Brother Rice Holds Off De La Salle in 31-28 Thriller

The Warriors watched a 17-point second-half lead shrink to three, but a late defensive stand preserved a dramatic 31-28 victory over De La Salle.

By Caleb Bushell | DVS Lead Reporter

Brother Rice survived a furious second-half comeback from De La Salle, holding on for a 31-28 victory after the Warriors once appeared to have firm control of the game.

Brother Rice entered the third quarter leading 17-7, with its defense continuing to make things difficult for the Pilots. After forcing another stop, the Warriors returned to an offense built around a physical running game and timely completions.

A run up the middle helped start one of Brother Rice’s best drives of the half before a toe-tap catch along the sideline moved the chains. Another strong reception produced a first down, and Curtis Eason (#26) kept the possession moving with another run up the middle.

After an incomplete pass, Brother Rice went right back to the ground.

No. 9 powered into the end zone for a rushing touchdown, extending the Warriors’ advantage to 24-7.

It looked like Brother Rice was beginning to pull away.

De La Salle had other plans.

Pilots Flip the Momentum

On De La Salle’s first offensive play following the touchdown, Gavin Bach (#14) hauled in a deep touchdown pass, immediately cutting Brother Rice’s advantage to 24-14.

Then came another major swing.

Brother Rice fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and De La Salle recovered.

The Pilots carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, eventually reaching the red zone and connecting on a touchdown pass over the middle.

In a matter of possessions, Brother Rice’s commanding 17-point lead had been reduced to 24-21.

Brother Rice Answers

With De La Salle threatening to erase the lead completely, Brother Rice needed a response.

The Warriors delivered one.

A big completion moved Brother Rice toward midfield before another pass over the middle produced a first down. The Warriors then returned to their ground attack and finished the drive with a rushing touchdown up the middle.

Brother Rice suddenly had some breathing room again at 31-21.

But De La Salle still wasn’t finished.

The Pilots broke loose for a big run and later dialed up a trick play that moved the ball all the way to the Brother Rice 1-yard line.

A quarterback sneak appeared to produce another De La Salle touchdown, but a penalty erased the score and moved the Pilots back to the 6-yard line.

They found the end zone anyway.

Vince Bitonti (#3) went over the top of the line for the touchdown, pulling De La Salle within three at 31-28 and setting up a dramatic finish.

Defense Finishes It

Brother Rice tried to burn away the remaining clock on its next possession, but penalties complicated matters.

A flag eventually put the Warriors in third-and-8 before a delay of game made it third-and-13. Brother Rice’s quarterback scrambled out of bounds, forcing a punt and giving De La Salle one final opportunity.

The situation was clear:

A touchdown would win it. A field goal could send it to overtime.

After consecutive incompletions to begin the possession, De La Salle started finding success through the air. A Brother Rice pass interference penalty moved the chains, although a false start soon pushed the Pilots backward.

Then the Warriors’ defense delivered.

Facing third-and-15, Brother Rice came up with a massive sack.

De La Salle had one final chance on fourth down and sent a pass deep downfield, but the ball fell incomplete with three Brother Rice defenders surrounding the intended receiver.

Turnover on downs.

With 42 seconds remaining, Brother Rice took possession and closed out the game.

A 17-Point Lead Nearly Disappears

Brother Rice appeared headed toward a comfortable victory after building a 24-7 third-quarter advantage, but De La Salle transformed the game with a rapid response, a recovered kickoff fumble and an offense that refused to go away.

The Pilots scored three second-half touchdowns and twice fought their way back within three points.

Brother Rice ultimately survived because it answered De La Salle’s biggest surge with a touchdown drive of its own — and when the Warriors needed their defense one final time, it delivered a sack and fourth-down stop to finish the job.

FINAL: Brother Rice 31, De La Salle 28

Detroit Varsity Sports was on-site for the matchup. Stay with DVS for highlights, postgame interviews and more coverage from The Varsity Report.