BREWSTER – Perhaps the comeback started with a goal line stand to end the first half. Or perhaps all Brewster needed was that first safety, the one that finally took the zero off the scoreboard.
Whatever it was the sparked the Bears, the result in the biggest regular season football game in here in years was a stunner: Brewster upset previously unbeaten Rye 11-7.
The Bears (5-0) stayed undefeated themselves on the strength of second half shutout and plenty of resilience from star Jack Guida. The senior led Brewster on its only scoring drive and polished off an abbreviated march with a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:07 remaining.
Guida’s touchdown run unskewed an odd-looking scoreboard. The Bears had cut into Rye’s lead with two safeties, the second of which set up the scoring drive.
Brewster quarterback Jack Guida gets taken down by Rye’s Peter Chabot during their game Friday night at Brewster High School. Guida and the Bears had the last laugh, though, stunning the Garnets 11-7.
Rye pulled in front 7-0 on its opening drive when senior Mat Bruno — starting in place of injured T.J. Lavelle (shoulder) — scrambled for a 30-yard touchdown. The relatively easy march proved misleading; Brewster’s defense kept the Garnets in check the rest of the half. The Bears delivered a key stop on third-and-goal from the 2 when Rob Peifer tackled Jamie Chabot for a loss on the last play of the first half.
Brewster’s offense had stalled all game against Rye’s defense, but the defense changed that with the pair of safeties. The first came on a fumble handoff exchange in the end zone, the second on a fumbled snap. Bruno scooped the loose ball on the latter but was quickly tackled in the end zone by Connor Dignan with 1:10 left in the third quarter.
Guida, who had just 25 yards at halftime and was sacked three times, finally started to gain momentum on the ensuing drive. He helped march the Bears 51 yards on seven plays and walked into the end zone on the go-ahead score.
Rye’s James Chabot gets tackled by Brewster’s Rob Peifer (10) in the first half of their game Friday night at Brewster High School.
Brewster needed one last stop after Grant Meyerson blocked a punt at its 35. Rye picked up one first down but little more. Guida nearly intercepted Bruno to end the game and Bruno’s pass to Brett Egan was broken up in the end zone on fourth down by Peifer and Derek Diaz.
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Player of the game: Jack Guida, Brewster. As his offensive line got going, so did Guida. He rushed for 94 yards on 33 carries.
Stat line: Brewster (5-0) — The Bears outgained Rye 198-164. … Nick Leahy had two of Brewster’s four sacks. Rye (4-1) — Jamie Chabot rushed 19 times for 113 yards. … Bruno, playing for injured starter T.J. Lavelle, went 6 for 25 for 46 yards and was intercepted by Peifer.
Twitter: @lohudinsider
Brewster’s Henry Terry (22) looks for some running room in the Rye defense on a first half run during football action at Brewster High School Sept. 30, 2016.
Rye’s James Chabot (24) looks for some running room in the Brewster defense on a first half run during football action at Brewster High School Sept. 30, 2016.