GRACE RALLIES BY BROOKHILL
Guard suffers from 'lack of depth,' falls to Cougars 28-20
By Don Wallace Bullard Banner News

Brook Hill head football coach Paul Johnston (left) offers words of encouragement to running back Demoria Edwards during recent action against Grace Community. Edwards scored a touchdown, but Brook Hill lost the game 28-20.

TYLER - A spirited Grace team and lack of depth for Brook Hill proved to be a recipe for disaster.

Disaster, that is, if you are wearing a Brook Hill uniform.

Grace Community rallied from a 14-0 deficit to hand the Guard a 28-20 win in non-district action played Friday Oct. 6 at T.K. Gorman's McCallum Stadium in Tyler.

"I knew our lack of depth would hurt us. When you have to play without All-State linebacker Luke Beekman and other key players, it just makes it hard," Brook Hill head football coach Paul Johnston said.

Johnston continued, "When you have to play without starters on a roster as small as ours it really hurts. Because we had to move Brian Inglehart to starting linebacker and that limited his availability to the offense. You can't go with that many people both ways, it just wears you down."

Brook Hill didn't look fatigued in the early going as just won the first quarter by a 14-0 score.

Reserve quarterback Drew Maudlin blocked a punt into the end zone and teammate Kip Picarella fell on it at the 9:45 mark of the first quarter. Han Jun Kee added the extra point and the Guard's fans were delighted as their team took a 7- 0 lead.

The next Grace possession was highlighted by star running back Will Reneau. But the Cougars could not punch the ball in and turned the ball over on down following a fourth down incompletion. Brook Hill took over at their own 33-yard line.

The teams traded punts and soon Brook Hill set up a drive beginning at their own 45-yard line. Inglehart picked up 18 yards on a sweep and quarterback John Carroll ran for another first down as the Guard moved the sticks. Inglehart capped the drive with an 11- yard scoring burst up the middle, a determined run behind blockers and through would-be Cougar arm tackles. Kee's extra point was good and with 2:00 left in the opening period Brook Hill had some breathing room with a 14-0 lead.

But the Grace Community squad, undeterred by the twotouchdown deficit, came charging back.

In the opening minutes of the second period, Grace ending a 60-yard scoring drive with a scoring aerial. Aaron Wesson tossed a perfect 28-yard dart over defenders to Shannen Smith. Collin Anderson's extra point was true and the Brook Hill lead was sliced to 14-7 with the bulk of the second quarter still remaining.

A short Brook Hill punt allowed the Cougars a short field. The Grace squad set up possession at the Brook Hill 47- yard line with 8:48 left in the opening half. Three minutes later the Cougars were dancing as running back Daniel Fraga capped the possession with a 1- yard scoring burst. Anderson's kick tied the game at 14-all with 5:02 left before intermission.

The pigskin changed hands three times in the final minutes of the first half, but neither team was able to score. The first half ended with the game deadlocked at 14.

The Guard's next drive moved from their own 18 out to near midfield, thanks to an Inglehart 18-yard run and a key completion from Carroll to Maudlin. The going got tough

and on fourth down Carroll was flushed out of the pocket as he attempted to pass for needed yardage on a key fourth and two. Carroll could not keep the handle on the ball and the fumble was recovered by Grace's Tucker Glaske was eluded Brook Hill players for a 34-yard touchdown run. The turnover and score allowed Grace to go up 21-14 following the Anderson kick.

The fumble and scoop for the touchdown were the only points for either team in the third period.

Grace was able to pad their lead at 7:59 mark of the final stanza. Reneau, who accounted for more than 100 yards rushing on the night, slipped through defenders for an 8-yard scoring play. Anderson's extra point but Brook Hill behind the eight ball, trailing 28-14 with only 7:59 left.

Several Guard possessions netted no points, but Brook Hill was determined to score. Finally at the 51second mark, Demoria Edwards broke free for a 19- yard scoring run. Kee's extra point failed due to a low snap and Grace held a 28-20 lead.

The Guard could not manage a last second miracle with the Cougars recovering the following onside kick. Brook Hill saw Grace run their winning streak to four in a row as they avenged last year's 50-35 defeat with a 28-20 win.

After the game Johnston told the Brook Hill players the loss had no bearing on the upcoming district race.

"Our goals have not changed, sure we would have loved to beat Grace, but our goal is making the playoffs. This loss to Grace in a rivalry game is something we have to take and learn from as we get ready for the big games in district." Johnston added.

The coach did not know if several of the key starters now injured, would be available for the Irving game.

Brook Hill will take on Irving the Highlands in their TAPPS Division IV, District 2 opener Oct. 14 at Irving. Irving was winless on the year a 0-5 mark allowing 212 points, while scoring just 33. In their last outing, they fell to Waco Christian, 36-0.

Brook Hill enters district play with a 2-2 mark, having scored 106 points and allowing 83.