Brandon 17, East Bay 16

By CHRIS MOORE, Times Correspondent
Published September 22, 2007

BRANDON - Kicker Brad Keefe kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles a 17-16 win over East Bay.

"I was just scared the whole time," Keefe said of the game-winning kick. "I didn't want to let these guys down."

East Bay (1-3) grabbed a short-lived 16-14 lead with just more than a minute to play on a 5-yard touchdown run by Ryan Stubbs. Indians head coach Brian Thornton went for the two point conversion, but the Eagles sacked quarterback Rex Ballenger.

"They went for the game-breaker," said Brandon head coach Jim Lima. "We just made a big play."

"I thought we might have trouble holding them once they got the ball back. So we went for the win," said Thornton.

He was right. Brandon drove 73 yards in a little more than a minute to set up Keefe's kick from the left hash. Brandon is undefeated in district play.

Brandon (2-2) took over with 1:16 left in the game on their 17 yard line and drove to the Indians' 10, setting up the winning kick. Eagles quarterback Tracey Burr went 3-4 for 62 yards on the drive - the big play coming on a 46-yard pass to wide receiver Jeremy Tillman that put the ball in Indians territory.

The teams combined for almost 500 yards rushing.

Samir Baker had 127 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries for the Eagles. Burr completed 7 of 14 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Chaz Burrows had 70-yard run to set up the Indians' first score. He finished with 117 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.

[Last modified September 22, 2007, 00:55:38]