After a win by Rachel Williams in the Homecoming Court, Long Beach and West Harrison took the field for what turned out to be an exciting match.
As the captains and honorary captains from both teams took the field, West Harrison received the ball first. After a quick back and forth on both sides to start the game, the Bearcats put the ball in the endzone on a short run by star RB Dennis Andrews with 5:45 left in the 1st quarter.
Long Beach closed out the quarter with another score with 1:50 left in the quarter on the back of Cade Crosby on a QB keeper.
Unlike the rolling thunder that threatened overhead, the Hurricanes were quiet as the Bearcats put up another score making the score 21-0 with 10:47 left in the half.
However, the Hurricanes would not keep quiet for long as they were able to wear down the Bearcats’ defense and score two unanswered touchdowns within about a two-minute timespan. Those touchdowns came after gritty drives under the leadership of West Harrison quarterback Dayln Anderson.
The Hurricanes looked like they would rally and take the lead before the end of the half but the Long Beach defense hunkered down and stayed strong. That allowed Long Beach to drive down field and score with a short run by Crosby, made possible by a 69-yard run on the back of RB Dennis Andrews. That made the score 28-14 Long Beach with 4:28 left in the half, giving the Bearcats enough time to make the drive down their field and score once again — this time leaving on 22 seconds left in the half.
Crosby was the last player on either side to score for the half, closing it out, 34-14.
As the second half got underway, Long Beach received the ball and turned it over to the ‘Canes, giving them the opportunity to make this half their own.
The ‘Canes would indeed capitalize on the opportunity with a successful drive to the endzone, ending with a QB keeper by Dayln Anderson trying to close the gap at 34-21 with 9:14 left in the third quarter.
It looked as if the Hurricanes would rally, but the Bearcats defense had other plans, forcing a safety with 1:24 left in the third.
As the fourth quarter began, an exchange in drives ensued until Long Beach drove down to the two, where Cade Crosby ran it for another Bearcat touchdown with 10:40 left in the game.
With the score 43-21 in Long Beach’s favor, the West Harrison defense did what it could to prevent falling further behind.
With 6:01 left in the game, the ‘Canes’ defense came up short, allowing RB Dennis Andrews to run the ball in for another touchdown, bringing the score 50-21 Long Beach after a completed FG.
West Harrison’s defense would hold on long enough for their offense to go back down the field and score on an astounding 35-yard pass to receiver Darrion Brown by QB Dalyn Anderson. After the completed FG, the score became 50-28 Long Beach with only 1:55 left in this Home-coming game.
With the game coming to a close and everyone starting to pack things up, Long Beach drove back the defense to the 7 yard line so that Kobe Cook could run the ball in for the game’s final touchdown. After a completed FG, the final score of this Homecoming Game was 56 Long Beach, 28 West Harrison.
“It was a great effort and we were just about clicking on all cylinders thanks to the work that was put forth by all the players, especially the seniors,” said Long Beach Head Football Coach Forrest Williams after the game.
