EDINBURGH — A Brown County fumble on the first offensive snap did not stop the Eagles from jumping out to a three touchdown lead to start Friday’s season opener at Edinburgh.
The Lancers could not keep the Eagles out of the end zone, and Brown County went on to win 46-14.
The Eagles were led by running back Colten Harper’s 190 yards and two touchdowns.
“We responded (to the turnover) much better that we would have in the past,” Brown County coach Randy Minniear said. “It think we’re growing. One of the things we talked about is when we make that first mistake, we have to come back strong, and we did.”
Quarterback Noah Carter responded to the turnover by throwing a 79-yard touchdown pass to Triston Richards on the second play of the second drive. Richards gave the ball right back to the offense on the Lancers’ 32 yard-line after picking off the ball on defense. Harper then broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 14-0.
Brown County marched to the 3-yard line early in the second quarter, and Justin Burns punched it in for a 21-0 lead.
It wasn’t until the following Edinburgh drive when the Lancers put some points on the board on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Sackman to Dakota Balthazor and a Sackman 2-point conversion run. Edinburgh attempted a successful onside kick and found themselves three yards away from a second score before turning the ball over on downs.
It was all Brown County in the second half. The Eagles scored four more touchdowns in the third quarter.
Carter threw for 181 yards, completing 8 of his 13 passes for two touchdowns. He also rushed for 88 yards and a score.
Minniear liked what he saw out of his defense, as well. They limited Edinburgh’s scoring opportunities, and Evan Fleischman’s third quarter interception was the second forced Edinburgh turnover on the game.
“I thought our defense played really well,” Minniear said. “I thought our defense was right on top of things … When you talk about them trying to grind the ball on us, we shut them down.”
Burns ended the day with just two carries, but scored touchdowns on both of them. Wide receiver Ezra Scully also scored on a touchdown pass from Carter.
The Lancers’ final score came on a 9-yard pass from Sackman to Dillon Simpson. Sackman finished 14 of 27 for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Minniear said Eagles kicker and soccer player Skylar Fleischman became the first female football player to score points in a Brown County varsity football game. She scored on three extra points.
