By Rob Adams
Sentinel Reporter
The featured attraction on Friday night at Robert L. Cosby Field was Brunswick hosting Cheshire Academy in a rematch of the 2016 Wayne Sanborn Bowl.
The big partisan Bruins crowd left disappointed, as Cats’ junior quarterback Joshua Comune threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Cheshire won 35-14.
The Cats took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards, capped by a 10-yard scoring run by junior Bryce Sebastian. Post-grad kicker Joe Tacopina converted the first of his five extra points to make the score 7-0.
After the Bruins’ opening drive stalled, Comune struck again, hitting senior receiver Chase Kinzly for a 15-yard score. The throw was perfectly placed over Brunswick senior defensive back Chris Burdick. Kinzly used every inch of his 6-2 frame to secure the ball.
Down 14-0 after one quarter, the Bruins continued to struggle against a strong Cats’ defensive unit. Two turnovers added to the misery, and a second Sebastian touchdown run — this one from six yards out — made it 21-0 with 10:36 left in the half.
The Bruins finally found the end zone just before halftime, as senior quarterback Nicky Henkel dropped in touchdown pass to junior receiver Cornelius Johnson. Chris Chavez hit the extra point to cut the deficit to 21-7.
Brunswick got the ball to start the second half, and had the crowd in its pocked, but another stalled drive put the Cats in business. Cheshire Academy scored later in the quarter, as Comune found Kinzly on third and long to keep the drive alive. Cristos Argys caught an 11-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-7.
In the fourth quarter, Comune found the end zone on a one-yard plunge, as the Cats switched their balanced attack to a ground game assault, with Sebastian and junior Jared Martino running behind a workhorse offensive line.
The Bruins got a final touchdown pass, as Henkel capped the scoring with a 25-yard throw to a wide open Sean Amill.
Cheshire Academy — who beat the Bruins 45-20 in the 2016 Wayne Sanborn Bowl on their home turf — improved to 3-0 on the season, while the Bruins fell to 1-1. The Bruins are home again to host Kent Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
