BEAR RIVER FOOTBALL FALLS IN OPENER

The Bear River Bruin football team put up a great fight in the back and forth contest on Friday night at Bear River High School when they hosted the Pacheco Panthers who drove 160 mile for the game. but in the end the bigger, faster and more experienced visiting team won 35-29.

The Bruins had a shot late in the game but quarterback Austin Smith had very little time to find a receiver as the Panthers blitzed. Smith who played clean all game was picked as he attempted to thrown the ball to the lone receiver who was being double teamed as he ran a fly route.

In early action the Bruins jumped out to an early lead on a TD pass from Smith to Travis Whitehead which capped a 97 yard very impressive drive. Then BR added another score by John Voter who punched it in from the 1 to move the score to 14-0. The Panthers top scorer from 2013 Frank Ginda (6'2" 227lbs) caught a pass and and ran 47 yards to put Pacheco on the board. Smith then answered with another TD toss, this time to Dave Mastrella to give the Bruins a 22-8 lead with just over 3 min to play in the half. Pacheco went right back to their big man Ginda who again delivered on a 61 yard score as time ran down going into the half. The halftime score was 22-15 BR.

Coming out of the locker room the Panthers drover down the field on their firth possession to knot the score at 22 all. Pacheco followed up with another score for a 29-22 lead. Smith followed up by firing a strike to Ryan Wagner with 9:04 to play in the game to once again knot the score at 29-29.  The Panthers proceeded to drive the ball down the field and score but was called back from the 50 as there was a holding call. that mishap didn't slow the Panthers down as they ate up the yards, Bear River's timeouts as well as the clock on way to the games final score.

Smith had a very good showing as he was efficient and made good reads in the pocket  in his season debut in his senior season. Kyle Uclaray looked quick out of the back field and at times the defense pressured the the Panthers offense but late in the game they just couldn't get a stop when they needed it.

The Bruins take to the field again on Friday night when they host Union Mine,

JV
Bear River JV team also fell in their season opener 15-0.