For the Bonner Springs football program Friday, there was
not much to complain about in their 49-14 victory on the road against
Washington.
First, the win puts the Braves back into the postseason.
Second, the Braves momentum on their now four-game winning
streak continues.
Third, Jordan Jackson keeps on growing up as the sophomore
quarterback.
Fourth, most of Bonner’s key contributors had short nights
as the Braves put together a 42-0 halftime lead.
In limited action, Johnathan Jackson kept it going on the
ground for Bonner Springs. He had 17 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
However, it was the passing game – particularly in plays that
involved wideout Stevie Williams – that put the game away early.
Williams was the favorite target of the sophomore
quarterback, who finished his outing 7-of-9 for 155 yards and three touchdown
passes.
After a penalty wiped off a deep touchdown pass to Joseph
Dooley, the Braves went right back to it. Williams’ 29-yard reception kept the
Braves momentum going on a third-and-long play. Moments later, Williams 35-yard touchdown reception was the
first score of the game.
On Bonner’s next drive, Williams struck again. His 28-yard
touchdown reception extended the Braves lead to 14-0.
It was all downhill from there.
“Getting off to good starts has been our focus lately,” said
Williams, who finished with four catches and 106 yards with those two
touchdowns. “Coach has wanted us to jump all over them and tonight we did.”
Head coach Lucas Aslin turned to his running game to round
out the dominate first half, which saw Bonner Springs outgain Washington by
almost 300 yards.
After Jordan Jackson earned his third passing touchdown, the
remaining four touchdowns for Bonner Springs came on the ground.
Johnathan Jackson’s three-yard touchdown extended the lead
to 35-0. Backup running back Jared Knernschield, who also eclipsed 100 yards on
the ground, scored from 20 yards out for the Braves final score of the first
half.
A touchdown early in the second half pushed the score to
49-0.
The two bright spots on the night for Washington were DeAnte
Ambler and Sai-Vone Love.
Ambler’s 77-yard touchdown gave Washington its first score
the game. Ambler juked three different Brave defenders on the play. Love,
meanwhile, displayed great passion on the field even in a 49-0 game and “stuck”
some Bonner Springs players on offense when he was playing linebacker.
But the story of the night was Bonner Springs and its first
half.
“We’ve gotten off to slow starts all year long,” Aslin said.
“We can’t do that against teams in the postseason. We came out fast tonight and
put them away.”
While the Braves are in and ready to go this postseason,
there’s still unfinished business for the Braves.
If Bonner Springs defeats Lansing at home, they would win
the district title and host a home game, something that could come in hand as
the postseason starts.
That means for Aslin, there’s something to play and coach
for.
“It’d be huge,” Aslin said. “Every week since districts
began, we’ve wanted to finish the week 1-0. Next week is another test for us
and playing time could be on the line.”
For the senior Williams, he’ll have one more chance to earn
a postseason football victory before he leaves Bonner Springs.
“This is a great feeling,” Williams said. “We worked hard
all summer and all season long to get here.”
Bonner Springs, now 5-3 on the season, takes on the 5-3
Lansing Lions at home next Friday night. Both teams are in the postseason, but
the winner claims a district title.
