Goal line stand preserves Brahmas' 34-33 win
By ROLAND ORSAK

EAST BERNARD - The East Bernard Brahmas pulled out an amazing 34-33 win as the Van Vleck Leopards failed on a two point conversion with no time left on the clock in a futile attempt to win the game on the last play.

East Bernard linebacker Chris Plunkett stopped the Leopards' Michael Alliniece on a quarterback keeper off the right side at the one yard line with no time left to give the Brahmas the hardfought win.

The final drive by Van Vleck started at their own 28-yard line with 1:17 left in the game and culminated in a 38- yard touchdown pass from Alliniece to Torrian Miller as time expired.

The first half was dominated by the Brahmas on both sides of the ball, but in the second half, the Van Vleck offense showed off its speed.

East Bernard got on the scoreboard first. The Bulls took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in 12 plays, with a score by Lance Crump on an 8-yard run. Chris Plunkett added the point after and East Bernard was up 7-0 with 6:45 left in the first quarter. Plunkett also added an 18-yard run on a third down and short to keep the scoring drive alive.

The East Bernard defense set up the next Bulls' score when the Leopards decided to go for it on fourth down and seven from the Brahma 42.

Tyler Kramr sacked Van Vleck's quarterback Alliniece for a 14-yard loss all the way back to the 46-yard line. East Bernard quarterback Matt Stelzel found receiver Cameron Mazoch all alone in the left end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Plunkett added the extra point to complete the 6 play, 46- yard drive and put the Bulls up 14-0 with 34 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Brahma defense stepped up again to set up the offense in great field position. Van Vleck attempted a fake punt on a fourth and eight from their own 34 yard line, but the direct snap to the up back Alliniece was crushed by the Brahmas, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Randy Perkins at the 30 yard line.

East Bernard scored five plays later when Plunkett took it in from four yards out to finish off a 5-play drive. The point after was no good to make the score 20-0 in East Bernard's favor with 1:51 left to play in the half.

Van Vleck answered back on their next play from scrimmage. Quarterback Alliniece found tight end Ramong Howell in the flat and the tight end sprinted 52 yards for the touchdown with 1:36 left to go in the half. Cheavon Richardson added the extra point to make the score 20-7 at the half.

Van Vleck started off the scoring in the second half when Brahma Cameron Mazoch fumbled at the Leopards 33 yard line and Torrian Miller picked it up and raced 67 yards for the touchdown. The point after was not good to keep the score at 20-13.

East Bernard regained the momentum when Luis Roldan scored from 7 yards out to close out an 8 play, 62 yard drive. Plunkett added the point after to make it 27-13 with 5:48 left in the third quarter. Van Vleck came right back and scored on a 1-yard run by Michael Alliniece, but the two point run by Alliniece failed to keep the score at 27-19 with 2:38 left in the third.

East Bernard completed another long drive and finished off with a 5- yard run by Matt Stelzel. Plunkett will add the point after to make it 34-19 with 7:00 left in the game. The Leopards got a 60-yard kick return by Terrance Alliniece all the way to the East Bernard 25 yard line to start their next possession. He then finished off the quick drive on a 12-yard run.

Michael Alliniece added the two point conversion to make it 34-27. East Bernard got the ball back twice after the score, but couldn't put the game away, leading to the exciting last drive by Van Vleck.

East Bernard finished the game with 24 first downs and 422 yards of total offense. Plunkett finished with 20 carries for 132 yards, while Lance Crump had 103 yards on 15 carries. Stelzel completed two passes for 31 yards, the big one to Mazoch for 28 and a score.

East Bernard moves to 2-0 in district and 4-2 on the season and will travel to Hitchcock next week.