Despite a fast first half start, Brunswick’s run game wore down Greenbrier in the end as the Wolfpack were defeated 21-14 Friday night in Region 1-AAAAA play.
Greenbrier’s opening script worked to perfection as it put together a 10-play, 61-yard drive, capped off by a 12-yard wheel route from quarterback Brayden Stephens to Cole Trupp for the score. The extra point was knocked through the uprights to make it a 7-0 lead.
The Wolfpack defense stood tall on Brunswick’s first offensive drive and forced a punt.
Five plays later, the Wolfpack found the endzone again through the air, this time to Ryan Clayborn from 34 yards out, and nine minutes into the game, Greenbrier led 14-0.
This was a bit of a surprise given how impressive Brunswick had been in its previous games leading up to this one.
The Pirates did answer with a 15-play, 73-yard drive to cut the Wolfpack lead to 14-6 after a missed extra point. The long drive ended in the endzone on a screen pass from Grant Moore to Waseem Murray.
Both teams traded interceptions two plays apart and the Wolfpack took their eight-point lead into the break.
Out of the half, Brunswick put together a crisp seven play drive that resulted in a 32-yard touchdown run by Nigel Gardner, the two-point conversion was good and the score was tied at 14.
The Pirates then pooched the kickoff and recovered it to take over again at the Wolfpack’s 29-yard line, but the Greenbrier defense forced a huge turnover on downs to slow down Brunswick’s momentum.
Brunswick scored again in the fourth to take a seven point lead, this one coming on a 21 yard touchdown run from Josiah Gibbons.
The Wolfpack’s next drive went down to the Pirates’ 15-yard line, but would stall as they missed a 35-yard field goal.
Brunswick ran the time out and pulled off the narrow victory.
Greenbrier fell to 2-2 and 1-1 in region play ahead of next Friday’s trip to Bradwell Institute.
