By RALPH COX | Herald Star
WELLSBURG, W.Va. — The Brooke football team closed the season in victorious fashion on Friday night, defeating Preston 26-12 on senior night inside Brooke Memorial Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, Brooke (3-7) opened the scoring with 30 seconds to go before halftime with a 6-yard Joshua Shorts-to-Camden Bates connection, taking a 6-0 lead.
The Bruins’ defense stopped a late-Preston drive at the 1-yard line before the half. Then, on the the third play of the second half, Max Camilletti took a screen pass from Shorts and went 59 yards, eluding defenders down the sideline for another score to double the Bruins’ lead.
Preston cut the lead in half with 2:25 left in the third quarter when J.J. Townsend — who finished with 143 yards on 31 carries — capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with a scoring run.
After a short squib kick was recovered by Brooke, Camilletti rushed for 6, 34 and 11 yards on the ensuing drive, the last of which went for a score to make it 20-6 following a conversion pass by Shorts.
Roger Gabbert capped a long Brooke drive with a 1-yard plunge, set up by deep passes to Bates and Joseph Fuscardo.
Preston’s Trevor Thomas threw a late 13-yard touchdown to Jaxson Lewis.
Camilletti finished with 109 yards and two scores, while Shorts threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
