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Beavers end on high note with 1 point win!
By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN, mmcelwain@reviewonline.com

Beaver Local’s Brandon Bussard runs against Akron North Friday. (Photo by Michael D. McElwain)

ROGERS - Unlike the cold rain, emotions ran hot Friday night and helped propel Beaver Local to a 15-14 win over Akron North.

"It's senior night and we really want to do well," Beavers head coach Rich Wright said prior to the last game of the 2008 football season.

Seniors - like quarterback Shawn Mercer, and running backs Brandon Bussard and Dustin Sprouse - were ready and answered the call.

On several key occasions, the Beaver trio of Mercer, Bussard and Sprouse was able to reach the first down marker to keep a drive alive and to, more importantly, keep the ball away from a Viking offense capable of producing explosive runs of its own.

The first Akron drive came to a quick halt, and resulted in a punt.

Beaver Local wasted no time.

Starting from its own 43, it took the Beavers only five plays to find the end zone with a combination of the run and an 8-yard pass play from Mercer to Cole McCoy.

Mercer ran the ball in from 20 yards out for the first touchdown of the night. Tyler Shultz made good on the extra point kick.

The Vikings were able to tighten the score after Ryan Coman picked off a Mercer pass in the second quarter and took the ball to the Beaver Local 30. Seven straight running plays later, Donta Covington took the ball in from the 3.

Covington's attempt to run the ball in for a two-point conversion was met with a resurgent Beaver defense and the attempt failed. It would end up making all the difference.

The Beavers went into the locker room with a 7-6 lead and more importantly, the first chance at the ball in the second half.

Starting from its own 39, the Beavers used up 7:42 to score thanks, in part, to a fake punt that lead to a first down.

Facing 4th-and-nine from its own 41, the fake punt turned into a very real pass from Mercer to the outstretched fingertips of Sprouse. Sprouse hung on to the ball and lumbered forward for even more yardage as the Beaver Local sidelines exploded in support.

The play shifted the momentum and the Beavers continued the drive down to the Viking 16.

The offensive line pushed open a gaping hole, and Bussard ran through it for a 16-yard touchdown with 4:18 left in the third quarter.

Sensing an opportunity, Wright called for the same play, and Bussard ran in the gap for the two-point conversion giving the Beavers a 15-6 lead.

Akron North seemed to have a quick answer as Deron Brown returned the kickoff from the Viking 35, but the play was called back due to a personal foul on Akron. Instead of the touchdown, the Vikings were forced to punt the ball away.

With 5:17 left to go in the game, Akron North was able to mount a successful scoring drive that started from its own 47.

Quarterback Chadd Clifford plunged in from the 1 for a Viking touchdown. A two-point conversion pass from Covington to Rayshaun Stevens was good, but the Vikings still found itself on the wrong end of a 15-4 score.

Beaver Local held on to the ball for the final five minutes thanks to two, key, fourth-down runs by Mercer that moved both the chains and the clock.

In the end, Beaver Local held on to the 15-14 win.

"It was a nice ending to the season," Wright said. "We counted on Mercer to protect the ball and he came through for us."

After dropping six straight games, the Beavers won the last three of the season and finish 4-6. Akron North fell to 6-4.

2008 Schedule
1 - @EAST LIVERPOOL  - WIN
2 - @WEST BRANCH - LOSS
3 - POLAND SEMINARY - LOSS
4 - NILES MCKINLEY  - LOSS
5 - STEUBENVILLE - LOSS
6 - @HOWLAND - LOSS
7 - @CANFIELD - LOSS
8 - SALEM - WIN
9 - @YOUNGSTOWN CHANEY - WIN
10 - AKRON NORTH - WIN