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By Matt Sexton
NKyTribune contributor
The Bishop Brossart football program’s best season came to an end Friday night when the Mustangs fell to Raceland, 22-14, in the opening round of the Class 1A playoffs at Campbell County Middle School.
Brossart failed to score on two key drives that helped determine the outcome of the game.
The first came in the second quarter with the Mustangs trailing 15-0. A 25-yard pass from Craig Pfefferman to Logan Schoulthies and a 20-yard Pfefferman run set the Mustangs up at the Raceland 28. On the next snap, however, Brossart fumbled and the Rams recovered to stop the drive.
Brossart got off to a great start in the third quarter. On Raceland’s first play from scrimmage, Carson Christian fumbled and the Mustangs recovered at the Raceland 42.
The Mustangs had a first-and-goal at the Raceland 8, but they couldn’t put the ball in the end zone. On a fourth down play from the 4, Frank Cetrulo took the ball on a reverse and was stopped two yards shy of a touchdown.
Raceland drove out of the shadow of its goal line and across midfield before punting with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Three plays later, the Mustangs finally found the end zone. Pfefferman launched a beautiful spiral hitting Chase Keller in stride and he scampered 73 yards to pull the Mustangs within 15-7.
Raceland answered on its next possession when Nathaniel Davidson found Kyle Jamison for a 41-yard touchdown strike that restored the visitors’ two-score lead, 22-7.
On the next play from scrimmage, however, Pfefferman launched a pass to Cetrulo, who grabbed it and rumbled 69 yards for the score. Cetrulo then kicked the extra point to bring the Mustangs within 22-14 with 11:34 left.
After picking up two first downs, the Rams were forced to punt back to the Mustangs. Cetrulo started the drive with an 11-yard gain for a first down. After an incomplete pass, Cetrulo was forced to fall on a pitch that hit the turf. The nine-yard loss derailed the drive. Brossart had to punt and wouldn’t get the ball back again.
Raceland secured the victory by picking up four first downs, including one with a minute left.
Brossart was outgained 414-264, including 324-91 in rushing yards. Raceland ran 28 more plays (68-40) and 15 more first downs (24-9), yet the Mustangs stayed close until the end.
Pfefferman completed 6 of 13 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns in his final game as Brossart’s quarterback. Cetrulo had 10 carries for 48 yards. For Raceland, Christian had 18 carries for 105 yards, while Kane Snyder had 21 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Raceland (7-4) advances to play Paintsville in the second round of the playoffs. Brossart’s season ends at 9-2.
RACELAND 0 15 0 7 — 22
BROSSART 0 0 7 7 — 14
B – Chase Keller 73-yard pass from Pfefferman (Cetrulo kick)
R – Jamison 41 pass from Davidson (Lemaster kick)
B — Cetrulo 69 pass from Pfefferman (Cetrulo kick)
RECORDS: Brossart 9-2, Raceland 7-4.