Branson one step away from section title

Bulls pull away in second half to beat Calistoga

A grueling playoff victory on Saturday leaves the Branson School football team just one step away from winning its second section title — and more importantly, fulfilling a promise to a cherished friend.

“Winning the title has been our goal from the beginning of the year,” Branson senior Andrew Maxwell said after the No. 1 Bulls defeated No. 4 Calistoga, 68-37 in the semifinals of the North Coast Section 8-person tournament. “We want to win this for Kwentyn (Wiggins). He was there with us when a lot of us were freshmen. His dream was to win the title.”

Wiggins was just 17 years old when he was killed in a car accident in Corte Madera in June 2019, but left behind an incredible legacy in his community and with all those who knew him.

Branson won the NCS 8-person title in Wiggins’ junior season in 2018. Now, the Bulls he mentored have a chance to not only win the program’s second NCS title, but to finish the season undefeated.

“I think Kwentyn would be proud of us,” Maxwell said. “He always believed we had the talent to win the title.”

The rivalry between Branson and Stuart Hall adds a new chapter, as the two schools meet for the crown, with the game scheduled for Saturday in Ross.

“A lot of these kids from Stuart Hall and Branson know each other, so there’s some incentive there,” Branson head coach Max Pond said.

This is the first time they have faced each other in the playoffs, but the last time the two title contenders played, the Bulls picked up a 58-36 victory on Oct. 30.

After only winning the first meeting against Calistoga by two points, the Bulls were determined to prove that they were anything but “soft.” Maxwell, along with Spencer Grant and Will Schuler, showed just how tough the Bulls can be as they racked up five sacks against Wildcats quarterback Edgar Caldera, who was 10-for-21 passing, with two interceptions, for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

“I was able to commit to the blitz and that gave the other guys a chance for extra coverage,” Maxwell said.

Tensions ran high on both sides during a game full of hard hits and missed opportunities. Turnovers haunted the Bulls and killed potential scoring chances. Still, they broke into the end zone often enough to lead the entire game.

Senior Lucas Segal, who ran 13 times for 78 yards, opened the Bulls’ scoring with a 3-yard scamper midway through the first quarter. The two-point pass gave Branson a 8-0 lead.

Calistoga came right back as Caldera dove into the end zone just two minutes later to cut the difference to 8-6.

The Bulls’ offense woke up then, with two more scores in the first quarter, with touchdown passes of 30 and 23 yards from George Gale to Alexander Getty for a 22-6 Branson lead. A 18-yard pass from Gale to Zach Olrich in the second quarter gave Branson a 22-point lead, which barely stood up.

An angry Calistoga squad took advantage of Branson’s ball handling mistakes to score two touchdowns, then added a 20-yard field goal as time expired on the first half, as the Bulls’ once-commanding lead was slashed to 28-23. Such is the nature of 8-person football, where fortunes can change in a moment.

“We made some adjustments on the defensive line at halftime,” Pond said. “And George Gale did an incredible job getting the ball to the receivers, who really stepped up.”

The start to the third quarter couldn’t have looked worse for the Bulls, as Gale’s first pass from scrimmage was intercepted, giving Calistoga the ball on the Branson 32-yard line. Branson’s defense not only held strong, but actually pushed the Wildcats back by two yards, forcing a turnover.

After that, Branson got into gear on both sides of the ball. Gale connected with Julian Ahearn for a 29-yard touchdown to complete a 46-yard drive for a 34-23 lead.

The Bulls quickly got the ball back as sophomore Callahan Green stepped up for an interception at Branson’s 25-yard line as Caldera launched the ball deep on a fourth-and-13 desperation attempt. Two plays later, it was Gale with the long throw: 50 yards to Olrich for his second touchdown of the game.

The teams traded scores in the final minutes of the third quarter, with Getty scoring his third touchdown on a 20-yard reception for a 50-31 lead. The Bulls’ lead could have been greater after Gale’s 35yard pass to Ahearn, but as the leaping Ahearn hit the ground, the ball came loose and rolled toward the end zone, where the Wildcats picked it up for the turnover.

The damage was again minimized by Branson’s staunch defense, but Calistoga eventually found the end zone one more time.

Branson answered with three more touchdowns before the final whistle. Gale carried the ball in from 13 yards for his only rushing touchdown. Gale tallied 38 yards on nine carries, to support his 19for-30 passing day for 455 yards, with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Ahearn was one of Gale’s big targets, with seven catches for 200 yards. Olrich had seven catches for 162 yards.