Bear River bounces back at Lincoln

LINCOLN_The Fighting Zebras could never quite track down the Bruin rushers as Bear River High used the ground game to run away with a 45-21 victory Friday night in a Pioneer Valley League match up. Like a burst of light from the backfield, it seemed every time DeVaughn Lofton had the football he was halfway to the end zone before any Lincoln defender realized where the 5-7 tailback was. The senior finished with 99 yards and his scores came from 41 and 39 yards out."Once I cut down field, the blocks were there," said Lofton.Lincoln (2-6, 1-2 PVL) scored on the first drive of the game when quarterback Jake Gomez bootlegged right and dashed 66 yards to the end zone.After being upset by Center a week ago, trailing early caused a few nerves on the cardinal and silver sideline to be rattled.Bear River co-head coach Terry Logue said, "We totally lost our contain position, our cornerback gave chase across the field. That was a tough thing to see."However, the Bruins (6-2, 1-2 PVL) answered back by scoring on three straight possessions. Fullback Jimmy Bamburg followed with back-to-back 1-yard touchdowns, and Hayden Macklin kicked a 23-yard field goal with less than four minutes to play in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead heading into the locker room.It appeared the Bruins had control after quarterback James Harris rushed for a 3-yard score and a Cody Heard interception led to Lofton's first touchdown. True to their name, the Zebras were not done fighting.Star running back Isaac Allen, who was held to just 50 yards on the night, capped off a 46-yard drive with a 1-yard side step shuffle for the score. An onside kick gave the Zebras the ball back in Bruin territory and Gomez found the arms of an outstretched wide receiver Cameron Tatum on a fade route from 13 yards to cut the Bruin advantage to 10 late in the third quarter."I am proud of the kids and the effort they put in," said Zebra head coach Ken Lowe. "We gave them all we had in terms of getting back into the game."For the first time all year, the Bruins, lined up four wide receivers, and the play worked to perfection. Tight end Brandon Wooner was all alone and Harris found his classmate from 21 yards out for the final score of the night. Bear River is on the road again and will take on Foothill next Friday. A win and the Bruins are guaranteed a playoff berth. Lincoln hosts league-leading Colfax next Friday night.