Brawley runs out of juice, loses offensive battle with high powered University City

BRAWLEY, Calif., (KYMA, KECY) - Despite a first half dogfight, the Brawley Wildcats could not come up with an answer in the second half of a star-studded game under the lights on Thursday.

In a game where the Wildcats welcomed the University City Centurions, they looked to heal their wounds in the final game of a three-game homestand at Warne Field to kick off the year.

But in the end they would once again find themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard for a second straight week.

University City opened the scoring on an 80 yard scoring drive after a Brawley turnover on downs.

After the first quarter ended in a 6-0 University City lead, the Centurions would score on another 80 yard drive, capped off by a short touchdown carry from Samuel Harris.

The WIldcats would answer on the next drive with a bulldozing touchdown run by Tanner Carranza.

Following another University City score, the Wildcats answered big again on the second touchdown of the game by Carranza - set up by a 68 yard scamper from Ethan Gutierrez to make it a 20-13 game.

The Centurions would drive down the field and punch it in again to ramp up a high scoring affair in the second quarter.

And the Wildcats would again respond with the final word in the first half to keep it close.

After another dazzling 33 yard run by the standout quarterback Gutierrez, the senior Carranza would score for the third time in the game with just 14 seconds left in the half - making it a 27-20 lead for the Centurions going into the break.

The Wildcats started the second half with the ball down by one score and they would quickly get into scoring position after a pair of successful screen passes to Mehkye Washington and Daniel Camillo, followed by a read option run by Ethan Gutierrez that inched them inside the Centurions 10 yard line.

Later on fourth down and goal, the Wildcats tried to punch it in with Matthew Moreno from four yards out, but he was stopped by the University City interior to turn the ball over.

Only a few plays into the Centurions next drive, the Brawley defense gave up the big one on a quick out to sophomore Dreyden Garner which led to disaster.

Garner turned the corner and shaked two tackles before turning it up the field for a 72 yard touchdown to put the Centurions up by two scores in the third quarter.

On the Wildcats next possession, they pounded the rock with Tanner Carranza on two straight plays to pick up a first down - but two plays later, Gutierrez rolled out of the pocket and launched a pass deep downfield on the run that was picked off by Wayne Kigen for University City.

And then the wheels came off.

On a third and long, the Centurions dumped off an outside swing to Roman Rodriguez who turned on the jets and tiptoed the sideline with only a few Wildcats to beat - taking it 81 yards to the house to open the scoring.

After the extra point, University City would take the commanding 41-20 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

After another Brawley punt, the final blow came on a quarterback draw from Samuel Cooper who took it 47 yards to the endzone.

The extra point would give the Centurions a 48-20 lead.

With time running out, the Wildcats would strike for the first time in the half on a 56 yard touchdown pass from Gutierrez to Washington to make it 48-27 with only three minutes remaining.

The Centurions would go on to break the goal line once more on a 32 yard touchdown run to make it a 55-27 game, which ended up the final.

Brawley drops two out of their three homes games to start the year, falling to 1-2.

They will be back in action next Friday in a trip to Cibola.