Golden Bears shut out Van Wert to open season

The Bryan Golden Bears football team opened the 2012 season in dramatic fashion, defeating the Cougars of Van Wert by a score of 56-0 Friday night.  The Bears, favored to win the NWOAL, traveled to Van Wert to open Coach Kevin Kline’s second season at the helm.

Bryan won the toss and needed just one minute and 51 seconds to score the game's opening touchdown, as they took the opening kickoff and started a six-play, 66 yard touchdown drive.  Daniel Pendergrast capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run for the score.  The point after by Tory Savage was good to make it 7-0. 

Van Wert ran five plays and then was forced to punt.  The snap was fumbled, and the Bears recovered on the Van Wert 32.  It took just one play to score as QB Austin Schimmoeller found Derek Knisely who took it to the house.  The PAT was converted again and Bryan led 14-0. 

Van Wert was able to move the ball on their second drive as they went 46 yards in seven plays, but turned the ball over on downs at the Bryan 24 yard line.  The Bears ran five plays and turned it back over to Van Wert on downs.  The Cougars could do nothing and punted it away.

The Bears got the ball at their own 41 and took under a minute to go five plays, finishing off the drive with a 16 yard pass from Schimoeller to Pendergast.  The point after by Savage was good making it 21-0.

The Bears weren’t done yet.  Following a Van Wert punt, Austin Schimmoeller finished off a 42 yard, one minute drive, with 11 yard touchdown.  Savage’s PAT was good and the Bears led 28-0.

Van Wert put together another drive but it stalled at Bryan’s 19 yard line and the Cougars turned it over on downs.  The Bears marched 81 yards in nine plays, taking 2:54 off the clock.  Travis Peters scored on a 15 yard run off tackle.  The conversion was good and the Bears went up 35-0.

The Cougars went three-and-out and the Bears got the ball at the Van Wert 31 yard line with 44 seconds remaining in the first half.  Two plays later, Daniel Pendergast caught a 15 yard pass from Austin Schimmoeller to make it 42-0.  That was the score at the half.

The second half started much like the first for Van Wert.  They got the opening kickoff, and went three-and-out.  On the ensuing punt, a bad snap occurred and Bryan tackled the punter on the Cougar 18.  With the short field, the Bears put together a quick 1:15 drive.  Schimmoeller finished it off with a 10 yard touchdown run.  Savage’s PAT made it 49-0.

The Cougars went three-and-out on their next possession.  The Bears got the ball back and went three-and-out as well.  On the ensuing possession, Van Wert fumbled and Brandon Poncsak recovered on the Van Wert 43 yard line.

This drive was a strange one for the Bryan Golden Bears as they went six plays and then reserve quarterback Brandon Dean threw an interception.  On the interception return, Van Wert’s Logan Ray fumbled the football and Bryan recovered on the Cougar 22.

At this point, Bryan was playing many younger reserves.  Dean put together a 22 yard touchdown drive, capped by the first ever varsity touchdown for Lane Azzarello, a 10 yard scamper.  Azzarello would later be named the GBSN/Bills Locker Room III Player of the Game.  Tory Savage’s 8^th PAT was good and the Bears led 56-0.  That was the final score, as the Bears shut out the Cougars in the opener. 

Austin Schimmoeller led all rushers with 107 yards on 10 carries and two rushing touchdowns.  Ryan Peters had 23 yards and Brock Minor had 19 yards rushing. Schimmoeller went 12-18 for 164 yards passing, and 3 TD passes.  He threw no interceptions. 

Schimmoeller’s favorite targets were Daniel Pendergrast (2 catches for 53 yards) and Sean Culler (2 catches for 44 yards).   

Van Wert’s Tyler Williams was 3 of 14 passing for 31 yards.  He added 71 yards on 11 rushes.

With the win, the Golden Bears are now 1-0 on the season.  They will face Archbold at home next Friday night in what will be the 1000^th football game in Bryan High School history.  You can listen to the game at BryanSports.com and AM 1520 WQCT and watch football rebroadcasts every Saturday night at 7:00 PM on BMU Cable Channel 3.