Szkotak, Roberts get to shine as BR rips Mira Loma

Bear River Football, by Andrew DiLuccia, Journal Assistant Sports Editor (andrewd@goldcountrymedia.com)SACRAMENTO ? It was over after the first quarter at Abbott Field on the campus of El Camino High Thursday night, as Bear River rolled Mira Loma 56-0 in a Pioneer Valley League contest. The Bruins went up 21-0 after the first quarter on three touchdown runs totaling just seven yards with Jon Szkotak scoring his first touchdown of his career, and two by Duran. At the half it was 42-0 after starting quarterback Josh Rumsey found Bryan Hart for a 19-yard TD strike, Cody Yeager rushed in from six yards, and Duran got his third TD of night on a 29-yard run. ?I think we had a good week of practice and working hard,? Rumsey said about his team?s solid play. ?(Head coach Scott) Savoie called a good first half and the o-line did a great job.?Bear River (4-1, 2-0) piled up 241 yards rushing on 27 carries in the first half; with Yeager rushing for 152 yards on 17 carries. To start the second half, the Bruins second unit took the field and kept the shutout against the Matadors who had their first string in the whole time. Backup quarterback Keith Roberts directed the offense in the second half, and helped lead the team to its two second half scores. Bear River did not throw the ball the entire second half and scored on the ground with Blake Caravelli?s first TD of the year, a six-yard run, and Brian Hudson?s first of the year, a three-yard TD run that culminated a 95-yard scoring drive that impressed the head coach extremely.?I?m really happy with the second team in the second half,? Savoie said. ?Especially putting together that 95-yard drive.?The hard work in practice this week earned a payoff for the second team the coach said, because they earned the right to play. Savoie also mentioned that in the PVL, this could happen, but not in the Sierra Foothill League because of the higher competition. Players like senior Stuart Pechin, who is playing in his first year of football, and Matt McVey, Tobias Graham, Robert Trotter, Andy Zymslowski, Dallas Hochanadel and Chris Mac Donald who might not get to play against a Del Oro or Granite Bay, played a solid game against the Matadors. ?They (the second unit) came out to play in the second half and it was a great night for everybody,? Savoie said. Bear Rive rJV 34, Mira Loma 0The Bruins pitched a shutout as well, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. Brock Boyle rushed for a 100 yards and has 550 yards rushing in five games this season. Bear River will play host to Johnson West next Friday in its homecoming game.