Fred Stabbert III | Democrat The Sullivan West Bulldogs travelled 109 miles to take on the undefeated Millbrook Blazers on Friday night in the first game ever on Millbrook’s new $1.5 million sports complex.

Sullivan West outwinged by Millbrook

Story by Fred Stabbert III
MILLBROOK — October 1, 2013 — The Sullivan West Bulldogs travelled 109 miles to take on the undefeated Millbrook Blazers on Friday night in the first game ever on Millbrook’s new $1.5 million sports complex.
And the Bulldogs proved to be perfect guests, spotting the Blazers to a 22-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 51-14 defeat.
The Class C battle had all the markings of a great matchup as both teams were coming off convincing wins the week before.
But Sullivan West had few answers to Millbrook’s double wing offense, which grounded out 394 yards of real estate on the night.
Using the Double Wing Super Power Toss, Millbrook outmanned the Bulldogs at the point of attack to score six offensive touchdowns – four on the ground and two by air.
The Blazers also caught the Bulldogs playing the run too hard, throwing three passes which accounted for touchdowns of 57 and 18 yards respectively.
“Millbrook is definitely a strong team, but we had too many mistakes,” Sullivan West head coach Ron Bauer said.
Those mistakes came early, and shifted the momentum Millbrook’s way.
Millbrook (2-0, 4-0) took the opening kickoff and marched 70 yards on six plays to take an 8-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Sullivan West fumbled the ball, setting up Millbrook on the 27- yard line.
Joe Daley ran it in and Millbrook led 16-0 at the 7:02 mark of the first quarter.
Sullivan West, which would rack up 281 yards of offense behind a yeoman’s effort by the offensive line, then took over on the 30-yard line and proceeded to drive down the field with a combination of runs up the middle and passes in the flat.
With a second and four at the 19-yard line, Sullivan West ran an option left and the ball hit the turf and was scooped up by Millbrook freshman Delvin Wood, who scampered 80 yards for the score.
That turned the battle into a 22-0 Millbrook lead.
“It was a tough game,” Millbrook head coach Sean Keenan said. “Sullivan West always plays hard.
“I don’t think the score indicates how close the game was,” Keenan said. “We capitalized on the scoop and score in the first quarter to go up 22-0. This was definitely the closest 51-14 game we ever played.”
Sullivan West battled back on its next possession, driving 61 yards for a score.
The drive started with a combination of Andrew Stabbert running up the middle and quarterback Richard Shevak finding tight end Cody Franskevicz in the flat for two quick first downs.
A nifty screen to Stabbert then picked up 16 yards, moving the ball down to the 28.
From there, Millbrook’s defense stiffened, throwing Sullivan West for an eight-yard loss on a sweep.
Facing a fourth down and 7, Shevak found Zach O’Connor on a corner route and he grabbed the ball over a Millbrook defender and walked into the endzone for a touchdown.
Michael Sedlack added the PAT to make it 22-7.
But Millbrook freshman Wood struck again, returning the kickoff 50 yards to set up Millbrook at the Sullivan West 35 yard line.
Sullivan West shut down several runs when suddenly Millbrook QB Reggie Colley hit Daley on a wide open 18-yard pass for a TD and 30-7 lead.
Sullivan West got the ball back with nearly eight minutes left in the half and went on a 10-play, six minute drive down to the 13-yard line.
But with a third and 10 play, Sullivan West again put the ball on the ground and Millbrook picked it up to end the threat.
“We should have only been down 14-7 at the half,” Bauer told his troops.
Sullivan West took the second half kickoff and again drove down to the 22-yard line, but gave up the ball on downs.
Three plays later Millbrook hit a 58-yard pass play from Colley to Devon Jackson to make it 38-7.
Millbrook added two more touchdowns in the quarter and Stabbert scored on a five-yard run late in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.
Sullivan West (0-1, 1-2) will host league rival Liberty this Friday night in a game with playoff implications for both teams.
Sullivan West has defeated Liberty the past two years by narrow margins.

GAME STATISTICS
Sullivan West (0-1, 1-2)
Rushing – Stabbert 26-193, 1 TD
Passing – Shevak 7-12, 88 yds, 1 TD
Receiving – O’Connor 2-45, 1 TD; Franskevicz 3-22; Stabbert 1-16
Tackles – O’Connor 9; Stabbert 8; Mirch 8; Rydell 5

Millbrook (2-0, 4-0)
Rushing – Daley 9-109, 2 TD; Cardinal 17-100, 1 TD; Wood 1-57, 1 TD;
Passing – Colley 2-3, 75 yds., 2 TD
Receiving – Jackson 1-57, 1 TD; Daley 1-18, 1TD
Tackles – Digregorio 11; Higgins 8; O’Donnell 7; Raylor 6