BULLARD – The Bullard Brook Hill Guard entertained an international guest from Canada on Saturday night in the Tyler Ford American Warrior Bowl, and the local orange-and-blue ran to a 51-27 win at Herrington Field.

The Knights, from Royal Imperial Collegiate High School of Ottawa (RICCO), came in with high hopes. However, Brook Hill quarterback Hood Taylor worked his magic in the first half, and running back Jeremiah McGowen capped off the final two periods.

The Guard mixed it up offensively in the opening half with a steady diet of passing, and just enough running to keep the Knights guessing.

Brook Hill wasted little time, scoring on the first possession of the game, as Sam Nechi ran right up the middle for a 26-yard scoring run. Nechi capped off a 64-yard drive that took only one minute and 35 seconds off the clock.

McGowen took a pass from Taylor for the PAT, and an 8-0 lead.

Sophomore Seth Moss set up the next TD with a nice 28-yard punt return to the RICCO 42-yard line. Six plays later, wideout Grayson Priestner grabbed a rifle-shot from Taylor for the score, and Taylor ran in the PAT.

The Knights finally settled in and took the ensuing possession on a seven-play drive that ended with Riley Boersma on the receiving end of Jacub Horacek scoring strike. Josh Carpenter came on to boot his first of four PAT kicks and a 16-7 score after one period.

Winding down the opening stanza, the Knights got a break as Andy Melo intercepted Taylor at their own 30-yard line.

Eight plays later the Knights made it close as Horacek found Eduardo Nunez open for a 20-yard TD pass, at the 10:30 mark before halftime.

Taylor then took matters into his own hands, scoring on the next two Brook Hill possessions on runs of 13 and 6 yards. Campbell Fleetcher nailed both PAT kicks for a 30-14 Guard advantage.

Not done before the break, Horacek found Boesma in the left corner of the end zone for a score, and the Caarpenter PAT kick left it at 30-21 at intermission.

Taylor rolled up 115 yards on 11 first-half carries, and also threw for another 112 yards in the opening half.

The game's complexion changed after the half, as the Guard went primarily on the ground with McGowen. The senior running back scored on a 3-yard jaunt for the only third quarter score, and added scoring runs of 11 and 6 yards to cap off the Brook Hill scoring.

The Knights finished up the scoring as backup quarterback Marcus Venticius threw a 22-yard toss to Nunez for his second score of the game and the 51-27 final.

McGowen ended the game with 124 yards on 20 carries. Taylor was 12-of 20 for 116 yards and one TD, and added 129 on the ground in 12 tries and two scores.

Ian Hathaway made four catches for 33 yards, while Priestner made four grabs for 45 yards.

Honacek was stellar by going 22-of-36 for 203 yards, three TD’s, and one interception by Brook Hill’s Seth Moss.

A stout Guard defensive effort held RICCO to 11 yards rushing in the game.

Brook Hill ran up 317 yards on the ground to account for most of the 457 in total yards in the game.

Brook Hill will host Mount Vernon next Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

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