BROOKSVILLE – Plenty of first game mistakes were made Friday night in Brooksville, but it was Mason Tucker capitalizing on those mistakes with three interceptions that put Bracken County past Switzerland County, 12-0.
Early on, the Polar Bears were unable to convert those turnovers into points offensively, but defensively Tucker took matters into his own hands with a pick-six to get them on the board. The senior, who picked off six passes last season returned one 14 yards for a score to give Bracken a 6-0 lead with 5:50 left in the first quarter.
Neither team was unable to pick up much momentum offensively the rest of the half as the Polar Bears took a 6-0 lead into the half.
A goal-line stand after a Bracken fumble proved to be vital for the “Bear Down” defense in the third. A fumble gave the Pacers the ball on the Bracken three, but they were unable to punch it in from there to keep the shutout intact.
“That’s how our defense has to come out to start the year. Sometimes the offense is behind the defense, or the defense behind the offense,” Polar Bears defensive coordinator David Brausch Jr. said.
Nathan Jefferson then got in on the interception parade, giving the Polar Bears offense another shot and this time they were able to come through. Trey Brausch hit Tucker for a 35-yard reception to put the Polar Bears in the redzone. A couple of Pacer penalties put Bracken down to the five and the program’s all-time leader in touchdowns, Tad Fisher, ran one in from five yards out to give them a 12-0 lead with 7:54 to play.
The Pacers looking to get their offense started, fell victim to hands of Tucker again, who once again picked of the Pacers to give them the ball on their own 42 with 6:02 left in the game.
The Polar Bears would give it right back after another fumble, but another Tucker pick sealed the deal to get the Polar Bears in the win column for the fourth straight year over the Pacers.
“It wasn’t pretty, but the win was all that mattered, and the defense putting a goose egg up was a good start,” Brausch Jr. said.
Bracken County will head to Ludlow for Week two.
BRACKEN COUNTY 12, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, IN 0
BRACKEN COUNTY—-6-0-0-6—-12
SWITZERLAND COUNTY, IN—-0-0-0-0—-0
Scoring plays:
1st Quarter:
(BC) Tucker 14-yard interception return (two-point conversion failed), 5:50
4th Quarter:
(BC) Tad Fisher 5-yard rush (two-point conversion failed), 7:54
Records: Switzerland County 0-1, Bracken County 1-0
