Bremen gets sectional title shot after thrilling win over Wheeler
BREMEN ‑ Bremen’s 21-18 victory over visiting Wheeler last Friday was exactly what everyone expects a sectional semi-final to be.
It was hardly fought, back and forth, not decided until the game’s waning seconds and had its share of momentum shifts.
Thanks to the Lions’ sixth win of the season they’ll get another shot at mighty LaVille tonight.
Bremen knows the Lancers like the back of its hand. After all, the two teams play every season and this year to kick off the 2023 campaign.
LaVille prevailed in the first meeting 17-10.
With that said, Bremen has dominated the series between the two schools, leading 41-14.
However, the Lancers have gotten the upper hand in the last seven showdowns.
Bremen’s last win over LaVille came in 2013.
Ending that slide won’t be easy.
After all, LaVille is 10-1 on the season and boasts a No. 5 ranking in the state’s Class 2A division.
But you just never know in a single-elimination format do you?
Ask anyone associated with Bremen’s program and they will tell you they love the fact that they get another crack at one of the most successful programs the area has seen in the last decade.
“We want a shot in November and that’s what we’ve got,” Bremen head coach Jordan Leeper told MAX 98.3 FM after beating Wheeler.
The Lions get their shot after eliminating Bishop Noll and Wheeler.
A week ago the Bearcats got on the scoreboard first with a touchdown pass, but the Lions responded with a field goal.
Wheeler answered with a field goal of its own.
Then Bremen took its first lead with a touchdown and made extra point.
The Bearcats, however, would rally and take a 15-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The second half was like the first half in that it, too, was a see-saw affair.
Bremen retook the lead at 18-15 thanks to a 10-play 70-yard drive late in the third quarter when Austin Young scored from two yards out.
Wheeler evened things up just past the midway point of the fourth quarter as its 37-yard field goal split the uprights.
Ty Graverson then delivered the game winner, a 26-yard field with 3:27 remaining.
Young sealed it with an interception with just over 60 ticks to go.
And so here we are, Bremen is in the sectional championship game for the second year in a row.
Last season powerhouse Andrean ended the Lions’ season. This time around Bremen is hoping it can pull off the upset and win its first sectional since 2018.
Spoiling LaVille’s magical season won’t be easy. Bremen will easily have to play its best game of the year. Can it? Sure, but the Lancers rarely, if ever, beat themselves so no way can the Long Green Line make mistakes at Lancer Field and come out on top.
Mistake-free football will be the key.
One thing is certain … we should be in for a good one when these county rivals clash tonight under the lights.
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