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Bermudian Springs wins second-half shootout


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Midway through the third quarter Friday night, it looked like Bermudian Springs would come away with an easy win over rival Littlestown.

It turned out to be far from easy.

Fighting to keep pace in the District 3 Class 3A playoff race, the Eagles saw a three-touchdown lead over the Bolts evaporate in a span of 4:40 in the second half. With the game tied and Littlestown's bench and fans going crazy, the Eagles were desperate for a spark.

Sophomore quarterback Chase Dull and senior receiver Quinton Nace  provided it, connecting for a 23-yard touchdown pass with eight minutes remaining to give Bermudian Springs the lead, and the Eagles held off the Bolts to win at home, 35-28.

"In that window I was thinking, 'I can't believe that just happened,'" Bermudian Springs coach Jon DeFoe said. "I looked up a second ago we were up 21, now it's all knotted up. We couldn't get out of our own tracks until we hit the (touchdown to Nace). Once we got that score, we just had to quit giving up the big plays."

Traditionally known as a running team, Bermudian Springs (7-2, 5-1 YAIAA Divison III) relied heavily on the pass Friday as Dull went 14-of-19 for 216 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a short score. He also spread the ball around, finding seven receivers during the contest.

But most of the damage was done by the 6-foot-4 Nace, who finished with seven catches for 147 yards, including several big plays in the second half.

"You don't hear about Bermudian throwing the ball, and it's pretty awesome to be the two people that get it going," Dull said. "(Nace) is overpowering with his height, that's what you look for in matchups so I just threw it up."

Added Nace: "The passing game just adds another layer, another threat. It makes teams play us honestly."

For most of the game Friday, it didn't look like the Eagles would need any fourth-quarter heroics. Addison Wheeler ran for an early touchdown and the Eagles went into halftime up by two scores before Brenton Krebs added another touchdown on their first drive of the third quarter.

But the Bolts stormed back. A few big pass plays set up short touchdown runs, and Drew Matthews scooped up a fumble for a 24-yard return touchdown as Littlestown tied the game early in the fourth.

Ultimately, Littlestown was undone by turnovers and its inability to stop Bermudian's passing attack. Starting quarterback Tanner Noble was intercepted four times, twice in the second half.

"Their quarterback made some plays tonight, I've got to give him a lot of credit," Littlestown coach Mike Lippy said. "That kid's a sophomore, but he's heady player. I actually thought our kids did really well those last couple minutes putting ourselves in position and scoring."

With both the Eagles and Bolts currently in line to make the four-team tournament in Class 3A, it is very possible the two teams could play again in the postseason.

"Both teams will certainly work on not giving up fades," DeFoe said. "I'm just glad it's not next week."

Littlestown_0_0_14_14_—_28     

Bermudian Springs_6_8_7_14_—_35 

First Quarter 

BS -- Addison Wheeler 6 run (kick failed), 8:03

Second Quarter

BS -- Dull 1 run (pass from Ben Egenrieder to Trevor Grim is good), 8:02

Third Quarter

BS -- Brenton Krebs 14 run (Noah Aeppli kick is good), 4:23

LT -- Wes Storey 5 run (Alex Potts kick is good), 2:40

LT --  Drew Matthew 24 fumble return (Potts kick is good), 1:51

Fourth Quarter

LT -- Tyler Barthel 6 run (Potts kick is good), 10:00

BS -- Quinton Nace 23 pass from Chase Dull (Aeppli kick), 8:00

BS -- Ashton West 18 run (Aeppli kick), 5:19

LT -- Potts 10 pass from Tanner Noble (Potts kick), 0:05

 _LT_ BS

First downs_12_18

Rushes-Yards_16-58_46-197

Passing_12-21-4_14-19-0

Passing Yards_242_216

Total Yards_300_413

Punts_2-32_3-30.3

Fumbles-Lost_1-1_2-2

Penalties-Yards_1-5_4-32

Rushing — LT, Wes Storey 8-16, Drew Matthews 5-33, Tyler Barthel 2-9, Tanner Noble 1-0. BS, Ashton West 13-45, Devon Hodgen 8-26, Addison Wheeler 13-67, Brenton Krebs 8-70, Chase Dull 4-(-11).

Passing — LT, Noble 11-20-195-4, Jakob Lane 1-1-47. BS, Dull 14-19-216.

Receiving — LT, Storey 3-60, Tyler Barthel 5-95, Alex Potts 4-87. BS, Quinton Nace 7-147, Trevor Kasulen 1-14, Ben Egenrieder 2-25, Devon Hodgen 1-9, Trevor Grim 1-12, Krebs 1-5, West 1-4.