Williamson Co. Battle Goes To Brentwood

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bruins had to fight till the end of the 4th quarter to defeat Centennial but they got the job done in a 28-21 win of previously undefeated Williamson County teams. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most anticipated game of the Week Eight slate lived up to the hype as the Brentwood Bruins fought till the very end to pick up a big 28-21 road win over previously undefeated Centennial. This was an outstanding football game that tested both squads and will make both the Bruins and the Cougars better teams for the long run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game could have easily gone in the favor of Centennial had they not produced five turnovers on the night but they were still right there in the 4th quarter to contend for the victory. Brentwood was just too disciplined and tough on both sides of the ball to give up any ground to the home Cougars.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everything in this game started with Brentwood taking control early in the 1st quarter with a 10-0 after intercepting <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148876' first='Elisha' last='Nieves'] </strong>for the first time of the night. After getting stunned early on, the Cougars woke up and started to make a game of it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long run from Nieves put the Cougars into scoring position where senior two-way talent <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='316773' first='Dominic' last='Reed'] </strong>scored his 1st of two rushing touchdowns of the half, bringing the score to 10-7.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial would take the lead 14-10 on their next possession and then take that lead into the locker room up three. The Cougars did a great job of maintaining their poise after falling down 10-0 to roar back and take the lead heading into the 2nd period. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1034448,"width":625,"height":410,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/20231006_204131-crop-2764x1815-1696699032.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1034448" style="width:625px;height:410px" width="625" height="410" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going into the locker room, you knew this would remain a close game throughout as Brentwood is just too well coached and disciplined to go down without a fight and Centennial wanted this game badly, so something had to give going into the 2nd half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That comeback in the 1st period might have taken some juice out of the Centennial team because in the 2nd period, it was all Brentwood. The Bruins defense came out on a mission in the 2nd period to slow down the Cougars run game and force Nieves to continue throwing the ball down field and that's exactly what happened.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After exchanging punts on the first few possessions of the 2nd half, Brentwood would regain the lead after a short pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='550150' first='Baylor' last='Hayes'] </strong>to <strong>Charlie Mullis </strong>to put the Bruins ahead 20-14.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That score would remain the same into the 4th quarter where Centennial had multiple chances to retake the lead and push closer to victory but a fumble inside the Bruins red zone and two big interceptions would do in the Cougars.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial was able to move the ball pretty well against a very good Bruins defense but on multiple occasions, the Cougars turned the ball over and halted their momentum. It was tough to watch as Centennial put themselves in position several times to take over the game but they just couldn't get the job done.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Brentwood and Centennial put another touchdown on the board to make the final score 28-21 with the Bruins going home with the win. It was a hard fought victory for Brentwood, moving their record 8-0 overall with the Cougars taking their 1st loss of the season, pushing their record to 7-1.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Johnny Silvestri","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brentwood ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The difference maker, the game changer in this contest was Silvestri, who produced four turnovers on the night. The Bruins senior safety picked off Nieves three times and recovered a big Cougars fumble inside the red zone, in the 4th quarter to quiet the crowd. This was the best game yet throughout Silvestri's career and a performance that pushes him closer to earning All-State honors by season's end.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65218efee6abc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - -</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='550150' first='Baylor' last='Hayes'] </strong>- Brentwood: A gunslinger with zip, Hayes really impressed me Friday night displaying a great feel for the game along with the ability to create something out of nothing. He may be slight in weight but Hayes can definitely sling it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(WR) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820916' first='Jyrine' last='Otey'] </strong>- Centennial: Otey made several clutch catches throughout this game to keep Cougar drives going while also providing speed and playmaking abilities that the Bruins secondary had trouble dealing with.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>‘25 (RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='814799' first='Gavyn' last='Nelson'] </strong>- Brentwood: A steady offensive presence throughout the game, Nelson had multiple strong runs that kept drives alive for the Bruins as well as producing a touchdown in the 4th quarter to seal the victory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(LB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='277761' first='D.J.' last='Curll'] </strong>- Centennial: Curll was a force on defense for the Cougars Friday night that the Bruins O-line didn't have many answers for. The senior linebacker made several plays in the Brentwood backfield while also stretching out into space to make plays against the pass.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(DB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207329' first='Jackson' last='Lowe'] </strong>- Brentwood: Tasked with guarding the Cougars top receivers, Lowe did a good job of minimizing receptions and keeping the Centennial playmakers in check most of the night.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>‘25 (LB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301403' first='Aidan' last='Wright'] </strong>- Centennial: Wright has been an excellent addition to the Cougars defense. Last night was some of the best play I've seen yet from this junior edge rusher as the Bruins offensive tackles had a hard time dealing with his bend and speed off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1034446,"width":573,"height":376,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/20231006_191954-crop-2764x1815-1696698664.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1034446" style="width:573px;height:376px" width="573" height="376" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->