The World According To Chris Brewer

(EDIT 4:26 AM, Nov 23 — scroll to the bottom for photos)

FIRST-EVER CRIMSON HOUSE TURKEY BOWL SEES GAME GO DOWN TO WIRE
By Bradley Bojangles
AP Sports Columnist

SPRINGFIELD, MO (AP) — Jason Brewer caught two touchdown passes and scored three two-point conversions to spearhead the Dark Meat to a 37-34 victory over the White Meat in the inaugural 2007 Crimson House Turkey Bowl, played at in Springfield.

At gametime, the temperature was a chilly 35 degrees, and the teams’ play showed it, with the Whites leading only 7-0 after one quarter. Dustin Shanahan scored on a 43-yard lateral toss from quarterback Chris Brewer to put the Whites up after the Darks went three-and-out on their first possession.

The Whites’ lead was short-lived, with the Dark Meat scoring two quick touchdowns off a pass from John Pace to Rich Schultz to tie the game at 7. On the ensuing kickoff, a botched exchange from Brewer to Kevin Buchanan was recovered by Pace at the 21, and on the next play he threw a 25-yard lateral to Jason Brewer to push the lead to 14-7.

The Whites didn’t give up, though, coming back on a Chris Brewer 86-yard touchdown run that stood as the longest play of the game. A failed two-point conversion pass made the score stand at 14-13 at halftime in favor of the Dark Meat.

Second-half action saw a lot of fireworks, as the teams traded touchdowns, making the score 21-20, and from there the Darks took over with stifling defense and flawless offense to take a 37-20 lead into the fourth quarter. Jason Brewer had a second touchdown reception and Pace ran in another, and both conversions were good to seemingly put the game out of reach.

There was no quit in the White Meat, however, as Shanahan threw a perfect 47-yard toss to Buchanan in front of Schultz, who missed Buchanan’s flag at the 30, allowing him to waltz into the endzone. The conversion failed, making the score 37-26. The Whites held on defense, then Shanahan scored on a 68-yard option keeper, and Chris Brewer passed to Buchanan for the two-point conversion to make the score 37-34.

Time ran out on the Whites’ chances, and the Darks sealed the game by returning the kickoff to midfield, where all the players exchanged high fives and hugs.

Two scary moments occurred in the first half when Chris Brewer tried to slide and gain momentum to pull Jason’s flag, but he missed when Evin Pace, the game photographer, was in the way. He slid off to the side into a tree, creating a scary moment when he limped back to the huddle. The second moment occurred when Shanahan pulled up gimpy due to a prior back injury after his long touchdown run in the second half. He returned to play defense, but was noticeably shaken.

GAME NOTES

This was the first Crimson House Turkey Bowl. Two teams of three competed in a biting cold, with the Dark Meat team of John Pace, Rich Schultz and Jason Brewer defeating the White Meat team of Chris Brewer, Dustin Shanahan and Kevin Buchanan by a score of 37-34.

The game had to be played adjacent to the sports fields at Kickapoo High School due to those fields being used already.

John Pace and Chris Brewer were the respective captains of their teams, based on seniority.

The Game Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the Gobler’s Giblet, was Jason Brewer. He established the Turkey Bowl record for scoring with two touchdowns and three two-point conversions, for a total of 18 points.

The Play of the Game was awarded to Dustin Shanahan and Chris Brewer. Brewer received the snap and lateraled to Shanahan, drawing two defenders while Kevin Buchanan ran a deep post. Shanahan lateraled back to Brewer who ran 82 yards untouched for the score.

GAME QUOTES

“Yeah, I’m in pain a little bit. It was the chivalrous thing to do, but I just wish God hadn’t have put a tree there.” –Chris Brewer, when asked about his physical condition after sliding into a tree to avoid hitting Evin Pace

“We forgot to pray before the game for no injuries to happen. That’s why after the game we had to pray for healing.” –John Pace, after the teams prayed for Dustin Shanahan’s back

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man.” –Rich Schultz, after the game, when asked how he felt

SOME PHOTOS (thanks to Evin Pace)