JM Tramples Brooke, 27-0

Photo by Cody Nespor John Marshall’s Klypson Wallce runs the ball against Brooke during the Monarchs’ 27-0 win Friday night.
WELLSBURG — In a game where both teams got their starting quarterback back from an injury, it was John Marshall’s defense that stole the show as the Monarchs trampled local rival Brooke 27-0 inside Brooke Memorial Stadium Friday night.
Two big momentum swings right before and after halftime both went the Monarchs’ (4-3) way as they spoiled the Bruins’ (4-3) Homecoming festivities.
“Our defense was outstanding and special teams was great once again,” JM coach Mark Cisar said. “The offense was a little bit sluggish at the beginning and then we kind of got in our groove a little bit and did what we needed to do.”
Despite both teams having their starting signal-callers back under center — Jacob Coffield, who did not play offense last week, for JM and Braelyn Sperringer, who has been out since week one, for Brooke — the game was scoreless through most of the first half.
The Monarchs botched a field goal attempt because of a bad snap and Brooke fumbled the ball away on a 20-yard pass, but otherwise very little was happening offensively before halftime until John Marshall’s Conor Fitzpatrick kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:12 left to play.
The Bruins got the ball back after the kickoff and saw their chance to make something happen with a two-minute drill only down 3-0. But Sperringer threw incomplete on all three downs and Brooke punted the ball back to John Marshall after only taking 13 seconds off the clock.
“If I could have one thing back, it would be that series at the end of the first half where we should’ve just ran the ball and ran the time down,” Brooke coach Mac McLean said. “That’s on me, we felt like we had some matchups and we were going to force the ball down the field and we didn’t take any time off the clock.”
Ashton Collett had a 22-yard punt return for JM that was pushed all the way to Brooke’s 18-yard line thanks to a penalty on the Bruins. A few plays later, JM workhorse Klypson Wallace broke into the endzone from a yard out to put the Monarchs up 10-0 at the break.
“Unfortunately, it ended up 10-0 at halftime instead of 3-0 like it should have been and that’s completely on me,” McLean said.
Brooke softball player Angelina Lippoli was crowned Homecoming Queen during a halftime ceremony.
While JM’s larger lead was disappointing for the Bruins, 10 points is far from insurmountable.
“At halftime, they were right in it, they were right there,” Cisar said. “We should have made some plays in the first half that we didn’t make, but we seemed to make them in the second half.”
Brooke looked to swing momentum right back on its side at the start of the third quarter when the Bruins blocked a field goal attempt from Fitzpatrick and Camden Palmer returned it all the way to JM’s 13-yard line. The Bruins would come up empty on the chance, however, after holding and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties forced them into a 4th-and-22. Brooke missed a 41-yard field goal try and John Marshall took over the game from there.
“That was a big letdown,” McLean said. “We got right to their doorstep and then we committed a couple of self-destructing penalties and we killed that drive. We did that too many times tonight to beat a well-coached team like John Marshall.”
“If they score there, that changes the whole complex of the game, they would be right back in it,” Cisar added. “Our defense did a great job, especially right there.”
Wallace found the endzone again on the ensuing John Marshall drive, set up by a 45-yard pass play from Coffield to Brennan Sobutka, as the Monarchs’ lead swelled to 17.
A bad snap ruined Brooke’s next possession and JM again took advantage with Coffield finding Collett for a 26-yard score. Fitzpatrick tacked on a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the 27-0 final.
Brooke onever established its offense, running for only 26 yards on 14 attempts, and only gained two first downs after halftime.
“Our defensive coaches did a great job this week,” Cisar said. “We had a great gameplan putting pressure on them and reading our keys. You could tell because most of the stuff that they did that usually works, we were all over.”
John Marshall ran the ball 50 times as a team, 26 of which went to Wallace for 138 yards and two scores. Brooke meanwhile only ran 49 offensive snaps.
“Offensively, we just blew opportunities,” McLean said. “We got into, and then penalized ourself out of, scoring position.”
Sperringer finished 10-of-25 for 77 yards. He ran the ball twice for 14 yards.
“Any quarterback that comes back after a layoff like that is going to have a little bit of rust,” McLean said. “I think we’re still a little hesitant to run him, which is a big part of his game.”
Coffield threw for 132 yards and a touchdown on 7-of-11 accuracy.
John Marshall 27, Brooke 0
JM 0 10 14 3 — 27
Brooke 0 0 0 0 — 0
JM — Fitzpatrick field goal 27
JM — Wallace run 1 (Fitzpatrick kick)
JM — Wallace run 1 (Fitzpatrick kick)
JM — Collet pass 26 from Coffield (Fitzpatrick kick)
JM — Fitzpatrick field goal 39
RUSHING: John Marshall 50-138-2td (Wallace 26-125-2td; Coffield 16-22; Hartman 1-(-12); Riding 2-2; Deem 2-7; Adkins 1-(-1); Wells 1-(-5); Goddard 1-0). Brooke 14-26 (Campenelli 6-(-19); Sperringer 2-14; Moore 4-36; Taylor 1-2; Bachinski 1-(-7)).
PASSING: John Marshall 7-11 132-td (all Coffield). Brooke 10-25 77 (all Sperringer).
RECEIVING: John Marshall 7-132-td (Bra. Sobutka 2-21; White 2-41; Collet 2-25-td; Bre. Sobutka 1-45).
FIRST DOWNS: John Marshall 18. Brooke 5.
FUMBLES: Brooke 1-1.
PENALTIES. John Marshall 8-70. Brooke 9-81.