Click the thumbnails to see photos and video clips, and click the AUDIO buttons to hear comments from Braves Coach Dennis Cannoot, and players Ryder Amis and Ben Wilson. Also click to hear from Broncos seniors Andy Johnson and Ben Knauf.
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HARRIS---The Bark River-Harris High School football team jumped to a 26-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 32-14 win over the Gladstone Braves Friday night in Harris.
Gionni McDonough set the tone by taking the opening kickoff to the house for an 85-yard touchdown just 13 seconds into the game, and even though the Broncos struggled with mistakes in the second half, BR-H had more than enough points to improve their season record to 4-0 for the first time since 2015.
McDonough also added a ten-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and fellow senior Andy Johnson scored on three short touchdown runs to clinch the victory.
"They're a good team, we knew that coming in," Gladstone Coach Dennis Cannoot said. "They're experienced. They have a lot of senors, and they have a lot of depth. It's where we want to get to with our group. They just keep coming at you, and it frustrates the defense. You know it's coming, and they're still executing it. So, it was a tough one."
Gladstone, down 26-0 and suffering from several more injuries that added to the already-long disabled list, did not fold. The Braves defense forced three Broncos fumbles in the second half, and took advantage with a pass from quarterback Landon Pepin to receiver Ryder Amis.
That pass set up a five-yard run by Wyatt Forvilly to get the Braves on the board in the third quarter,
Gladstone forced another turnover, which led to a Braves possession in Bronco territory. Pepin lofted a long pass to the corner of the end zone, which Nick Proehl made an outstanding catch of in the left corner of the end zone for the touchdown. A Pepin pass to Dylan Nelson completed the two-point conversion, closing the score to 26-14, and there was still 4:45 left in the third quarter.
The momentum continued to swing in Gladstone's favor when the Broncos fumbled yet again, and the Braves moved the ball up-field on a pass from Pepin to Amis. It was quite a play by Amis, who after catching the ball, broke a couple of tackles and took it 55 yards into Bark River territory.
The Braves, however, could not take advantage of having the ball at the BR-H 25 yard-line, The next four plays were not successful, and the Broncos took over on downs early in the fourth quarter. They successfully bled most of the clock the rest of the way, with McDonough getting a long a long run and intentionally putting his knee down at the one yard-line with less than two minutes left in the game.
McDonough did that to kill more seconds off of the clock, with his team still up by just two scores. Johnson put the icing on the cake with a one-yard touchdown run, and the Broncos celebrated.
Statistically, unofficially, the Broncos were led by Johnson, with 94 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and McDonough, also with 94 rushing yards (besides his kickoff return TD). Ben Knauff added 34 rushing yards and 44 receiving yards, and Gabe Spear contributed 28 rushing yards and he recovered a fumble off a bad Gladstone snap. Quarterback Dane Schmitt had 44 passing yards.
For Gladstone, Forvilly had 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. Pepin completed four of eight passes for 111 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Amis had 55 receiving yards and Proehl had 43 receiving yards. Ben Wilson missed his only field goal attempt when it was blocked.
Gladstone, already playing without injured starters Ryder Forvilly, Cooper Sanville, Quinn Carlson, and Hunter Sierpien, had more injuries Friday night. Those included tight end Aiden Burie (knee) and Andy Howes (linebacker). That all kept OSF trainer Brad Landis busy all night long.
"I'm proud of them," Cannoot said. "A couple more injuries tonight. We just can't get over it. We plug another guy in, and then that guy goes down, and we're on the search to find another one. But, they have heart, and they work hard. I'm proud of them because they show up every week and give us everything they've got. Tonight, it's really something we can hang our hats on the way they responded in the second half. We're working through it the best we can. We're just low on manpower."
Bark River-Harris (4-0) will be back in action next Friday night with a game on the road at West Iron County.
Gladstone (1-3) will celebrate its Homecoming next Friday against Westwood.
"The kids are working hard, they really are trying their best," Cannoot said. "They're giving it their best. We keep asking them, even when it's hard, to give us five more seconds. Give us five more seconds. I feel like they're doing that. They're believing. They're setting the standard. They're giving us five seconds."
