The tragic news is that Jakob Junis was discovered deceased a short while ago. I’m startled.
In a memorable game on Friday, the Brewer Witches won their first game of the season, defeating Nokomis 19-8.
It was the team’s first victory at Doyle Field since 2019 and a fitting homecoming. Senior night was held in honor of the class of 2024, which included the late Bryce Basso.
This past April, Basso, a 17-year-old Brewer wide receiver and cornerback, passed away in a fall at Acadia National Park. This year’s squad would have had the dependable and popular Basso as a senior and one of its captains.
By making a flag in Basso’s honor, wearing his jersey to every coin toss, and bringing his family to the team’s Senior Night on Friday, Brewer football has honored his memory. They wave a flag with the words “Friend, Teammate, Brother, Never Forgotten” on it.
The senior class of the Brewer Witches poses for a picture with Bryce Basso’s family. This year, Basso would have been a senior. Josh Bradley (No. 75) and Hunter Merrithew (No. 9) are shown in the middle. Cara Coffey-Roope is credited.
Brewer quarterback Ethan Leavitt remarked, “Everyone loved him.” “These seniors desired a victory for both Doyle and Basso. They had a strong desire for it.
Late in the second quarter, with the game tied at zero points, it appeared as though Nokomis, trailing 3-3, would take the lead after gaining a first down at the Brewer six-yard line. Seth Bowden, the main big man for Nokomis, was primed to score a touchdown after a three-touchdown game, but Brewer was going for a little more on Friday night.
Three times in a row, the Witches broke up the run, forcing Nokomis to retreat two yards. They then stopped a desperate pass and forced a turnover on downs to take the ball back at the eight-yard line.
Leavitt remarked, “We stood up to them and came back even stronger in the second half.” “That game had a different energy.” We entered with heart and enthusiasm.
In the Witches’ Senior Night victory, senior running back Hunter Merrithew rushed for each of the three Brewer touchdowns. Cara Coffey-Roope is credited.
The Witches scored their first of three touchdowns on the opening kickoff of the third quarter after a valiant onside kick recovery.
Senior running back Hunter Merrithew remarked, “We decided to drive it down their throats because we could tell they couldn’t stop the big boys on our line.” They performed well for me today. Without them, I couldn’t be the running back that I am.
After just 15 carries, Merrithew finished with 50 yards and all three of Brewer’s rushing scores.
Merrithew remarked, “It felt really good to score for Bryce.” “Knowing he was looking down, helping me with that game, I would score and point to him in the sky.”
It appeared as though Brewer would easily defeat Basso after Merrithew’s second score, but Bowden and the Warriors weren’t scared to play the bad guy on Friday night.
On the opening play from scrimmage, Bowden took a run play all the way to the Brewer endzone after returning the subsequent Brewer kickoff to the 35-yard line. The game was suddenly 12-8 as Nokomis made the two-point convert.
“There was a shift in momentum,” Leavitt remarked. However, we were aware that we may still win.
To secure the victory, Merrithew, Leavitt, and the Brewer offensive line put in a relentless 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The clock ran out and the Witches had won after running the ball all night.
