BonnerSprings.com

Kansas City, Kan. — One week after having its homecoming weekend spoiled by Mill Valley, the Bonner Springs football team decided to ruin Piper’s big night.

Fueled by big plays and a stout run defense, the Braves defeated the Pirates 35-13 in a game that was not as close as the score may indicate.

After fumbling on the Piper 3-yard line on its first possession, Bonner Springs quarterback Brandon Eastland opened the second possession by hitting senior halfback Jeremy Walker for 31 yards down to the 3-yard line again. Fullback Max Barren ran the next play to the goal line and fumbled. For a brief second it looked as if BSHS had turned the ball over in the redzone again, but Jeremy Walker fell on the ball as it crossed the goal line for the touchdown and 7-0 lead.

“We don’t want that kind of stuff (fumbles) to deflate us,” BSHS coach Lew Kasselman said. “The kids bounced back from that first possession though.”

Piper struck back quickly by marching 63 yards in four plays. The Pirates tied the game at 7-7 when quarterback Joel Wright found a streaking Dylan Hays for a 21-yard touchdown.

Bonner answered even quicker.

On the first play of the next possession Jonathan Walker went 67 yards untouched for the score and the 14-7 Bonner lead.

BSHS tacked on another score when Eastland found Chris Smith for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining in the half, and took the 21-7 lead into the locker room.

On the opening kickoff of the second half Jeremy Walker exploded down the sideline, stiff-armed one would-be-tackler and switched into another gear. The 78-yard return was exactly what BSHS needed to shock the energetic Piper crowd.

“I just wanted to score a touchdown really bad,” said Jeremy Walker, who fought the flu all week and was seen huddled over a trash can in the middle of the game. “My line blocked for me really well on that play and I saw a hole an ran through it.”

The Braves tacked on another quick touchdown after a blocked punt. For the second time in the game Jonathan Walker ran in a touchdown on the only play of a possession — this time an 18-yarder.

“Anytime those guys (the Walkers) touch the ball they have a chance for a big, big play,” Kasselman said. “It makes play calling a lot easier on us to know that they have that ability.”

Piper’s Jasper Sanders tacked on a late touchdown to make the score 35-13.

Against Piper, the Braves exhibited the energy level they had in their first two victories of the season and the second half of the Lansing defeat. They showed that they were the better team in all facets of the game, but according to Kasselman, the offensive line play was the difference in this victory.

“We worked a lot with our O-line this week … getting off the ball, how they established the line of scrimmage,” he said. “We got some movement, some push tonight. We really needed a win like this.”

BSHS improved to 3-2 for the year. It next plays at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Turner (1-4). It marks the final Kaw Valley League game of the season for the Braves before they head into district play against Highland Park, Shawnee Heights and Topeka Seaman.

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