Bruins Prevail
Brooke rolls into semis with 34-14 triumphBy JIM ELLIOTT W.Va. Sports Editor
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WELLSBURG - Tom Bruney may not remember everything he says, but his players seem to.
Not long after Saturday's West Virginia Class AAA quarterfinal against Ripley, defensive back Zachary Teaff asked Bruney if he remembered saying, ''if you're practicing on Thanksgiving, you're having a good season.''
Fellows, bring your helmets and pads because this is going to be a working holiday.
Ian Morris returned the opening kickoff 82 yards and the Bruins looked back only long enough to make sure there was plenty of distance in a 34-14 beating of Ripley at Brooke Memorial Stadium, setting up a rematch with No. 13 University, a team it blanked 27-0 in Week 7, with an invitation to Super Six on the line.
How big was Morris' return?
The Vikings (9-3) had been 9-0 when they score first, while the Bruins (12-0) had fallen behind in 9 of 11 games.
''Our focus was to get out of the blocks, sprint a hundred-yard dash, and set the tempo,'' Bruney said.
The kickoff return was just the beginning of a big day for Morris, who has taken on a bigger role in the offense during the last month because of Ryan Lazear's gimpy ankle. He later scored on a 41-yard run. He also added a 35-yard touchdown reception. Then he took a break because it was halftime.
''That Morris kid, what an unbelievable guy he his,'' Ripley coach Jimmy Frashier said. ''They ought to call him slash.''
Morris' touchdown catch came one play after Ripley fumbled a punt.
Five minutes earlier, Brooke's Gianni Fuscardo picked off a Scott Ullom pass at the Vikings 26. Two plays - and 74 yards later - the Bruins were in the end zone celebrating after quarterback Cotey Wallace completed a 69-yard pass to Joe DiNardo that set up a 5-yard touchdown toss to Shane Paesano.
''We made some mistakes,'' Frashier said, ''and Brooke did what Brooke does.''
Two turnovers for the Vikings, 13 points for the Bruins. And Ripley was plus-18 on the season in turnover margin coming in.
Wallace capped his team's scoring with a 27-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile the Brooke defense, which welcomed back two starters from 2-week suspensions, was giving up nothing. With 7 minutes remaining in the first half, Ripley had only 12 yards before running back David Hicks doubled his team's total with a 24-yard run.
''We didn't play 100-percent perfect,'' Bruney said. ''But I thought we totally dominated. Our defense always seems to rise to the occasion.
The Vikings did score twice, both inside the last 4 minutes. The first one came via a 19-yard pass from Ullom to Josh Donohew, the other on Hicks' 53-yard interception return. That pass was thrown by Alec Buchmelter, the first freshman in Brooke history to ever take a snap.
It marked the fourth time in the last 23 years that Ripley has been eliminated by Brooke.
Notes
At one point in the first half, Brooke had four first downs - and four touchdowns. ... Wallace completed 9 of 13 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 98 yards on 16 carries. He's now been in on 35 touchdowns this season. .. Brooke wound up with 339 total yards; Ripley had 195. ... Lazear had 10 carries, the most he's had since Week 9.
Bridgeport 31
Geo. Washington 0
BRIDGEPORT - Bridgeport smothered Felix Mollett and the George Washington offense, holding the Patriots to just 85 yards as the No. 3 Indians rolled to a 31-0 victory.
Bridgeport (12-0) will face No. 2 South Charleston in next week's semifinal round.
Corey Wagner rushed for a game-high 109 yards, and Alex Sutton added 99 yards on 16 carries and scored twice. Jake Stafford added a 25-yard touchdown reception.
The Indians recovered an on-sides kick on the game's opening kickoff and never looked back.
The No. 6 Patriots (9-3) fell behind 17-0 at halftime and could never get its offense in rhythm. The Indians rushing game churned out 292 yards to just 16 for George Washington and held a 33:26-14:34 advantage in time of possession.
The win marked the first time the Indians have advanced to the semifinals since moving up from Class AA in 2004.









