WATERTOWN – The Bobcats went 1-0 this week.
Every team across the nation strives for that stat and even though Brookings came away with that stat, the win also pushes the ‘Cats to a 3-1 overall record after a 27-14 win over the undefeated Arrows on Homecoming night at Watertown Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, Parker Beers went in from just outside of a yard on the first play of the second quarter to give the ‘Cats the lead. Justin Devine’s PAT kick made it 7-0 with 11:54 on the clock.
Devine intercepted a pass deep in Bobcat territory midway through the second to turn back an Arrow drive.
Watertown finally got on the scoreboard with less than 3 minutes to play in the half when Arrow quarterback Brandon Florey caught a pass in the right flat and converted a 15-yard play to make it 7-6 with 2:55 left.
Leo Schuermann’s extra-point kick tied the game at 7-7 heading into the locker room.
The Arrows held a 152-73 edge in total yards after the first 24 minutes.
The Bobcats retook the lead when Devine went up the middle from 13 yards out. Devine’s PAT made it 14-7 with 2:03 left in the third.
Adam DeJong returned the ensuing kickoff to the Bobcat 25, but it went for naught when the Arrows turned over the ball on downs at the 26 following a failed fourth-down attempt early in the fourth quarter.
The ‘Cats then put together an 18-play drive that culminated in a touchdown pass from Jacob Schoon to Jay Wilber with 3:57 left that made it 21-7 following Devine’s PAT kick.
After another failed fourth-down conversion attempt, the ‘Cats took over in Arrow territory before Devine went in from a yard out for Brookings’ final score with 3:08 to play.
Watertown came back to score with 2:18 left on a Florey to Adam DeJong pass play that covered 22 yards.
“We came in knowing that they were going over the top so we stayed in Cover 3 as much as we could – they got behind us a couple of times,” said BHS assistant coach Scott Miller. “We mixed things up a lot – we needed a team effort and this is probably one of the greatest Bobcat team efforts that I’ve seen in probably about three or four years, because a lot of kids stepped up and played with a lot of passion tonight.”
The Arrows finished with 14 first downs – four rushing and 10 passing. Brookings had 11 rushing; eight passing; and one by penalty.
Florey completed 17-of-34 passes while Schoon went 11-of-15 as Carter Eidem picked up 33 yards and Wilber came up with three catches for 34 yards.
Fossum had 45 yards on 13 carries for the Arrows.
Beers carried 23 times for 85 yards to lead the ‘Cats; Devine had 16 for 61; Schoon added 49 on 15 touches; while Helmbolt and Oetken chipped in with 6 and 5 yards, respectively.
Brookings, 3-1 on the season, play host to Pierre on Friday.
BROOKINGS 27, WATERTOWN 14
Brookings 0 7 7 13 – 27
Watertown 0 7 0 7 – 14
Nathan Giese/Watertown Public Opinion photo: Brookings’ Jay Szafryk (left) and Wes Koenig team up to take down Watertown quarterback Brandon Florey (11) on a run play during the first quarter of the Bobcats’ 27-14 defeat of the Arrows on Friday night at Watertown Stadium. Brookings (3-1) returns to action facing Pierre in the Homecoming game next Friday at 7 p.m.
