KNOCKOUT PUNCH
SOUTH CENTRE TWP. — In a Columbia County clash that got chippy at times, Central Columbia showed it can get itself out of the corner of the ring, but it was Bloomsburg that got the last haymaker in.
Facing a two-point deficit with just over 4 minutes to play, Panthers quarterback Wyatt Brosious approached coach Mike Kogut with the play that proved to be the knockout punch. Seeing a flaw in the Blue Jays' secondary, Brosious connected with running back Jharee Moore-Stewart, who lined up out wide for a 52-yard touchdown, on the first play from scrimmage.
The score rallied Bloomsburg to a 29-20 victory, sending Bloomsburg's fans into a frenzy and onto the field at Blue Jay Stadium.
The win likely secures the No. 7 seed for Bloomsburg, which has won four of its last five games, (5-5) in the upcoming District 4 Class 2A playoffs. Central, meanwhile, finishes 2-8.
"We trust him and what he sees. He called the go route and put the ball on the money and Jharee showed what he could do," Kogut said. "Credit to Wyatt because he's always been a student of the game, always watches film and his ability to read those things even throughout the game are really impressive.
"It showed again on that play tonight."
On the ensuing two-point conversion, Brosious — who also had touchdown runs of 1 and 5 yards — connected with Dominick Rosini. The receiver somehow reeled in the pass while getting smothered between a pair of Blue Jays defenders, including helmet-to-helmet contact from two-way player Parker Day. He was ejected for the play. While Rosini stayed down on the field for a moment before walking off on his own power, emotions ran high from both teams. Coaches had to pull players off the field and away from one another for the second time, having done so in the second quarter after Stewart was hit hard near the sidelines following an incomplete pass.
With Day's absence at quarterback, the Jays were missing a reliable runner while only down six points. Instead, they went four-and-out, including a deep incompletion by backup Josh Worthington that was just over the reach of Alex Zeisloft.
The great field position allowed Bloomsburg to take more time off the clock and make it a two-possession game with under a minute remaining following Justin Pegg's 38-yard field goal. He was also good from 42 yards for the game's first points.
If Stewart didn't put the game away with his touchdown reception, he sealed it with an interception of Worthington in the final seconds.
"It's obviously tough when you lose your quarterback and you have to throw the ball a little bit, but Jharee is a ballhawk," Kogut said. "He has the ability to jump up and get it and has great athleticism. That interception sealed it for us."
It arguably shouldn't have even been that close of a fight. The Panthers were jabbing away at the Blue Jays all throughout the first half, but couldn't pull away. Instead, the Panthers — who outgained the Jays, 160-52, and snapped the ball in Jays' territory 23-of-38 snaps — let Central stay upright largely due to a Stewart fumbled punt return.
Central setup shop at the Panthers' 38 and used six plays, five of them running, to cap off a 7-yard touchdown run by Ty Regan.
And just like in boxing, the Blue Jays took advantage of having another round of football. Crue Chipeleski gave them their first lead of the night by returning the second-half kickoff 90 yards. He broke a pair of tackles along the way.
"We had everything, but we failed to convert," Central coach EJ Smith said. "We stopped them, and could have put the game away, but we just couldn't finish. It doesn't help that our quarterback gets thrown out of the game, and that kind of hurt us. Still, I'm proud of the kids' effort tonight."
Playing well in two of the three fazes usually bodes well for most teams. That wasn't the case for the Blue Jays. They came away with two interceptions in the contest but turned the ball over on the ensuing snap both times via an interception and fumble.
They again were penalized for over 100 yards and seemingly couldn't get out of their own way. Central was also held to 17 yards passing and 4 yards a carry.
"We just couldn't get going and kept shooting ourselves in the football," Smith said. "It's an unfortunate way to send the seniors out, but I know they gave everything they could tonight. That's all I could ask for."
The teams traded touchdown scampers by Brosious and Worthington to set up the late dramatics.
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