North Central used scoring plays of 26, 30, 45, 56 and 81 yards to send Brebeuf to its twelfth opening week loss in the past thirteen years, defeating the Braves 35-13 in the first ever meeting of these 86th Street neighbors. The win was North Central's first in 33 games, giving Panthers first year coach Collin Coffer a victory in his first game at the helm. Matt Geske's sixth season leading the Braves was figuring to be a growth year, with new starters all over the field from last season's record-setting group, and the game more or less bore that out. Braves junior QB Keegan Bouwkamp looked confident in the pocket, completing 25 of 45 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, both to junior WR Carter Cosgrove. Returning senior WR Edwin Watson III had seven catches for 78 yards to lead the Braves receiving corps. On defense, Juniors Matthew Johnson (12 tackles), Nate Johnson (9 tackles) and Eli Drake (8 tackles) all looked sharp, backed by senior all-conference LB Parker Maiers' 8 tackles. Maiers also saw some time at tailback with three carries, was targeted once on a pass, and may do everything short of laundry and popping popcorn for Brebeuf this year. The game was 21-0 early in the second when Bouwkamp and the Braves' offense got on track, scoring two quick touchdowns sandwiched around a muffed punt snap by North Central that gave Brebeuf possession on the Panther 12 yard line. At 21-13 midway through the third, you could hear the shadows of doubt beginning to creep up on the North Central players, most of whom have never experienced a varsity win. That's when Panthers sophmore QB Chase Grove led his team on the drive of the game, a 13-play, 94-yard masterpiece culminating in a 30 yard TD strike to Javen Brooks on the first play of the fourth quarter to essentially put this one on the pile of disappointing Brebeuf Week One football games. It's a big pile, with clunkers from historical Braves teams across the spectrum from state finalists to .500 teams, and we don't yet know where this bunch will fall on that scale, but there is good news. Brebeuf is a terrific bounceback team in Week Two, having won their second game four years in a row, over either Tri-West or New Palestine. They host Tri-West next week in their home opener, so pack the house and cheer on your Braves!