Brandon’s varsity football team had their chances to defeat visiting Linden in their Aug. 25 season opener.
However, the Blackhawks faced an uphill climb throughout the second half, and the Eagles put the capper on the game when senior Dustin Mayner scored on a three-yard touchdown run, with under a minute left, to clinch a 33-20 victory in Flint Metro League action.
Linden, the defending Flint Metro champions, jumped out to a 26-0 lead in the first half before Josh Tolan broke the ice for the Blackhawks with a four-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds left in the second quarter, cutting the Eagles? halftime lead to 26-7.
Brandon coach Ron Gill said the Blackhawks got themselves in a tough spot early and faced an uphill battle against a quality opponent in Linden.
‘We had some mental mistakes with some penalties that cost us some big plays,? he said. ‘Linden is the type of team you can’t dig a hole against. The kids gave a valiant effort in giving themselves a chance to win the game. We’ll learn from it ? we’re getting better each and every day in practice.?
The Blackhawks then recovered an onside kick at the start of the second half, and Josh Ellett cashed in on a one-yard touchdown run with 9:27 left in the third quarter. Brandon’s Jake Hardy missed the point-after attempt, leaving Linden with a 26-13 lead.
Brandon had an opportunity to trim Linden’s lead even further when they recovered an Eagles fumble at the Linden 14-yard line with less than nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, the Blackhawks dropped two potential touchdown passes in the end zone.
With less than two minutes left in the game, the Blackhawks got within a touchdown, as Alex Ruhle caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Quin McNally. Hardy’s successful point-after attempt cut Linden’s lead to 26-20.
However, Mayner’s game-clinching touchdown put the game out of reach for Brandon.
Throughout the game, the Blackhawks rotated quarterbacks Tolan and McNally. Gill said Tolan, a senior, and McNally, a sophomore, will continue to rotate at the position in future games.
‘Both of them are very good quarterbacks, and both of them have unique strengths,? he said. ‘We’re trying to use both of their talents and give us the best chance to win. They’re both tremendous young men, and they have a lot of talent and a strong work ethic.?
After Brandon’s scheduled Aug. 31 game at Holly, the Blackhawks? next contest is Friday, Sept. 8 against Clio. The Mustangs, currently in their second year in the Flint Metro League, lost 27-7 to Lapeer West in their first game of the season Aug. 25.
Clio went 0-9 last season, including a 48-20 loss to the Blackhawks in the final game of the year.