Falls City Edges Bremond to Advance to Semi-Finals

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 7, 2019

photos: Steve Thomas

Brady Lyssy leads Beavers to wild victory over Tigers

Last year, the Falls City Beavers advanced to the UIL 2A Division II Semi-Finals and lost to the eventual champion Mart Panthers. This year, the Beavers will get a chance for revenge after edging the Bremond Tigers 35-28 in the UIL 2A Division II Region 4 Final. Quarterback Brady Lyssy rushed for 356 yards and five touchdowns, and the defense held Bremond’s normally potent offense in check, especially in the second half.

In the first half, the Beavers defense forced Bremond to go three-and-out on the Tigers’ opening drive. Brady Lyssy then opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown keeper to the Beavers a 7-0 lead. The Beavers appeared to have stopped the Tigers again on the next drive, but a roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Grant Jendrusch extended the Bremond drive. Three plays later, quarterback Seth Kasowski tied the game with a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver Dalton Wilganowski. Early in the second quarter, the Beavers had a chance to retake the lead with a 30-yard field goal; but the Tigers blocked the attempt. Later in the second quarter, Seth Kasowski connected with Dalton Wilganowski again on a 15-yard touchdown pass to give Bremond a 14-7 lead.

On the opening drive of the second half, Brady Lyssy found the end zone again on a 67-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14. After the Beavers’ defense forced the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs, Lyssy scored his third touchdown of the night on a 37-yard keeper. The Beavers missed the extra-point attempt, however, leaving the score at 20-14. On the ensuing drive, Bremond running back JT Anthony scored on a one-yard touchdown rush to give the Tigers a 21-20 lead after the successful extra-point attempt. This would be the last time the Tigers led the rest of the night.

Following the Bremond touchdown, Falls City drove the ball into Bremond territory. After getting inside the Bremond thirty-five-yard line, the offense appeared to stall. However, on fourth-and-eleven, Lyssy connected with a receiver at the one-yard line which extended the drive. Following the conversion, Lyssy scored again on a one-yard touchdown keeper to put Falls City back in front 28-21 after converting the two-point attempt. The Tigers appeared poised to respond with a touchdown of their own, but Grant Jendrusch intercepted Seth Kasowski’s pass in the end zone.

Later in the fourth quarter, the Beaver defense stopped the Tigers on fourth down at the Tigers’ 38-yard line; and Lyssy found the end zone for the fifth time on a one-yard keeper. Desperate for a miracle, the Tigers got one on the ensuing drive. On the first three plays, the Tigers went backwards losing a net of two yards. However, on fourth-and-twelve, JT Anthony ran the ball 61 yards for a touchdown on what initially looked like a broken play. On the following kickoff, the ball bounced off the chest of a Falls City player; but the Beavers were able to recover it and run out the clock.

After the game, Beaver head coach Britt Hart credited the win to his team’s physicality and second-half defensive adjustments. Hart also acknowledged the challenge awaiting his team in the next round but was confident his team was up for it. With the win, Falls City improves to 13-1 overall. As mentioned, the Beavers will face the Mart Panthers in the semi-final round at a date and time to be determined. Bremond, meanwhile, finishes the season at 12-2.

by Steve Thomas