Bruins' football season ends on low note

COLUMBIA — The Rock Bridge football team lost their final game of the season 48-28 to Oak Park on Friday at Rock Bridge Field.

Bruins senior Jake Morse completed 16-of-28 passes for 199 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Mike Petrik caught five passes for 56 yards and one touchdown before suffering a separated right shoulder that sidelined him for the entire second half.

Morse completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior Chase Mejia midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Bruins (1-9) within 35-28. However, on the first play of the ensuing drive, Northmen senior Jarell Childs bursted through the middle for a 38-yard gain. The run began a seven-play, 62-yard drive, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown pass from senior Morgan Ward to senior Jordan Owen. Ward completed 18-of-24 passes for 342 yards and accounted for five touchdowns.

After the game, Rock Bridge coach A.J. Ofodile said he was proud of his seniors, but expressed displeasure with Oak Park (6-3) because of the way the game ended.

Northmen senior linebacker Brent Haynes was ejected with less than 20 seconds to play for a late hit on Morse. Haynes was also ejected from last year’s game between the Bruins and Northmen.

“They (the Northmen coaches) have held a grudge for some perceived deal,” Ofodile said. “They brought that back this year. The coaches wouldn’t talk to us before the game.”

Last season Rock Bridge beat Oak Park 40-12, but Ofodile said he didn’t think the Bruins ran up the score.

“Look at the tape and you’ll see that we pulled our starters at the end of the third quarter,” he said.

Northmen coach Keith Ross would not comment.