By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Joel Perry snuck in from two yards out in triple overtime and Matt Duckett added the two-point conversion to lift the host Brandywine Bobcats to a 28-27 victory over Bridgman.
The Bobcats trailed 7-0 at halftime and tied the score with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter on a five-yard run by Taylor Brenner.
Duckett's extra point kick hit the left upright and bounced through to knot the score.
Brandywine looked to be driving for the winning touchdown in the final two minutes of the contest, however, the Bridgman defense stiffened and stopped the Bobcats on downs.
Bridgman started to move the ball, however, an interception by J.D. Miller stopped the drive.
Brandywine ran out the clock and forced the game into overtime.
In the first overtime Bridgman scored, but botched the extra point attempt. A bad snap forced the Bees to roll out and throw a pass which was knocked away by Justin Price.
Brandywine was unsuccessful at moving the football on the first two plays of overtime, but on third and 12, Perry threw the ball back across the grain to Price, who worked his way into the end zone after breaking a tackle at the six-yard line.
Duckett's extra point attempt sailed just left of the upright which left the game tied at 13.
In the second overtime Brandywine looked to be stopped on fourth down, however, a pass interference penalty on Bridgman gave the Bobcats a new set of downs.
On second down, Perry called his own number and scored from four-yards out.
This time Duckett's extra point attempt cleared the cross bar by a foot to give Brandywine a 20-13 advantage.
Bridgman threw a touchdown pass on its second play to tie the score again.
Bridgman scored first in the third overtime on another pass play to take a 27-20 lead.
The Bobcats picked up eight yards on first down as Duckett broke through the middle of the line.
Perry then kept the ball himself to cut the lead to 27-26.
Bridgman, which had called time outs on previous extra point attempts in an effort to ice Duckett, did it again.
During the time out Brandywine coach Terry Borr decided enough was enough and he went for two.
Bridgman called another time out, so Borr changed the formation for the final play.
Duckett looked like he was stood up at the one-yard line, but kept driving as his offensive line pushed him toward the goal line.
Duckett fell into the end zone and the celebration began.
Duckett said that he wanted the ball in his hands for the final play. He added that the win was important for the Bobcats.
Brandywine (4-3 overall, 3-2 Lakeland Conference) rushed for 185 yards, led by Caleb Frazier who had 65 yards on 14 carries. Duckett added 60 yards, while Brett Gilpin finished with 47 yards.
Perry was 3-of-7 for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Bridgman (3-4, 2-3) finished with 114 yards rushing and 74 yards passing as it completed 11-of-16 attempts.
The Bobcats head to Berrien Springs next Friday night to face the Shamrocks, who were defeated by Edwardsburg in a battle of undefeateds, 35-28.
Bridgman 7 0 0 0 6 7 7 - 27
Brandywine 0 0 7 0 6 7 8 - 28
Bridgman 3 yard run (kick good)
BW – Taylor Brenner 5 yard run (Matt Duckett kick)
Bridgman 2 yard run (pass failed)
BW – Justin Price 12 yard pass from Joel Perry (kick failed)
Bridgman 8 yard pass (kick good)
BW – Perry 4 yard run (Duckett kick)
Bridgman 10 yard pass (kick good)
BW – Perry 1 yard run (Duckett run)