Still in the thick of things

Line proves tough in Bruins’ pivotal win

By Adam Krohn

ROME — Two turnovers leading to two scores for the opposition and 10 penalties for 65 yards might not seem like good ingredients in a recipe for victory.

But led by the legs of quarterback Chad Keeter and the right arm of defensive back Brien Bush, the Northwest Whitfield Bruins were able to overcome several miscues in a 17-13 win against Rome on Friday night at Barron Stadium in Sub-region 7A-4A play.

“Our team just kept playing,” Bruins coach Mike Falleur said. “They made plays when they had to make a play and that’s the bottom line. Tonight this group made some mistakes, but they made plays when they had to.”

The win — Northwest’s first against Rome since 2000 — assures the Bruins (5-2, 4-0 in 7A-4A) a spot in a region playoff game that will decide a state playoff berth.

The top teams from each sub-region play for the 7-4A championship, while the No. 2 and 3 seeds from each sub-region meet in playoff games to determine the final two state playoff spots. Last season, Northwest missed out on state for the first time since 2005.

The Wolves (3-5, 2-3) are in serious danger of missing the state playoffs for the first time since 1999. Last season, they finished 11-3 and reached the Class 4A state semifinals.

Keeter rushed 25 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns, keeping the ball on the option and breaking several long runs to pace the rushing attack.

“Our line was playing terrific,” Keeter said. “(Offensive lineman) Greg (Weaver) would pull out when we ran (the option) and he’d lead block for me every time and he was just opening a lane up and it was working perfectly.”

The Wolves had a chance to win. They trailed by the final margin with 2:46 left, but had possession on their own 32. Reggie Whatley appeared to break open a sure touchdown run when Bush went across the field and dove to make a game-saving, one-armed tackle in the open field after Whatley had gained 11 yards. Four plays later, with the Wolves facing fourth-and-3, Whatley fumbled a handoff exchange for a 7-yard loss to seal Rome’s fate.

Bush said making the play on Whatley — limited to 68 yards on eight carries — was a matter of being in position.

“I just rolled down, read my keys and saw him with the ball,” said Bush, who also had an interception in the first half. “I just watched his hips and got him by his thighs.”

The Bruins scored first with a minute left in the first quarter on a 1-yard run from Keeter. On the drive, Keeter completed a 13-yard pass after a false start penalty pushed the Bruins to third-and-12, then found senior tight end Tyler Arnold in the end zone for the two-point conversion.

Northwest let the Wolves back into the game with a Mike Martin fumble and Keeter interception on consecutive possessions in the second quarter. Rome answered with a field goal, then a 17-yard touchdown run by Deonte Dennis — who had 92 yards on 17 carries — to give Rome a 10-8 lead.

But the Bruins took possession with 4:14 left in the first half and moved the ball 70 yards on eight plays in three minutes, scoring on a 2-yard run by Keeter, who had runs of 25 and 18 on the drive. However, Rome blocked Oscar Solarzano’s PAT and the Bruins led 14-10 heading into halftime.

Rome’s drive to start the second half ended with an Ansel Beacham 29-yard field goal to pull the Wolves within a point, but he missed a 34-yard field goal with 9:39 remaining in the game that would have given the Wolves a 16-14 lead. On the ensuing drive, Northwest put together a devastating 13-play, six-minute drive that ended with a Solarzano 25-yard field goal at the 2:50 mark.

“The line of scrimmage was the difference,” Wolves coach Sid Fritts said. “(Northwest’s) offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and controlled the football and we were very fortunate they gave us a couple of turnovers to get us some opportunities to get some points on the board.”

Lance Andrews added 50 yards on eight carries and Martin 38 on 11. On defense, Nermin Delic had one sack and teamed up with Tevon Tucker for another.

BRUINS 17, WOLVES 13

SCORE BY QUARTERS

N. Whitfield 8 6 0 3 — 17

Rome 0 10 3 0 — 13

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

NOR — Chad Keeter 1 run (Tyler Arnold pass from Keeter), 1:00

Second Quarter

ROM — FG Ansel Beacham 21, 5:25

ROM — Deonte Dennis 17 run (Beacham kick), 4:29

NOR — Keeter 2 run (kick failed), 1:18

Third Quarter

ROM — FG Beacham 29, 6:18

Fourth Quarter

NOR — FG Oscar Solarzano 25, 2:50

YARDSTICK

NOR ROM

First Downs 15 12

Rushes-Yds. 48-264 31-165

Passing Yds. 13 60

Com.-Att.-Int. 1-5-1 5-12-1

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-0

Punts-Avg 2-17 1-15

Penalties-Yds. 10-65 1-5

Turnovers 2 1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Northwest: Chad Keeter 25-165, Lance Andrews 8-50, Mike Martin 11-38, Zach Sloan 2-11, Wesley Bell 1-0, Keon Thomas 1-0; Rome: Deonte Dennis 17-92, Reggie Whatley 8-68, Malcom Watkins 6-5

PASSING — Northwest: Keeter 1-4-1 13; Sloan 0-1-0 0; Rome: Watkins 5-12-1 60

RECEIVING — Northwest: Bell 1-13; Rome: Stephen Gaylor 2-28, Bobby McCreary 1-4, Whatley 1-2