Monarchs Felled By Sperringer, Bruins
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MOUNDSVILLE - Early in the week Brooke head coach Mac McLean wasn't sure which Sperringer - senior Braelyn or sophomore Ty - would start at quarterback because of an injury to the older brother.
With Braelyn nursing an undisclosed injury on the sideline, his younger brother put on quite a show to help the visiting Bruins (5-3) spoil John Marshall's Homecoming, 49-23, on the artificial surface at Monarch Stadium.
The 5-10, 155-pounder accounted for 333 yards of total offense to spark the runaway win and avenge a loss last year. Sperringer ran the ball just four times but picked up 161 yards which featured an 80-yard dash up the middle of the field on the first play of the third quarter. The scoring jaunt upped the Bruins lead to 35-10 after Rocco Sacripanti's PAT.
"I knew he was capable of it. We know the kid had the ability, but to go out there being a sophomore in a situation like that speaks volumes about the kid," McLean said. "I know big brother was over there cheering him on."
John Marshall (1-7) took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on eight plays to take a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Kayden Knapp rolled to his right before throwing back across the field where speedy Dimario White caught it at the Bruins' 30 and continued to the end zone to complete the 49-yard catch-and-run. Conor Fitzpatrick was good with his kick.
Brooke answered with a 10-play, 80-yard march that was capped by a 12-yard scoring pass from Sperlazza to Jace Campinelli in the right flat. Sacripanti evened things after one quarter at 7.
The Bruins made it 13-7 early in the second quarter when Sperringer and Campinelli once again hooked up, this time from 6 yards out. Sperringer was under pressure as John Marshall's Victor McElwee had a hold of his jersey, but Sperringer somehow got the ball away and Sperringer caught it just inside the end zone.
John Marshall fumbled on its next possession and Brooke's Chase Felouzis recovered at the Monarchs' 40.
Two plays later, Sperringer found Anthony Bachinski from 8 yards out as the score increased to 21-7 after Gavin Moore's two-point run.
Bachinski set Brooke up with good field position as he returned a punt 40 yards to the JM 15. He was rewarded with a 11-yard scoring pass from Sperringer for a 28-7 lead.
Fitzpatrick booted a 40-yard field goal as the first half ended with the Bruins ahead, 28-10.
"We didn't stop them one time tonight. They didn't punt one time," John Marshall head coach Mark Cisar said. "We can't get off the field on defense."
Another reason for the Monarchs lack of offense was Brooke kicker Chase Hile who was 7-for-8 on touchbacks, the lone time he failed came after a penalty on the Bruins' extra-point.
"Starting at our own 20 on nearly every possession didn't help, but it all boils down to being able to stop the other team, and we didn't do that."
McLean said he's glad to have a weapon like Hile.
"I think Chase is a special kid. He has another year and I think he is going to draw a lot of college interest," McLean noted.
The Monarchs' Maverick LeMasters carried the load as he ran the ball 30 times for 185 yards and scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season in the third quarter.
"Incredible effort. He runs hard," Cisar said of LeMasters. "He's a good athlete and a good kid."
Sperringer and Bachinski connected from 6 yards out and Campinelli ran in from 2 yards to cap Brooke's scoring.
Knapp had a 1-yard run in between those last two Brooke scores.
The Bruins accounted for more than 400 yards on offense as Sperringer - after misfiring on his first pass attempt - completed his final 11 for 172 yards and the career-high five TDs.
Bachinski caught five passes for 77 yards and two scores while Campinelli landed four for 52 and a pair of TDs.
Brooke travels to Wheeling Island next Friday to meet Wheeling Park, while John Marshall heads to Parkersburg South.
Lauren Rice and Brody Williams were Homecoming Queen and King, respectively.