Spartans ring the bell for 4th straight time
BRAWLEY — Making the most of four explosive plays and a defense that closed out the contest, the Central Union High School Spartan football team won the 77th Bell Game 28-20 over the Brawley Union High Wildcats at Warne Field Friday night.
It was Central’s fourth consecutive Bell Game victory, but indicative of the rivalry, three of the four have been by one possession.
“Definitely both teams slugged it out and played hard, but it’s the Bell Game and the kids understand it’s a big rivalry and that they have to play at a high level,” said Central Coach David Peña, who played in two Bell Games with Brawley.
Central’s first big play came after they won the coin toss, elected to kickoff, forced Brawley to punt and started their first possession at the Wildcat 45 yard line.
Senior quarterback Jordan Reed then hit sophomore slotback Gavin Marini on a 40yard catch-and-run touchdown play, and after Mylas Rodriguez added the extra point, Central led 7-0.
“We were in the spread, and I was one of the two wideouts, and then I motioned left and Brawley slanted right,” Marini said. “I looked back at Jordan and caught the pass and no one was near me.”
It was a tougher throw than some might think.
“I saw him wide open, and I was excited, but I immediately calmed down. … When they are that open, you have to hit them,” Reed said.
For Marini, it was an unbelievable way to start a Bell Game.
“It was my first Bell Game, and it’s hard to explain how it felt, but it set the tone for us.”
The shock of the quick-strike Central touchdown was slowly negated over the remainder of the first quarter as Brawley methodically drove 76 yards for a touchdown.
The drive was highlighted by a run by junior Isaiah Young on a fourth-and-6 play from the Central 46 yard line that
resulted in a first down.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty tacked on at the end of the play put Brawley on the Central 17 yard line. Two plays later, Young ran 5 yards for a touchdown.
Brawley’s Jorge Haro added the PAT, and at the 11:56 mark of the second quarter, the game was tied 7-7.
Central and Brawley then exchanged punts on their next possessions before Reed went to the air on the Spartans next drive.
Starting at their own 40 yard line, Reed connected with Isaiah Nava-Esparza with a 17yard pass that set up a fourth down and 9 from the Brawley 42 yard line.
Reed found Morales streaking toward the end zone and threw a pass inches over senior slot-back Fernando Morales’ right shoulder in tight coverage. Morales held on while crashing into the end zone for a touchdown.
“I was in the right slot and went in motion to the left, and then we motioned the safety to the right side,” Morales said. “That opened up the left side and I only had one man to beat.”
It was another tough throw for Reed who connected on 11
of 27 passing attempts for 147 of Central’s 187 total yards.
“I saw him get one step ahead of the defenders, and I knew I had to thread the needle,” Reed said. “He’s an amazing player and made the catch.”
Rodriguez’s PAT gave Central a 14-7 half time lead.
Having deferred at the game-opening coin toss, Central received the second half kickoff, returning it to their own 41, where Reed and Morales again connected.
This time Reed hit Morales on a 49-yard slant route for a touchdown that, coupled with another Rodriguez PAT, extended the Spartan lead to 21-7 minutes into the third quarter.
“Fernando has a tremendous work ethic and that’s what you saw,” Peña said. “He worked hard all year, even when we didn’t know there would be a season.”
Peña also praised Reed and his offensive line.
The linemen did a great job protecting him and in the run game, too,” Peña said. “Jordan has come a long way in understanding defenses, especially all the looks and blitzes that Brawley gives you.”
The two teams again exchanged punts before Brawley
fans were treated to a big play of their own on its next possession, courtesy of Young.
With the ball on Brawley’s 23, Young found a huge hole created by the Wildcat line and rocketed 77 yards up the middle of the field untouched for a Wildcat touchdown.
“Every time I got the ball I had to fight to get yards, and on that play our line executed really well,” said Young who carried 22 times for 128 yards for the game. “They were all up in the box expecting a play we ran a lot, and we ran something else.”
Jaro’s PAT cut the Spartan lead to a touchdown, 21-14 but Brawley would get no closer.
Brawley then created the only turnover of the game when Central fumbled on their next drive at mid-field. The ball was recovered by Chandler Self, and the Wildcats appeared to have a golden opportunity to tie the game.
It was not to be as Brawley drove to the Central 12, but the Spartan defense stiffened, and a field goal attempt by Jaro, the Wildcats first and only on the season, was blocked.
Central recovered the blocked attempt and eventually drove to the Brawley 19 yard line, before the Wildcat defense stiffened and took over on downs.
After holding Brawley on downs, Morales made his third big play of the game taking the Brawley punt at the Central 47 yard line and running through tackles 53 yards for a touchdown with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
“I don’t mind the pressure, and first I needed to decide to return it or fair catch. Then the ball bounced,” Morales said. “I saw all of them on the right side so I ran left and I was cramping up, but I got a good block from (Charlie) Sullivan, and I made it.”
Down two scores for the second time in the game, Brawley responded with another 77yard drive capped by a fourth down and 2 swing-pass from sophomore quarterback Ethan Gutierrez to Young.
“That play is designed to get Isiah in the flat and let him make a move, and they were usually all over him,” Gutierrez said. “And it was a little window because their pass rush was good and getting to me quickly.”
Young got the first down and then some, dragging tacklers literally into the end zone with him for a 53-yard touchdown.
“It was the only pass play where I was really comfortable,” Young said. “I’ve trained with quarterbacks, and it’s just made my hands better.”
Jaro’s PAT attempt was blocked, and Brawley trailed by the 28-20 with Central’s defense sealing the victory.
“Defensively it was a battle. It always is with Brawley,” said Peña. “This is a senior-lead defense, and most of us have been together four years and this was our goal.”
The game marked the end of the pandemic-postponed 2020 season and Brawley coach Jon Self was appreciative of his team’s efforts.
“I told the kids it’s not very often you have as many sophomores as seniors on the team, and absolutely all gave their best effort,” said Self. “They made me proud to be their coach and of how they pulled the season together on short notice.”