Broadneck defeats Old Mill, 20-17
Bruins knock off previously unbeaten Patriots, will meet Annapolis in region final
Judging by recent history in Anne Arundel County, nothing is a guarantee in the playoffs.
Broadneck, which just three weeks ago was 5-3 and needing help just to get into the playoffs, is in the region final for the second straight year after knocking off previously unbeaten Old Mill.
Shane Davis hit Robert Schwob for a 10-yard touchdown pass on Broadneck’s second play of overtime to lead the Bruins to a 20-17 victory over Old Mill on Friday in the Class 4A East Region semifinals.
Broadneck (8-3) won at Old Mill for the second straight year in the playoffs and will look to make a return trip to the state semifinals when it plays at Annapolis next week.
“We just wanted to get in, because when you get in the playoffs, everyone has a chance,” Broadneck coach Rob Harris said. “Guess what the records are when you’re in the playoffs … zero and zero. It doesn’t matter. Just line up and go play.”
Old Mill (10-1) started with the ball in the extra session, and Blaise Fisher twice ran up the middle for 5 yards, followed by an incomplete pass. Facing a decision on fourth down, the Patriots decided to go for a 22-yard field goal from Brian Morris and took a 17-14 lead.
Jason Carcamo ran for no gain on the Bruins’ first play, and Davis next hit Schwob on a slant for the winning score.
It was the second touchdown of the game for Schwob, who scored on a 7-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to start a rally from a 14-0 deficit.
“I definitely wanted the ball,” said Schwob, who finished with seven catches for 94 yards. “I liked my matchup.”
The Bruins trailed 14-7 and punted the ball to the Patriots with just over six minutes left in the game. Nicky Orofino threw Sirus Gay for a 1-yard loss on second down, then intercepted Fisher’s pass on the next play to give the ball back to the Bruins at the Old Mill 41 with 4:41 to play.
After two incompletions, Davis hit Schwob for 32 yards to the 9. Davis went back to Schwob on the next play and drew a pass-interference call in the end zone. Carcamo scored from 2 yards out on the next play to tie the game.
Old Mill drove deep into Broadneck territory and had the ball at the 1 after runs of 14 and 2 yards by Gay.
After coming up empty in its first two trips into Broadneck territory, Old Mill started its third possession at the Broadneck 28 and took the lead four plays later when Fisher called his own number for a 1-yard run that made it 7-0 with 6:19 left in the first half.
The Bruins mounted a long drive on their next possession and were poised to get on the board before halftime, but after a first-and-goal from the Old Mill 3, Davis threw a pair of incomplete passes. Facing third down from the 3, Davis scrambled and hit Tyler Vermillion in the backfield, but Vermillion was taken down, and with the Bruins out of timeouts, time expired in the half.
Old Mill took a14-0 lead with 4:36 left in the third quarter on Gay’s 2-yard run.
On what might have been their most important drive of the game, the Bruins came right back and cut the lead in half when Davis and Schwob hooked up for the 7-yard score that capped a 16-play, 69-yard drive and made it 14-7 with 11:47 left in the game.
“It was real important, because if we didn’t get anything there the game could have slowed down,” Davis said. “That was huge, and it just gave us a boost into the fourth quarter.”