Box Score NEWBERG, Ore. --- On Saturday afternoon, the Bruins gave 3,052 screaming fans the most exciting game ever played at Stoffer Family Stadium, marching to a comeback victory to defeat the University of Redands 39-35. A back and forth game came down to the final seconds in the fourth quarter when John Shaffer plowed through the defense into the end zone to put the Bruins ahead for good. Seconds later, Jake Heverly intercepted the Bulldogs to seal the victory. The stands went wild and the team mobbed the field as everyone celebrated this victory against a team that hasn't had a losing season since 2007.
Recap:
The Bulldogs were the first to get on the board after a 2-yard touchdown run by Devin Appleton in the first quarter. The Bulldogs scored again in the start of the second, but the Bruins started to cut the deficit after Grant Schroeder connected with Lane Hadley on a 7-yard touchdown pass. With less than five minutes left in the first half, Lenana Meekisho delivered the longest field goal attempt in Bruin history splitting the uprights for a 49-yard field goal, 10-14. The Bruins used their time wisely as they set up Uriel Gonzalez to bring the Bruins within one after his 33-yard field goal, 13-14, to go into the half.
The Bulldogs weren't fazed, though, as they scored on their opening drive in the third quarter from a 35-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Russell to Chris Guzman. Three minutes later Schroeder again found Hadley wide open, who ran in for a 23-yard touchdown to keep the Bruins right in it, 19-21. The back-and-forth continued as the Bulldogs scored again on a short run, but the Bruins bounced back with a John Shaffer run to end the third quarter, 26-28.
In the fourth quarter the Bruins stunned the Bulldogs and broke through on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Schroeder to Tony Long to give the Bruins their first lead of the game, 32-28. Redlands answered with five minutes left when Russell connected with Alex Andrighetto to retake the lead, 35-32. With two minutes and 39 seconds left on the game clock, the Bruins had their fate in their own hands. As they started on their own 15 the march to victory was a slow one. With a fourth and nine on their own 16, Schroeder lofted a perfectly placed pass to Derek Richwine, who gave the Bruins new life and a 30-yard gain. Schroeder found Shaffer on the next play for a 7-yard gain, and then Schroeder took it himself for a 10-yard gain to setup the Bruins on the Bulldogs' 37-yard line. The next play was a defining moment for the Bruins, as Schroeder hit Shaffer on a screen play, but Shaffer shook off two tackles and ran down field for a 24-yard gain to put the Bruins on the Bulldogs' 11-yard line.
With just 30 seconds left on the clock, the Bruins continued to give the ball to the trusty Shaffer who chipped away at the Bulldogs' defense. As time continued to dwindle down and fans started to rise on their feet, Shaffer leaped into the air scoring what would be the game winning touchdown for the Bruins. The Bulldogs had 15 seconds left in the game to try something spectacular, but on their very first play Jake Heverly intercepted the football to secure the victory for the Bruins.
Top Performers:
Schroeder threw for 425 yards in the game and now holds the record for most passing yards in a single game for the Bruins. He completed 31-of-50 passes and threw for three touchdowns. Richwine led the receiving crew with 100 yards, and Hadley recorded two touchdowns for 30 yards. Shaffer led the ground crew with 68 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive side, Dominick Fix-Gonzalez led the team with 10 tackles, Austin Wisenbaker contributed with nine tackles and a sack, and Heverly had the game ending interception.
What Comes Next:
The Bruins have a bye week next week and won't take the field until September 26th at 7:15 p.m. against the Firestorm of Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, Arizona.
