Berne Union takes homecoming victory and conference lead over Fisher Catholic
By: Tyler Bush
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SUGAR GROVE, Ohio (WOUB) — The Berne Union Rockets would play host for a homecoming matchup against the Fisher Catholic Irish. The Rockets would come away with the win 23-7.
The Irish would receive the ball and get to work right away with a huge pass on their second snap of the game to set themselves up in the red zone. Despite the field position, their runs would stall out and they would fail to convert on fourth within the ten.
The Rockets would look to have a more favorable drive, but the Fisher defense stood strong; a tackle for loss forced a quick three-and-out after less than two minutes of game time. More misfortune would come to the Irish after the first snap of the drive would be fumbled and then recovered by Berne. It looked like the Rockets would stall again on offense, but a big fourth-down conversion from wideout Jackson Little would set them up for a 14-yard run to open scoring near the end of the first quarter.
Fisher didn’t want their lead to last for long, as Ethan O’Rielley would pick up some big yards on the ground. Just when it looked like another punt was coming, a facemask penalty would give the Irish a first down, which they would use to tie the game up with a rushing touchdown of their own.
The Rockets seemed to have no answer for the Fisher defensive line, but facing a 4th and 12 situation, Ashton O’Rourke would take a pass far past the chains, going all the way to take the lead back. The Berne defense was looking just as good, with more tackles for loss to force another three-and-out.
Multiple penalties would hurt the Rockets’ run game, and a holding penalty would reverse a punt all the way to the one-yard line. On the second punt attempt the snap would be too high, and Fisher would take the ball inside 40 yards with a minute left in the half.
Despite the field positioning and another 4th down conversion, the Irish would have to attempt a field goal. The ball would sail to the left of the posts, and Berne would maintain the 14-7 lead at the break. After half Berne would only grow their lead, taking this 23-7.
A Rockets win puts them at 5-3, and with no conference losses, they sit alone at the top of the conference. They take on Fairfield Christian Academy at home next week. Fisher Catholic falls to 6-2 and is handed their first conference loss. They will try to get back in the win column against Grove City Christian next week.