Bruins Run All Over Knights, Start District Play 1-0 (5-1 Overall)

By Brian Bartley
October 11, 2008

The Blacksburg Bruins opened up River Ridge District play Friday night, traveling to Roanoke for a match up against the Cave Spring Knights.  The trip proved successful, as the Bruins rushed all over Bogle Field to capture a 28-14 win.

In the first quarter the teams had one possession apiece and split possession time during the 12-minute frame.

For the first six minutes of the quarter, it was the Bruins who worked a steady rushing attack for nearly 80-yards that ended in a Jon Jennings one-yard plow into the end zone. 

After his troubles in the kicking game a week ago, Brandon Robinson continued to struggle, booting a low line drive on the extra point that was easily blocked by the Knights.    

The next six minutes belonged to Cave Spring, courtesy of running back Zac Osborne carrying the ball seven times in nine plays. Josh Woodrum capped off the series with a scramble from 22-yards out for the touchdown.

After both teams' lone first quarter possessions, the Knights held a slim 7-6 lead entering the second quarter.

Just like in the first quarter, the Bruins' rushing game came up big.  On their first drive of the quarter, Jennings and David Bales played the roles of thunder and lightening as they shredded the Knights' defense between the tackles and on the outside.  The series ended on a Bales 21-yard run up the middle for the Bruin's second touchdown.

After a successful two-point conversion pass from Trey Gresh to Antoine Martin, the Bruins took 14-7 lead.

On Cave Spring's next possession, Woodrum again found the end zone, scoring from one yard out and knotting the score at 14-14 with 3:18 remaining in the half.

The only mistake the Knights made during that touchdown drive was scoring too quickly and leaving too much time on the clock for Blacksburg's Gresh.

As he has done so many times this season, Gresh proceeded to lead the Bruin's offense down the field for a clutch scoring drive.  After several key completions that moved the Bruins into Knight territory, Gresh threw a beautiful 22-yard touchdown strike to Richard Sowers in the corner of the end zone with just 32 seconds left.

With Robinson struggling, the Bruins brought on Adam Brauns to kick the PAT.  He converted, and the Bruins went into halftime with a 21-14 lead.

In an event that perhaps foreshadowed the Knights' second half woes, a malfunction in the PA system caused Cave Spring to have to postpone its scheduled homecoming ceremonies until after the game.

In the second half, Blacksburg's defense pitched a shutout, preventing the Knights from making any kind of a comeback.

After snagging the interception that set up the Bruins' game-winning touchdown a week ago, Spencer Link added two more to his total by picking off Woodrum on consecutive possessions deep in Bruin territory to halt the Knights' offensive momentum.

The lone score of the half came late in the third quarter when Jennings broke loose to the sideline and rumbled 70-yards down the field for a Bruin touchdown.  This put Blacksburg up 28-14, and that's how it would end.

With the win, Blacksburg starts out 1-0 in the River Ridge district and moves its record to 5-1 overall. 

Next week, the Bruins hit the road again to take on the annual powerhouse and River Ridge rival Salem Spartans.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Salem Stadium.