BonnerSprings.com

In the spirit of Halloween, Bonner Springs definitely got a trick in the place of a treat from Topeka’s Seaman High School on Friday at David Jaynes Stadium.

The Vikings gave the Braves their most lopsided loss in recent memory, 51-0, in the final football game of the season for BSHS.

“The kids played hard tonight, but (Seaman) was a lot better than us tonight. We have to get bigger, stronger, faster,” BSHS coach Lew Kasselman said. “A lot of times this season we were just out-manned in areas. That happened tonight. We need to get stronger in those areas and we need to get in the weight room and get after it.”

Seaman set the tone on its opening drive as it marched 73 yards on 12 plays, culminating with a 15-yard touchdown run up the middle by senior tailback Spencer Vanderbogart.

“They hurt us on first down,” Kasselman said. “We couldn’t get them in long yardage situations on second and third downs. We were just getting steam-rolled out of there and we couldn’t make plays.”

Bonner Springs went three-and-out on its first possession and was forced to punt. Seaman took over on its own 44-yard line. Eight plays later, Vanderbogart marched into the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown run.

Another BSHS three-and-out, followed by a long punt return by Seaman, had the Vikings rolling. They used a trick play to score their third touchdown. Vanderbogart received a toss to the right side, but as defenders closed in on him, he stopped and lobbed a perfect pass to tight end Stephen Cooksley, who waltzed into the end zone and made the score 21-0.

The stunned Braves got the ball back, but again they were unable to move it. Senior quarterback Brandon Eastland lined up to punt from his own 29-yard line when linebacker Jordan James crashed through and blocked his attempt. James scooped up the ball and ran it in for a score from 16 yards out. Suddenly, Seaman led 28-0.

The Braves’ offense totaled 36 yards in the first half and did not fare much better in the second. They managed only six first downs on the evening. Senior tailback Max Barren was held to 20 yards on nine carries.

Vanderbogart rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns to go along with his throwing touchdown.

The Braves honored 14 seniors and their families prior to the final game of their careers.

“We are proud of the seniors,” Kasselman said. “They did everything we asked of them over the years. I just wish it could have turned out differently for them. All of the underclassmen looked up to those guys.”

BSHS ends the season with a 3-6 record, but for a 15-year coach, it doesn’t take long to start thinking about 2010.

“It seems like we just got started yesterday, and now the season is over,” Kasselman said. “We have a lot of good young football players, and we will just have to wait and see them next year on the field.”

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