Football Plays Complete Game in Homecoming Win

Brunswick scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams en route to a convincing 40-14 conference win over Salisbury in front of a boisterous Homecoming crowd at Cosby Field on Saturday evening.

 

Trailing 7-6 at intermission, Brunswick outscored the Knights 34-7 in the second half to account for the 26-point win.

With gusty winds and light showers, Salisbury’s dominant ground game emerged early as the Knights (3-2, 2-2) gobbled up plenty of yards and time, building a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

 

The Knights momentarily had a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter after a 40-yard field goal. However, a roughing the kicker penalty was called on the Bruins, as Salisbury elected to take a first down as well as take the three points off the scoreboard.

 

After the Knights couldn’t convert a third down inside the Bruins’ 10-yard line, the Salisbury kicking unit was sent on the field for another field goal attempt.

 

On the attempt, Brunswick’s Cassius Johnson blocked the kick. Fellow Bruin David MacGillivray scooped up the rolling ball and advance it a couple of yards before deftly lateraling the ball to Cam Kelly on the Brunswick 18-yard line.

 

Kelly raced down the Brunswick sideline, escorted by several Bruins that held off the chasing Salisbury players for the special team touchdown.

 

Brunswick (5-1, 3-1) missed on converting a two-point play from the 18-yard line after the squad was whistled for excessive celebration by the referees.

 

Neither team scored in the final minutes of the half, as Salisbury took a 7-6 lead into the locker room.

 

After exchanging punts to open the third quarter, Brunswick took its first lead of the game, as quarterback Nick Henkel scrambled out of trouble and found Jack Montinaro on the far sideline for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The third down score capped a seven-play, 45-yard drive that included a key fourth down conversion. A successful Michael Gottlieb extra-point kick gave the Bruins a 13-7 lead.

 

Following a Salisbury touchdown that gave the visitors a brief 14-13 lead, Brunswick answered with an offensive and defensive touchdown to close out the third quarter.

 

Henkel connected with Kelly on a 19-yard touchdown, finishing a five-play, 51-yard drive to give Brunswick a 19-14 lead.

 

On the ensuing Salisbury drive, linebacker John Fox forced a fumble on the Knights’ 31-yard line and Brunswick’s Will Kolman gobbled up the ball and scampered the distance for the score. A successful two-point try by Brunswick set the score at 27-14 in favor of the hosts.

 

The Bruins added a pair of insurance touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Henkel finished a five-play, 65-yard drive with a picturesque fade ball to Cornelius Johnson from 37 yards out, as the Brunswick began to pull away from the Knights, with a 34-14 advantage with 10 minutes left to play.

 

The Brunswick defense continued to shut down the Salisbury passing attack in the second half, as the Bruins forced the Knights to turn the ball over on downs on the Salisbury 38-yard line.

 

With excellent field position, Brunswick march the 38 yards in three plays, capped by a Henkel touchdown pass to Sean Morris. The Gottlieb extra point was the final point of the day, as the Bruins finished with a 40-14 victory.

 

Henkel paced the Brunswick passing attack with 196 yards (16/28) and four touchdown passes, while rushing for a two-point conversion. The quarterback connected with seven different receivers, including Montinaro, who finished with three catches for 52 yards and a score. Johnson added three grabs for 49 yards and a touchdown, while Morris and Kelly each had one catch resulting in a touchdown. Kelly also added an 82-yard touchdown return on a blocked field goal. Kieran Dowley led the Bruin receiving corps with five grabs for 32 yards.

 

Montinaro added 22 yards on the ground, one behind teammate Jaydin Knight’s 23 rushing yards.

 

Brunswick continues its league schedule, heading to Avon Old Farms on Saturday, October 29, for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff versus the Winged Beavers.