The Bruce Trojans’ season came to an end Friday night with a 33-22 second round playoff loss to Baldwyn at Trojan Field.
Bruce’s Donta Armstrong, who scored passing, running and on a fumble return, broke a 16-16 tie on the first offensive play of the second half when he stripped the ball away from Bearcat receiver Clayton Gray and raced 36 yards for a touchdown. The extra point missed.
The 22-16 lead for the Trojans was short-lived as Baldwyn dominated the rest of the half en route to the win.
Baldwyn quickly marched for a go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing drive. Duke Upshaw, who finished with 134 yards and two scores, accounted for the touchdown on a 12 yard run. The extra point pushed the Bearcats in front 23-22.
Armstrong was intercepted on the Trojans’ next possession and the Bearcats quickly capitalized. Three consecutive runs led them to the end zone, the last a 16-yard scamper by Upshaw for a 30-22 lead. They would add a late field goal for the 33-22 final.
“They really beat us on the line of scrimmage,” Bruce Coach James Ray said. “That was the difference.”
Bruce’s first half scores included a 28-yard field goal by Tyler Donovan for a 3-0 lead after Baldwyn fumbled the snap on their first offensive play.
After 13 straight points from the Bearcats, Armstrong hit Jay Johnson with an 81-yard touchdown pass down the sideline for a 13-9 score.
Armstrong would break countless tackles en route to a 31-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter for a 16-13 Bruce lead.
Baldwyn then drove the field and hit a field goal to end the half in a 16-16 tie.
The Trojans finished the year 7-4. Baldwyn will advance to face Eupora in the North semifinals.