Shocking late 80-yard score propels Bainbridge to 34-28 win

Perhaps it was the electricity in the air, but Bainbridge’s game Friday night against Olympic had a crackling finish.

A few minutes before lightning flashed in the eastern sky, the Spartans finally got the breakthrough they needed after trailing for the entire second half.

Senior running back Cal Breen took a short pass from quarterback Gabriel Todd and charged down the right sideline. He evaded tacklers, broke into the open field and with 10 yards to go, no doubt a little tired after sprinting 70 yards, had to break free of one final defender to score. He crossed the goal line, and Bainbridge took a 34-28 lead with three minutes left in the game.

“I just saw green and tried to get into the end zone,” Breen said.

After one final stop on defense, Bainbridge was in victory formation. That unit had recovered from yielding 21 points in the second quarter and, led by big plays from Axel Gibson, Sasha Herrmann, Brian Taylor, Micah Bryant and Matt LeDorze, held the Trojans scoreless in the second half.

Bainbridge coach Jeff Rouser said: “It was pretty fun to watch. That’s a hell of a recovery from last week,” when the team was blanked by Sequim. It also won its first game with a come-from-behind victory.

Breen had the big night for the Spartans, catching six passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 41 yards on the ground. He was in sync all night with quarterback Gabriel Todd, who threw for 288 yards and four scores.

“It was a great team win. Everyone contributed tonight,” Breen said.

The offense was hot early as the Spartans hit the scoreboard midway through the first quarter. Todd swung a pass out to Breen, who dodged a defender and scampered into the end zone from 8 yards out. Just before the end of the stanza, Jack Mielke fielded a low punt from Olympic and returned it 50 yards for a score.

The Trojans answered when Kamano Ruis scored on a 4-yard run.

Bainbridge got back downfield in a hurry. After Todd hit Mielke for a 14-yard gain, he connected with sophomore receiver Luke Lavigne on a deep bomb that went for a 31-yard TD.

But for the rest of the half, it was the Trent Feistner show. Olympic’s senior star finished the night with 28 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns that gave Olympic a 21-20 lead at the break.

Feistner then opened the second half with an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It looked like the game could be a repeat of the previous week against Sequim, which dominated the line of scrimmage with a power running game. But the defense stiffened, allowing few big gains and first downs. The front seven was able to overcome Olympic’s talented offensive line.

“It was here, man,” Rouser said, pointing to his chest. “It was all heart.”

Still, as good as the offense had been, they were two scores behind as time wound down in the third quarter. They would squander a couple of golden opportunities, but Todd hit receiver Alan Ullin for a 9-yard touchdown with just 13 seconds to go in the third.

A turnover late in the fourth quarter gave Olympic the ball with good field position, but the defense held and forced a field that was missed.

One play later, Breen was flying down the right sideline for the winning score.

“I’m not giving myself credit. I’m giving them credit,” Rouser said. “They persevered.”

Bainbridge 34, Olympic 28

Oly 0 21 7 0 — 28

BI 14 6 6 8 — 34

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Bainbridge — Cal Breen 8 pass from Gabriel Todd (Jack Mielke kick)

Bainbridge — Mielke 50 punt return (Mielke kick)

Second Quarter

Olympic — Kamano Ruis 4 run (Kennedy kick)

Bainbridge — Luke Lavigne 31 pass from Todd (kick failed)

Olympic — Trent Feistner 12 run (Kennedy kick)

Olympic — Feistner 18 run (Kennedy kick)

Third Quarter

Olympic — Feistner 87 kick return (Kennedy kick)

Bainbridge — Alan Ullin 9 pass from Todd (conversion failed)

Fourth Quarter

Bainbridge — Breen 80 pass from Todd (Ullin pass from Todd)

Individual Statistics

Passing — Bainbridge: Todd 17-30-288, 4 TDs, INT. Olympic: Boschee-Perry 7-17-94, INT.

Rushing — Bainbridge: Breen 6-41; Mielke 4-25; Miller 5-18; Todd 4-(-12). Olympic: Feistner 28-157, 2 TDs; Ruis 9-23, TD; Gauyan 3-9; Kennedy 1-(-6); Boschee-Perry 2-(-7).

Receiving — Bainbridge: Breen 6-134, 2 TDs; Lavigne 3-50, TD; Mielke 2-39; Taylor 3-36; Ullin 3-29, TD. Olympic: Gaudiz-Macadangdang 1-41; Rizzo 2-31; Feistner 2-15; Quitevis 1-5; Ruis 1-2.