Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's interview with Broncos Coach Caleb Adams.
HARRIS---This time, it didn't take a a miracle play in the closing seconds for the Bark River-Harris High School football team to beat the Maple City Glen Lake Lakers in the MHSAA Division Eight playoffs.
One year after the Broncos stole victory from the jaws of defeat on an electrifying Gionni McDonough play to win down in Maple City, this time, the Broncos cruised to a 38-13 win to capture a district trophy and advance to the state quarterfinals.
“I told the team that I couldn't have another miracle happen because I don't think my heart could take it,” Broncos Coach Caleb Adams told RRN's Randy McLeod. “We knew we had to come out here and execute, and we did exactly that. We had a good game plan going in, run behind our offensive line. Gionni and AJ ran the ball effectively and that's what won us the game.”
The Broncos grabbed the early lead on a two-yard touchdown run by Gabe Spear just over three minutes into the game. The Lakers, though, replied with a four-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Kemp Harter, and the extra point kick had the visitors ahead, 7-6.
That didn't last long. The Broncos responded with a 44-yard touchdown run by McDonough, and Spear ran in the two-point conversion to put BR-H in front, 14-7.
It stayed that way almost until halftime, when the Broncos put together a nice drive and got a big two-yard touchdown run from Andy Johnson.
The touchdown came with 12 seconds left in the half, and Spear converted another two-pointer to make it 22-7 at the halftime break.
In the third quarter, Hunter scored again for the Lakers to close the gap to within 22-13, but Glen Lake missed the two-point conversion. That sent the game to the fourth quarter, where the Broncos put the game away with a two-yard touchdown run by McDonough and another two-point conversion run from Spear, making it a 30-13 game.
McDonough closed the scoring with his third touchdown run of the game, this time from 17 yards out, and the Broncos had earned another trip to the Elite Eight. This time, BR-H will face the Beal City Aggies in Mt. Pleasant next Saturday afternoon.
“We have a little bit of history,” Adams said. “Back-to-back district championships for the first time in program history. This is special for this team to do it, and to kind of build some momentum for not only this year, but moving forward. We had a great turnout with the fans tonight. The community support has been tremendous all season long.”
