2008 Bermudian

Week 1

Let the Games Begin!!!!!

Big Plays Propel Bears to Opening Night Win

August 29, 2008

Northern 30 – Bermudian 13

The tone for this year’s season opener was set right from the first whistle as Robbie Bleiler cradled the opening kickoff and raced 93 yards down the visitors sideline for the opening score of the game. The 2007 “Hero of East Penn” added three more scores on the night as the Polar Bears made it three straight over Bermudian Springs and extended their regular season victories to 29 in a row, the longest winning streak in the state.

After Bermudian returned the favor on a 10 yard run by Jordan Selfe, the Bears went back to work driving the ball towards the southern end zone when Northern’s Sophomore QB Joe Tuschak hit Robbie with a strike over the middle. Bleiler did the rest powering his way into the endzone from 20 yards out. Jake Warner hit a 27 yard field goal as the half ended and Northern took a 17-6 lead into the locker room.

The second half featured more Bleiler as he began Northern’s scoring breaking away on a 75 yard touchdown run. The Eagles would not give up however and they scored themselves when Preston Greene ran it in himself from 8 yards out. Northern took the 10 point lead into the 4^th quarter but you had the sense that the game was far from over. The teams traded possessions and turnovers and the Bears D finally wore down Bermudian’s feisty offense. The back-breaker came with 2:21 left in the game when Robbie took a handoff from Tuschak and blasted 71 yards for the score. On the night Robbie carried the ball 12 times for 214 yards. Caught 3 balls for 48 yards and a score and of course had the memorable kickoff return to start the game. The defense got their steam in the second half bending but not breaking until they completely shut the Eagles down on a crucial drive in the 4^th quarter. Led by Hank Sanders, the Bears dropped Bermudian for three straight losses in a row, got the ball back, and set up the final touchdown.

Under the new Mid-Penn realignment, the Bears start conference play next week at Shippensburg. It’s a new situation for Northern having such a crucial game so early in the season but you can be sure that Coach Mauck and his staff will have the Bears ready for the Greyhounds. The 2007 Colonial Division Runners up beat Halifax 14-3 last night at Halifax. Kickoff next week is 7:30 p.m. at Shippensburg.

Next Week

At Shippensburg

Friday 9/5/08 - 7:30 p.m.