Football Stopped in NEPSAC Title Game

Brunswick fell to Choate by a 25-8 margin in the NEPSAC’s Class ‘A’ Championship Mike Silipo Bowl on Saturday at Choate. The Bruins complete a memorable season as Class 'A' runners up with an 8-2 record, while the Wild Boars, winners of 48 straight games, finish 10-0.

 

The potent Choate offense, averaging nearly 39 points per game, was held in check for most of the first half, as the Bruins allowed just a first-quarter field goal.

 

Following David MacGillivray’s diving interception of a Choate pass with 2:00 left in the second quarter, the Brunswick offense drove to the Wild Boars’ 21-yard line. Two plays later, the Bruins fumbled the ball, as Choate returned it to the Brunswick 30-yard line with under a minute left in the half. That Brunswick turnover was its fourth of the half.

 

Three plays later, Choate capitalized off the Brunswick fumble with a touchdown, taking a 10-0 lead into the break.

 

In the second half, the hosts tacked on a touchdown on a long run midway through the third quarter and converted a two-point play to build a 18-0 advantage.

 

Brunswick countered with a seven-play, 71-yard scoring drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nicky Winegardner to receiver Cornelius Johnson. The Bruins added a successful two-point conversion on a Winegardner scramble, setting the score at 18-8, with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter.

 

The Brunswick offense could not close the gap down the stretch, eventually turning the ball over on a 4^th-and-15 from their own 20 late in the fourth quarter, giving Choate excellent field position.

 

The Bruins defense held the Wild Boars at bay, as the hosts lined up for a fourth-down field goal try from the Brunswick 17. On the try, Choate chose to run a fake, as the holder ran in for a touchdown. Following the successful extra-point kick, the Bruins trailed 25-8 with 3:07 left in the game.

 

Brunswick’s offense took over on its own 17 and drove to the Choate 41, as time expired.

 

Johnson finished with five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown and one carry for 24 yards for Brunswick. The touchdown grab was the senior’s team-leading 12th of the season and 33^rd of Johnson’s career. Running back Michael Gottlieb caught four passes for 32 yards and rushed for 17 yards.

 

Defensively, Brunswick collected six tackles for loss, as Howard Powell registered a sack and recovered a fumble, while Aengus Rosato picked up a pair of sacks.