance by Berrien Springs' quarterback Jeremy Dybdahl, who left a lasting impression in his final high school performance. Dybdahl scored five rushing touchdowns and connected on 8-of -9 passes for 199 yards and scores in the air.
Besides showing an impressive arm in extremely windy conditions Dybdahl accumulated 67 yards on the ground. His fine fakes and pitches had the Bobcat defense off stride through the entire contest.
Brandywine started out the game with a bang. Caleb Frazier romped 92 yards with the opening kickoff for the game's first score. Greg Beaver nailed the point after for a quick Brandywine lead after only 13 seconds had elapsed on the scoreboard. The Bobcats looked to be ready to pounce on the Shamrocks, who had only won three games coming into the final contest.
It didn't take long for the illusion to disappear. Berrien's Ryne Siebenmark returned the kickoff by Greg Beaver to the 49-yard line, and four plays later Dybdahl found receiver Antonio Moore all alone for a responding tally. Berrien used their "Swinging Gate" formation to tally a two-point conversion by Dybdahl on a direct snap, and go in front at 8-7.
On the first play from scrimmage after receiving the kick, Berrien's Matt Baker smothered a fumble by Frazier and returned the ball to the 11-yard line. Dybdahl motored through the left side on the next play for an 11-yard strike. The 2-point conversion was rejected by the 'Cats defense, and Berrien held a shocking 14-7 lead with less than two and one half minutes gone in the game.
The Bobcats determinedly recouped and scored just two plays into their next possession as Brett Gilpin burst on a 54-yard jaunt into the end zone. With the kick by Beaver, the score stood even at 14 apiece. Gilpin was the workhorse for the visitor's offense, racking up a solid 120 yards on 10 carries in the first half.
The shamrocks wouldn't go away. They took longer this time, nine plays, but the result was the same as Dybdahl stuffed a one yard plunge across the goal and then raced in for the two-point conversion to bring the score to 22-14, Berrien Springs.
As the first period drew to a close, Antonio Moore intercepted Brandywine's quarterback, Joel Perry, on his first pass of the evening. It was the first of two interceptions and two lost fumbles that spelled doom for the Bobcats who kept clawing to get back into the game.
Two plays into the second quarter Dybdahl performed his vanishing act with a fake hand off and a 35-yard bootleg for a score that had everyone in the stadium, but the quarterback wondering who had the ball. Again Berrien went for two and succeeded when Jordan Carrigan, faking the kick, found Jake Bergan in the zone, putting the hosts on top 30-14.
When the Shamrocks held off a 15-play attack by the Bobcats on their next possession, Perry punted the ball to the 9-yard line where Tyler Roots of the 'Rocks swept up the ball, raced all the way from his left side of the field to the right, and breezed into the breeze with a 91-yard dart that stung the Bobcats sharply, 36-14.
The half ended with the Bobcats running 12 straight times, and running out of time.
The Shamrocks scored two more times in the third quarter, before Joshoil Benjamin finally found the end zone from an 18 yard sprint with 32 seconds left in the quarter, leaving the 'Cats trailing 49-22 after Perry ran a two-pointer for the conversion.
A stoic Brandywine head coach, Terry Borr, stated, "I'm disappointed for the seniors. I want to thank them for four good years."
Joshoil Benjamin added a fourth quarter strike for Brandywine with 32 seconds left in the game.
Brandywine 14 0 8 8 – 30
Berrien Springs 22 14 13 10 – 59
BW – Caleb Frazier 92 kickoff return (Greg Beaver kick)
BS – Antonio Moore 16 pass from Jeremy Dybdahl; (Dybdahl run)
BS – Dybdahl 11 run (conversion failed)
BW – Gilpin 54 run (Beaver kick)
BS – Dybdahl 1 run (Dybdahl run)
BS – Dybdahl 35 run (Jordan Carrigan to Jake Bergan run)
BS – Tyler Roots 91 punt return (conversion failed)
BS – Dybdahl 23 run (conversion failed)
BS – Ryne Siebenmark 21 pass from Dybdahl (Carrington kick)
BW – Joshoil Benjamin 18 run (Perry run)
BS – Dybdahl 1 run; (Carrington kick)
BS – Carrington 27 field goal
BW – Benjamin 10 run (Perry run)