Bruins Ride Offense To Fast Start

As St. Mary’s lined up for a short field goal attempt in the final minute of the opening-weekend clash with Broadneck, the Bruins hoped against hope that the Saints weren’t about to steal one from them for the second straight year.

Then Grayson Whitney came to the rescue.

Already with a sack and several tackles earlier in the game, Whitney found a gap in the St. Mary’s field goal protection and shot through it, getting a paw on the kick to send it down to the turf. The Bruins erupted, mobbing Whitney as the timely block resulted in a 29-27 victory to start a run that has the Bruins 3-1 as the calendar turns to October.

It was an instant impact for a senior who missed all last season with serious skull and brain injuries sustained in a freak off-field accident.

“No one plays harder than Grayson Whitney. When he was hurt last year it stunk, because he could have had a role for us, but nobody works harder than him. He didn’t come out on defense, played every snap. That’s the kid I expect to make a play like that.”

Though the Bruins stalled offensively in the second half, they put up enough points in the first half to hold on for the win. Nate Kropkowski hit Aiden Tupper on a 50-yard touchdown bomb on the last play of the first quarter, after they had already gone over the top of the Saints’ defense earlier in the game. Tupper had 116 yards and the two scores on four catches.

Then it was the defense’s turn, and they answered the bell. Broadneck’s pass rush totaled three sacks, and defensive end Wyatt Hicks had 15 tackles. Blitzes by Dom Montgomery and Max Patten kept St. Mary’s off balance, and Whitney and Co. picked up the rest down the stretch to keep the Saints barely at bay.

“I came off a torn ACL and I knew I had one shot. I’m a confident player and I know what I can do,” said Montgomery, a transfer from Severn School who missed last season. “Nate and our offense was getting it done which is great to see, and when they can’t, we have a defense that can fill in the gap.”

Even in a 48-25 loss to Milford Mill, the Bruins showed offensive prowess. Kropkowski accounted for 378 total yards and four overall touchdowns, rushing for 76 yards and two scores, and throwing for 312 and two more touchdowns. Tupper caught eight passes for 128 yards and a score, while tight end Liam Sabo grabbed six balls for 84 yards and a TD.

They played that game without Max Fresty, who left the St. Mary’s game early when a violent hit in the second half sent him into concussion protocol. Fresty returned the following week against Arundel, though, scoring four times as the Bruins posted a 48-12 victory.

“If you win two out of three units, you’re going to win the game usually, and that’s what we’re able to do,” Kropkowski said. “We have six guys on offense who can get the ball at any time and make a play.”

The Bruins rounded out the month with a resounding 41-0 win over Annapolis, in which Kropkowski hit Tupper for two TDs and rushed for one of his own. Broadneck holds the inside track to the No. 1 spot in their region and hopes to continue rolling when the Bruins suit up October 2 at home against Glen Burnie.