On an absolutely idyllic Fall evening  in Northeast Ohio last Friday, the Brush football team put together a complete football clinic, excelling on offense, defense, and special teams as they sent the John Hay Hornets back to their "hive" with a 42-0 whitewashing of their Cleveland counterparts.  Making this victory even more special was that it came on Homecoming / Alumni Night weekend - so for many making up ARC NATION at Korb Field on this evening - this win over the Hornets was sweeter than honey -  and it marked the second victory in succession for Head Coach Ricky Powers and his Arcs in 2024.

Brush started fast on the first of QB Jay Gilchrist's 3 TD passes for the game (he also added one on the ground) when he hit receiver Kevin Powell with a 23-yard pass in the 1st quarter to give Brush an early lead they'd never relinquish. Freshman Prajit Tamang was true on the first of his 6 extra points (missing only 1) and Brush excited the home crowd with a 7-0 lead. The defense asserted itself early, either forcing Hornet QB Dey Dey Rosser into a night of constant scrambling or sealing off the middle so that the Hornets could not find much in the way of running holes to break through - rushing 17 times on the evening for a miniscule 9 yards - less than 1 yard per carry.

Brush settled for the lone touchdown in the opening 12 minutes yet was nowhere near being done.  Gilchrist scored on a 1-yard keeper, Justus Vickers burst through a hole for a 16-yard scamper, and when Gilchrist and Powell connected for their second touchdown in the first half, this one from 9 yards out - the Arcs had surged to a 28-0 advantage that would prove insurmountable.  The illustrious Brush Arc Marching Band under Director John Shamp performed admirably at halftime, as they always do, giving the Arc footballers a breather before they continued to light up the scoreboard in quarter number three.

Senior Demarr Harris stretched out beyond what seemed possible to haul in a 31-yard TD aerial from Gilchrist (coulda been an ESPN highlight !) and at 35-0, the Arcs began substituting liberally to give a variety of players some extra Friday Night frolics. The Arc offense, which had ridden the back of RB Vickers a good part of the night (13 carries for 98 yards and the 1 TD) turned to sophomore running back Carlton Avant, who sped through the Hornet defense to pick up 26 yards in just 4 carries. For his part, QB Gilchrist was given plenty of time by the O-line, and he made connection on 6 of his 10 tosses for 106 yards and the 3 TD's. Soph QB Bryce Rucker even got some reps at QB and completed his only throw for 16 yards.
 
The Arcs were dominant throughout, outgaining the Hornets 291 to 31 in total yards, accomplishing 14 first downs to John Hay's 3, all the while converting on 5 of 10 third / fourth down scenarios - holding the Hornets to 0 of 9 in the same situations. Powell was a favored receiver on the turf - hauling in 4 passes for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns.  When the JV team came out the following morning and played a spirited, competitive game in a 19-14 victory over the Hornet JV'ers - it gave Brush 2 football wins for its program in just 12 hours - making the Homecoming festivities later Saturday night at Welser Gym all the more joy-filled.