It was a heartbreaking loss of epic proportions left the Bear's coaches, players and fans with mouths agape as the clock ran out. Cambridge varsity played the game from start to finish with a ton of heart and determination. "It was a heck'uva game, a heck'uva game"" according to Head Coach Craig Bennett as he conveyed his pride in the efforts of his players and the near win, and simultaneously referring to the shocking last second loss leaving the entire Bear's contingent at a loss for more words.
The Bears were not favored to win, but no one told the Cambridge players. Senior Charles Mills started the game with effective tackles to force Kell in a 3 and out punt. Mills never let up. He played with an intensity that swelled way beyond his stature. He was accompanied in that standout intensity and effectiveness by teammate, junior Trey Wolfe.
The Bears put 7 points on the score board first with a play series that included a 23-yard pass from quarterback Brian Moore to wide receiver John Hurst, followed up with a 2-yard rush by running back Kaelyn Bird. Moore and Hurst connected again for a first down which allowed for what was only the first of several eye-popping pass receptions by senior receiver Hunter Smith. QB Moore snuck in with the ball to score and the point after by kicker Clayton Hammer gave Cambridge the unlikely lead which they held until the middle of the second quarter.
Brian Moore continued to show his diversity by completing passes to freshman receiver Spencer Gaddis, including one for 25 yards. Moore had several completions to the reliable Hurst and a lateral to Brock Nielson. He pulled off the ultimate play by on a 30-yard touchdown run when he couldn't find an open receiver. Bears led 14-0.
Exceptional tackles by Craig Carter and Garrett Walton stopped Kell from racking up a high number of points the team is normally used to scoring. Kell was in unfamiliar territory being on the losing end, also thanks to great defense by Devin Kane and Chase Darnell who fired up for 2 QB sacks in the game.
Although only 1 penalty flag was thrown in the first half of the game, a Kell kickoff return and the only fumble by the Bears changed the direction of the game, and Kell came back to be up 14-13 at the half.
The Bears were undaunted. JD White lived up to his reputation with a 50 yard kick off return in the second half. Craig Carter broke up a near perfect Kell pass play to slow Kell down. Big defensive plays by rockets Charles Mills and Will Britain and the explosive Josh Kania kept the pressure on, but Kell wouldn't quit fighting. A more than impressive 40-yard pass reception from Moore to Hunter Smith for a touchdown put the Bears back in front with a lead of 21-16.
In the fourth quarter, John Hurst somehow picked a ball out of a crowd of Kell defenders on a pass from Moore to score a touchdown. Unable to convert on the 2 point attempt, the score was Bears 27, Kell 22. Bears held Kell, with good pressure from an eager defensive lineman Ben Padezanin and were able to get the ball back with 2:07 left on the clock. The Bears managed the clock well and ran it down to 36 seconds but weren't able to get a first down to retain possession. Unfortunately, Kell moved the ball far enough for a Hail Mary pass with 4 seconds left. As the clock expired, the ball was caught on the very back edge of the end zone to make the final Kell 28, Bears 27.
As the shock transitioned to reality, the emotion of disappointment was powerful and telling of a committed team who believed and never gave up.
Be sure to come out and support this exceptional team at our next home game, this Friday, October 3rd against North Atlanta.
Kick-off is 7:30 p.m. Make a night of it, and come out early to tailgate and watch some great football.
Go Bears!
