For the first time in 10 years the Dayton Bulldogs overcame the Brearley Bears. With their 28-12 victory, the Bulldogs captured a conference championship and improved to 8-1, capping off their only winning season since 1999 and picking up some steam going into their first playoff berth since 1988.
The Bears started the game with an unsuccessful onside kick, giving the Bulldogs the ball at their own 48 yard line, but Dayton could not capitalize on their good field position and were forced to punt after only three plays on the first drive.
The Bulldogs defense answered by delivering Brearley a 3 and out of their own, and after a 19 yard punt return, Dayton held the ball on the Bear 31 yard line.
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A couple of strong runs gave the Bulldogs a quick first down. Then a short run, an imcomplete pass into the end zone, and a pass for a loss of 3 yards left Dayton with a fourth and 11 on the Brearley 22 yard line. Quarterback John Hoehn found receiver Aaron Williams on the next play for a gain a 15 yards and a first down. Dayton ran the ball twice, fighting their way to the 1 yard line. On the next play, a quarterback keeper, John Hoehn rushed for the Bulldog’s first touchdown of the day. After Mike Hess’s successful extra point kick, Dayton was leading 7-0.
With 5:42 remaining in the first quarter, the Bears started their second drive on their own 24 yard line. Brearley ran the ball for the next 11 plays, fighting for 4 first downs and pushing the Bulldog defense back. As the first quarter came to an end, Dayton was still up by 7.
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Brearley kept pushing their way toward the end zone, but after a sack by freshman defensive back Anthony Cioffi and a reception that was stopped just short of a first down, the Bulldogs had the ball again on their own 4 yard line.
The Bulldog’s next drive was unsuccessful, and Brearley started again with the ball at midfield. They stuck to their run-heavy strategy, relying greatly on the speed and strength of quarterback Allen Phillips. Once again the Bears looked poised to score, but the Bulldogs defense continued to play tough in the red zone. Bulldog Defensive back Jesse Bell kept Brearley out of the end zone by forcing and recovering a fumble on the one yard line. As the half came to a close, the Bears were still scoreless.
The Bears received to start the third quarter, but their first drive was halted at midfield on a fourth down stop by the Bulldogs defense.
After pushing forward into Bear territory on the next drive, Hoehn completed a 21 yard touchdown pass to junior Skylar Apicella. Another successful PAT kick by Hess improved the Dayton lead to 14-0.
The Bears kept eating at the clock with the run game and as the third quarter ended, Brearley was threatening to score.
Brearley started the fourth quarter on the Bulldog 25 yard line. A 1 yard run followed by an incomplete pass to the end zone gave the Bears a third and 9. A sack by Bulldog linebacker Chris Maslo for a loss of 2 yards forced Brearley into a long fourth down situation that they could not convert. Again the Dayton Defense had held strong in red zone.
On the next Dayton drive, a botched toss was fumbled and recovered by Bear linebacker Wayne Hanns on the Bulldog 11 yard line. Brearley took advantage of the opportunity with an 11 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Allen Phillips to wide receiver Mathew Padlo. An unsuccessful two point conversion made the score 14-6 with 7:50 remaining in the game.
Any momentum that Brearley gained was lost on the first play of the next Bulldog drive, when a fake reverse led to a 65 yard touchdown run by junior running back Jesse Bell. Hess’s third successful extra point kick brought the score to 21-6 Dayton.
The Bears would not give up. Their next drive led to a one-yard touchdown rush by running back John McCormick, but after another unsuccessful two point conversion, the score was 21-12 with 4:41 remaining in the game.
Dayton was forced to punt on the next drive, but Brearley fumbled the return and it was recovered by the Bulldogs on the Bears 20 yard line. First down was a one-yard run. Second down was a 19 yard touchdown run on a sweep to the left by Skyler Apicella, his second TD of the game. Mike Hess kicked in his fourth extra point and the score was 28-12 Dayton with 1:26 remaining.
The next Brearley drive was stopped in 4 plays. Hoehn kneeled the ball to end the game, and Dayton students attempted to rush the field before quickly being turned back by game officials. Still, their excitement was understandable: Dayton had won the conference championship and beaten Brearley for the first time in a decade.
As the Bulldogs gathered after the game to hear their coach speak, senior lineman Daniel Dubeau could be heard saying, “Enjoy this until Monday, then it’s back to work.”
The Bulldogs still have the playoffs ahead of them. The first round begins next Saturday.
