It was senior day on Cosby Field on Saturday afternoon, as Brunswick hosted Phillips Exeter in the last guaranteed home game for the 24 Bruins in the senior class, ultimately falling to the Lions by a score of 36-27. 

The game started with a Brunswick touchdown on the first drive after receiving the opening kickoff. Senior running back Zay Smith and sophomore Noah Park, who rotated between wide receiver and running back, tag teamed the seven-play rushing drive that led to the first score of the game. 

A stop by the Bruins’ defense, which included a sack for a big loss by senior defensive lineman EJ Perez, gave Brunswick the ball for its second offensive drive of the game that very closely mirrored its first. This time, senior quarterback Blake Hebert found senior wide receiver Tyler Lloyd open in the endzone for a 30-yard strike to make it 14-0 Brunswick. Exeter would punch back with two rushing touchdowns of its own before the first quarter ended to make it a tie game after one. 

The Lions struck first in the second quarter and converted on their two-point attempt, but Brunswick responded in stride late in the quarter after the defense and special teams earned the offense good field position. Lloyd, who also punts for the Bruins, used the wind to his advantage and flipped the field with a massive punt, backing the Lions up on their own one-yard line. The defense then forced a three and out, and the Bruins’ offense took over on Exeter's side of the 50-yard line. Two plays later, Park found the endzone once again on a rushing touchdown — 22-21 Exeter at the half. 

Exeter received the ball to start the second half and put together a lengthy drive that ended in another rushing touchdown to extend its lead. This would be the only score of the quarter as both the Bruins and Lions traded drives, but neither team would relent — 29-21 Exeter after three.

Exeter extended its lead further in the fourth quarter, with yet another rushing touchdown to make it 36-21. But the Bruins did not give up and attempted a late-game comeback. This started with another Park touchdown, this time on the receiving end of a deep pass on 4th and 21 with the clock winding down. Brunswick was unable to convert the PAT and after an onside attempt that went out of bounds, the game ended 36-27.

The Bruins look to bounce back from Saturday's loss when they visit Trinity-Pawling on Saturday, November 2, for a 6 p.m. kickoff. 

Notable Stats

Passing: 

• B. Hebert - 110 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: 

• N. Park - 148 yds, 2 TD
• Z. Smith - 74 yds

Receiving: 

• N. Park - 80 yds, TD
• T. Lloyd - TD

Defense:

• E. Long - 15 tackles
• J. Greene - 16 tackles
• T. Georgs - 11 tackles
• E. Perez - 8 tackles, TFL, sack