By Rich Rhoades

BROOKVILLE — Sophomore Cameron Yard booted a 30-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Brookville Raiders to a come-from-behind 15-14 victory in a hard-fought season-opening game.

Yard’s game-winner also came on the final play of a drive that started at the Raiders’ 25 with 3:47 left in the game. First-year starter Steven Kennedy started the drive with a 29-yard run. Three plays later, he hit Sebastian Kerr on a 15-yard pass on a 3^rd-and-9 to the Dutch 30.

Then with time winding down at the 13-yard line, Kennedy missed Jared Heschke on a fade pass to the end zone with 4.4 seconds remaining, setting up Yard’s game-winning kick.

Kennedy rushed for 136 yards on 19 carries, scoring the Raiders’ first touchdown on a 1-yard run with one minute left in the first half. Ryan Kerr gained 87 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 6-yard run to get the Raiders within 14-12 with 2:11 in the third quarter.

St. Marys scored first on Kyle Schneider’s 29-yard run in the first quarter and  cashed in on a Raiders turnover — the only one of the game by either team — early in the third quarter by scoring on Justin Quiggle’s 6-yard run at the 8:49 mark.

But the Flying Dutchmen had to punt in their final three possessions of the game, allowing the Raiders to rally for the last-second win. Dutch senior fullback Kevin Hoy, coming off a 1,500-yard season, gained 103 yards on 20 carries. He did that despite an ankle injury that kept him from playing his usual starting linebacker position on defense.

The Dutch’s first-year starting quarterback Brad Yetzer completed 6 of 8 passes for 62 yards.

The Raiders outgained the Dutch, 336-230.

NOTES: Much of the second half was played in a decent cover of fog, limiting visibility. … Raiders head coach Chris Dworek improved to 7-8 in season openers as he began his program-record 15^th season at Brookville.

BROOKVILLE 15, ST. MARYS 14

Score By Quarters

St. Marys        7          0          7          0          -           14

Brookville       0          6          6          3          -           15

First Quarter

S – Kyle Schneider 29 run (Scott Barber kick), :41.7.

Second Quarter

B – Steven Kennedy 1 run (pass failed), 1:00.

Third Quarter

S – Justin Quiggle 6 run (Scott Barber kick), 8:49.

B – Ryan Kerr 6 run (pass failed), 2:11.

Fourth Quarter

B – Cameron Yard 30 field goal, 0:00.

                                    B                                 S

First Downs                15                                10

Rushes-Yards              48-272                         38-168

Passing Yards             64                                62

Comp-Att-Int              4-11-0                          6-8-0

Total Yards                 336                              230

Punts-Average                        1-31                             4-25.8

Fumbles-lost                2-1                               0-0

Penalties-Yards           4-30                             5-47

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Brookville: Steven Kennedy 19-136, Ryan Kerr 16-87, Jacob Cieleski 10-42, Brandon Brownlee 1-4, Cameron Yard 1-2, Jared Heschke 1-1. St. Marys: Kevin Hoy 20-103, Kyle Schneider 5-48, Justin Quiggle 7-15, Brad Yetzer 1-6, Brian Merritt 2-(-2), Team 2-(-2).

Passing — Brookville: Steven Kennedy 4-of-11, 64 yards. St. Marys: Brad Yetzer 6-of-8, 62 yards.

Receiving — Brookville: Brock Bietz 1-32, Sebastian Kerr 1-15, Derek Shattenberg 1-10, Jacob Cieleski 1-7. St. Marys: Darren Lyon 2-31, Sam Guido 2-11, Jimmy Werner 1-11, Justin Quiggle 1-9.

Fumble Recovery — St. Marys: Kyle Schneider.

Kick Returns — Brookville: Brandon Brownlee 1-22, Jacob Snyder 1-7, Dakota Singleton 1-6. St. Marys: Justin Quiggle 2-37, Sam Guido 1-19.

Punt Returns — Brookville: Brandon Brownlee 1-2.

Punting — Brookville: Cameron Yard 1-31. St. Marys: Justin Quiggle 4-103 (long 32).