Chargers surge past Bernardians
The Blackstone Millville Regional Chargers triumphed over the St. Bernard’s Bernardians in a thrilling matchup at the historic Bernardian Bowl on Friday night behind a relentless offensive onslaught that left the home team struggling to keep up. The Chargers capitalized on four turnovers by the Bernardians, including three critical fumbles, to secure a come-from-behind victory with a final score of 33-20.
St. Bernard’s now stands at 2-2 for the season following this defeat, with a challenging road game against intercity rival Monty Tech looming on the horizon next Friday night. In contrast, BMR upped their record to 2-2 after coming off a narrow 14-12 win over their previous opponents.
Despite a lean roster of only 22 players, the Chargers displayed determination and resilience, thwarting the Bernardians with a series of powerful runs to the right that resulted in significant yardage gains. Their offensive prowess was highlighted by runs of 53, 36, 14, 21, and 14 yards, culminating in a decisive touchdown run by Karson Cournoyer that put them ahead at 21-14 late in the third quarter.
Following a crucial fourth-down conversion by St. Bernard’s, a costly fumble at the Charger 36-yard line proved to be a turning point. Capitalizing on the turnover, BMR orchestrated a 12-play drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown run by Nathan Kaczor, extending their lead to 27-14.
Although the Bernardians managed to close the gap with a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Caleb LaFreniere to Keegan Sklarz, Kaczor dashed their hopes with a stunning 77-yard TD run following an onside kick and a series of penalties against the Chargers.
The game opened with an impressive 11-play, 68-yard drive by St. Bernard’s, capped off by LaFreniere’s seven-yard touchdown run. Despite the Chargers answering with a field goal by Nate Oliveira and another in the second quarter, the Bernardians maintained a narrow lead of 14-6 at halftime.
A blocked punt by St. Bernard’s led to good field position and set up LaFreniere’s 4-yard TD run late in the second quarter, giving them a slight edge going into the break. However, the Chargers’ relentless offensive assault in the second half ultimately secured them the win, showcasing their determination and grit on the field.
Overall, the Chargers’ commanding performance and ability to capitalize on critical turnovers proved to be the deciding factors in their victory over the Bernardians, solidifying their position as a formidable force to be reckoned with in the upcoming games.