CHAMBERS POWERS JR. BEARCATS PAST GREENLAND

Brody Chambers ran 21 times for 204 yards and scored four touchdowns and a two-point conversion in a 36-12 junior high Bearcat win over Greenland Thursday night.

Chambers also recovered a muffed kickoff for one of the two big special teams plays for the Bearcats (3-2, 2-0 Conference 3A-1).

Chambers was particularly dominant in the second half when he ran for 153 yards and scored three times.

Line coach Cody Harrel was happy with the play of his men in the trenches.

"We've got three eighth graders starting but they're starting to figure it out. Actually we ran behind two of them most of the night with Hunter Barnes and Braxton Hubble," said Harrel.

There was also a special teams play that got the second half started for the Bearcats as Barnes blocked a punt.

A post-play penalty pushed the Bearcats back to the Pirate 32 after the block and two false start penalties complicated the matter but Chambers got 21 yards over three carries and overcame them for a first down.

He then scored on a run of 20 yards after yet another penalty wiped out a Callen Montalvo, score and it was 22-6 with 3:52 left in the third quarter.

Chambers’ highlight run came on a 40-yard run later in the quarter when a defender looked to have a shot to make a play but was the one who fell to the ground after colliding with Chambers and the fullback went on to the end zone.

Rylie Swint then ran for a two-point conversion and it as 30-6.

The Bearcats got the ball back but suffered a turnover to give Greenland life and the Pirates took advantage with a 27-yard scoring pass and it was 30-12 with 7:12 to play.

Starting from their own 41 after the ensuing kickoff Chambers was called on five straight times and he ran for 59 yards, scoring from the 18 to make it 36-12 with 4:34 remaining.

The freshman had actually had a miserable start, slipping and losing three yards on the first play of the game after Caysen Lewis recovered an onside kick to start the game.

It was contagious as that would be followed by a dropped snap that was recovered by the Bearcats, then a negative yardage play. That was followed by a penalty and, ultimately a punt.

Starting from their own 39, Greenland then went 61 yards to score first, doing so on a 6-yard run with 7 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Chambers closed the first quarter with a 12-yard run, then started the second quarter with one of 10 yards but it would be quarterback Tayden Washburn who completed the drive with a 14-yard scoring run.

However it was Chambers’ run for two that gave the Bearcats an 8-6 lead.

When the ensuing kickoff was muffed it was Chambers who recovered for the Bearcats setting up a 32-yard drive he capped with a 1-yard run. A two-point conversion run by Washburn made it 16-6 with 4:34 left in the first half.

The Bearcats got the ball back but penalties became an issue and the drive stalled – there would be 12 Bearcat penalties for 90 yard – and went into halftime up by 10.

The Bearcats will be back in action Thursday when they host Mansfield. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.