Critical Turnovers End Bruins' Season

All 27 points scored in the first half of Saturday's Division 6 state semifinal between Lake Braddock and Battlefield (Haymarket) came with the Bruin offense on the field. Unfortunately for them, 14 of those belonged to the Bobcats.

Battlefield had two interception returns for touchdowns in the first half, and rode its opportunistic defense, dominant special teams and a powerful ground game to a 35-27 win over Lake Braddock to earn a berth in next week's Division 6 state championship game.

"They found a way to stay in the game early," said Lake Braddock Coach Jim Poythress. "The first half was 14-13, and they scored twice on defense. We win if we don't [commit turnovers.]"

The Battlefield defense was able to keep the pressure on Bruin quarterback Michael Nebrich all game, sacking him eight times. That pressure forced the first interception, as the Bobcat defensive line hit Nebrich's arm as he attempted a pass from his own end zone. The ball came loose and bounced off a few helmets before Andrew Smith plucked it out of midair, giving Battlefield a 7-3 lead.

Lake Braddock answered that score with an impressive 80-yard drive, capped off by Nebrich's first touchdown pass of the day, a 12-yard strike to Justin Um.

It was late in the half when the first of two huge swings went in Battlefield's favor. Lake Braddock was driving to add to its 10-7 lead, as a 19-yard catch-and-run by Tanner Quigley gave the Bruins 1st-and-10 on the Bobcat 42-yard-line with less than 30 seconds left in the half. On the next play, Nebrich was looking for Matt Zanellato when Battlefield's Jason Hoepker undercut the route, picking off Nebrich and returning it 70 yards for a touchdown.

Instead of having a chance to go up by at least six, the Bruins faced a 14-10 deficit, which they were able to cut to 14-13 by halftime with a field goal.

"I think the kids were kind of shocked that we had given up two defensive scores, but I told them [at halftime] that we have to win the second half."

Poythress' speech appeared to have an effect early in the second half, as the Lake Braddock defense forced a quick three and out. Pinned deep in their own territory, Nebrich and the offense set about trying to do their part to win the second half.

On a 3rd-and-3, Nebrich hit a streaking Zanellato down the left sideline on a 50-yard play that set up a Lake Braddock 1st-and-10 from the Battlefield 45-yard-line. Just as it did in the first half, the turnover bug bit Lake Braddock after a huge play, as Battlefield was able to fall on a fumbled exchange.

Battlefield quarterback Ryan Swingle found Bobo Beathard down the middle of the field on the Bobcats' first play after the fumble for a 46-yard touchdown, putting the Bobcats up 21-13.

The Bobcats controlled the game the rest of the way. A huge punt return by Beathard set up the Bobcats inside the Bruin 15-yard-line late in the third quarter, and Swingle cashed in with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, giving Battlefield a 28-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Forced to try and make plays down the field, Nebrich launched a pass in Zanellato's direction, and the recent Penn State-commit displayed why the Nittany Lions made him an offer, going up over two Battlefield defenders to haul in a 45-yard pass. Four plays later, the seniors hooked up for a 12-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit back to eight. But the Battlefield offensive line and running game completely deflated the Bruins, manufacturing a 5-minute, 15-second drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Nagee Jackson to give the Bobcats a comfortable 35-20 lead.

Nebrich led a quick touchdown drive ending in a 24-yard strike to Zanellato, but Battlefield was able to recover the onside kick and run the clock out on Lake Braddock's season.

"For whatever reason, they were able to run the ball," Poythress said. "They almost willed it in the second half on that one long drive."

Nebrich finished the game with gaudy numbers, completing 25-of-33 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns, but Battlefield forced him to turn it over three times to go along with the aforementioned eight sacks.

"We made too many turnovers and they capitalized on them," Nebrich said. "It was frustrating in the first half because we gave them all their points. It's the state semifinal, so you expect the best from the team you're playing. They dialed up the blitzes and they got to me."

The loss ends a great season for the Bruins, and a superlative career for Nebrich, who will graduate a semester early so he can be with his new team, the University of Connecticut Huskies, in time for spring practice. Nebrich's 427 total yards (he had 83 rushing) gave him 5,002 on the season, a single-season record in the state of Virginia.

Box Score

Scoring Plays

First quarter

Lake Braddock: 8:52 - Weiler 26-yard field goal

Battlefield: 4:49 - Smith 0-yard interception return (Hoepker PAT)

Second quarter

Lake Braddock: 7:26 - Um 12-yard pass from Nebrich (Weiler PAT)

Battlefield: 0:20 - Hoepker 70-yard interception return (Hoepker PAT)

Lake Braddock: 0:00 - Weiler 43-yard field goal

Third quarter

Battlefield: 6:38 - Beathard 22-yard pass from Swingle (Hoepker PAT)

Battlefield: 0:15 - Swingle 1-yard run (Hoepker PAT)

Fourth quarter

Lake Braddock: 8:10 - Zanellato 12-yard pass from Nebrich (Weiler PAT)

Battlefield: 2:55 - Jackson 1-yard run (Hoepker PAT)

Lake Braddock: 1:47 - Zanellato 24-yard pass from Nebrich (Weiler PAT)

Lake Braddock Statistics