North vs Freeport (Homecoming)
Story by Paul T. Zeien, Jr.
Thunder Sophs fall to Freeport
The BNHS Thunder Sophomores did not win the game Friday night but they never quit and were pushing hard at the end. The first score of the game came at 3:38 in the 1st quarter when Freeport took the ball 45 yards up the right sideline in for the score. The PAT was good and the score was Freeport 7, Thunder 0. The Thunder would close out the first quarter of the game with Freeport scoring 14 unanswered points.
The Thunder was changing the momentum and driving hard down the field at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. They reached the 8 yard line and the Thunder fumble the ball and Freeport recovers. The Thunder does not let the Pretzels capitalize on the turnover and drives the ball down field only to be intercepted. Freeport returns the ball out to the 48 yard line. With just 26 seconds left in the first half of the game the Pretzels score a 16 yard touchdown pass. With a good PAT the Pretzels go ahead by 21. The Thunder threw another interception just as the clock hit zero for the end of the first half.
The third quarter was pretty uneventful just hard fought football for both teams. I would give the quarter to the Thunder on play. They showed the most drive of the two teams.
The score would remain 21-0 in favor of Freeport.
Freeport would score one remaining time in the 4th quarter off of a 3rd and 2 yard situation. The clock said 8:15 remaining and the PAT was good. The score was now 28 – 0. Now the Thunder really started their comeback. At 3:22 #11, Ryan Gamble, sprinted 4 yards to the left to score a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good and the score was 28-8 Pretzels. A minute or so later #61, Tyler Spencer, recovers a Freeport fumble and it is 1st and 10 on the Freeport 40 yard line. Gamble connects with #81, Kevin Yech, for a 40 yard TD pass. They failed on the 2-point conversion but the score with less than a minute left was 28-14 Pretzels. The Pretzel quarterback would take a knee to end the game.
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Thunder Wins Big over Pretzels.
There is only one way to start a homecoming game and #13, Alex Tripp, demonstrated it for us Friday night against the Freeport Pretzels. Tripp caught the opening kick-off and juked and out ran the Pretzel kick-off team 96 yards for a touchdown. #10, Ethan Hauser, was good as usual with the PAT and the score was Thunder 7, Pretzels 0. This was the spark that this team needed. The Thunder would settle in their lead for most of the 1st quarter until the Pretzels find the end zone off of a 19 yard pass. The PAT was good and the score would be all tied up 7-7.
Four minutes later #21, Austin Smaha, would bang his way into the end zone 2 yards for a score. Hauser would be good again on the PAT and the score was now 14-7 Thunder. This would be the end of the 1st quarter.
A 52 yard pass play would set up a chance for Freeport to score but the Thunder defense held tough and the Pretzels were forced to settle for a field goal. This brought the Pretzels within 4 points, 14-10. The Pretzels would score again and make the PAT for a score of 14-17. #33, Garret Thresher, would get the first of his 2 pass interceptions midway into the 2nd quarter; however the Thunder would fumble the ball on the next play. The Pretzels would drive the ball down the field and get to within the 10 yard line when Thresher steps up again and snags an interception. #25, Zach Stinson would show Freeport that he was there to play and was a key force in driving the ball down to the 6 yard line. These plays setup a score by Gamble and #16, Richie Yech. The score was 21-17.
The 3rd quarter opens and the Thunder defense blocks a Pretzel punt and Smaha grabs the ball off of the ground and sprints in for the score. The block was credited to #58, Emerson Eggers. The Thunder resumes the lead 28-17.
#17, Tony Tindle makes some great plays to set up the next Thunder score which was #12, Keith Larson to Richie Yech. The 2-point conversion was good and the score was 36-17.The Thunder defense turned up the pressure on the Pretzels with 3 sacks boom, boom, boom. It started with Tripp dropping the QB about 13 yards behind the line, then #22, Dylan Roberts, then #49, Alex Czechowicz. At one point the Pretzels were facing a 4th and 27 yards for a first down.
The 4th quarter showed more domination by the Thunder. The Pretzels at 6:16 were backed up to the 1 yard line and forced to punt. Tindle caught the ball on the 17 yard line and took it in for the score. Hauser of course good for the PAT, the score now 43-17, Thunder.
Freeport came back and scored another touchdown with 5:21 to go and was successful with their 2-point conversion. 43-25 Thunder.
With 3:36 remaining in the game Czechowicz scores on a 4 yard run. Hauser good on the PAT and the score is now 50-25. I thought the game was over but Freeport sneaked in a score and PAT making the final score Thunder 50, Freeport 32.
This was a great game it was good to see the Thunder players have success for as hard as they work. Congratulation on your win and be safe at homecoming.
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Thanks Paul
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