Olentangy Berlin traveled down the road to Orange Township Friday night to face a now familiar foe, the Olentangy Orange Pioneers. The Bears lead the all-time series over the Pioneers, 2-0, with wins by a score of 31-24 and 17-0.
The Bears came out of the gates swinging, with QB Harrison Brewster rushing for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off the opening drive. Just moments later, on Orange’s first play from scrimmage, QB Levi Davis was intercepted by Berlin’s Angelo Johnson who returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown. The Bears now held a commanding 14-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
The Pioneers trotted back out and put together a 15 play, 70 yard drive that brought them within seven. QB Levi Davis was successful on a 4th down sneak attempt from the 1-yard line.
Berlin fired right back with Harrison Brewster leading them down the field to put the Bears back up with a comfortable 2 touchdown lead.
Halftime hit with Berlin in the driver's seat, leading 21-10. The Pioneers field goal was set up by Treyton Schroeder, who intercepted a pass from Berlin’s Brewster and returned it 33 yards to get the Pioneers within Field Goal range. Carter Musgrove split the uprights with a 29-yard Field Goal to send the game into the intermission.
Orange would receive the ball to begin the second half of play. The Pioneers took the ball 80 yards in 9 plays to bring the game within 4 points. Levi Davis’s second touchdown run of the night was set up by a 41-yard completion to WR, Terryn Thomas.
Heading into the final quarter of play, Berlin held a 24-17 lead, courtesy of a 29-yard Field Goal from Spencer Conrad.
With 8 minutes to go in the fourth, Levi Davis would throw his second interception of the night. The Bears proceeded to march down the field. QB Harrison Brewster appeared to be headed for his third touchdown of the night, but fumbled as he was crossing the goal line, which was recovered by Orange’s Kayden Arsaline.
This appeared to be the new life that the Pioneers needed. Despite this, the Bears defense stood tall as Levi Davis tossed his third interception of the night on a crucial 4th down. On the Bears’s first play of the possession, RB Alejandro Aguilar split the defense for a 34-yard touchdown, putting the Bears up 31-17 with just over 2 minutes remaining.
The Pioneers wouldn’t go down without a fight though, they stormed down the field in thirty-one seconds, a drive completed by a 23-yard touchdown reception from Terryn Thomas to bring the game back within one score. Thomas would finish the night with an astounding 8 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Ultimately, the push was too little too late for the Pioneers. The game was sealed by a roughing the punter penalty against Olentangy Orange, allowing Berlin to run the final seconds off the clock as the Pioneers had no timeouts remaining.
The Bears advance to 3-0 all-time against the Pioneers, winning this year’s edition by a final score of 31-24. Berlin QB Harrison Brewster finished 266 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns.