STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY
KYLE FIELD – The Bryan Vikings and the Texas A&M football team share an undesirable trait: neither has proven the ability to finish a game lately.
Bryan watched a 21-14 halftime lead dissolve quickly as the A&M Consolidated Tigers scored 35 second half points in a 49-21 romp Friday night at Kyle Field in the annual Crosstown Showdown.
Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter, the Vikings (4-2, 2-1) scored 14 unanswered points before halftime.
What proved to be Bryan’s final score of the evening came after Consol quarterback Jacob Bronowski fumbled with less than minute remaining in the second quarter. The Vikings finished a brief two-play drive as Chris Johnson ran in for a six-yard touchdown.
As the first half ended, the two teams left the field with the Vikings jubilant.
It wouldn’t last long as Consol began shredding a Bryan defense diminished by injuries.
The Tigers (3-3, 3-0) opened the second half with a 71-yard drive capped off by Bronowski’s nine-yard touchdown run with 10:07 left in the third.
Following a Bryan three-and-out, Bronowski scored with 7:22 in the third, this time on a seven-yard run.
The next two Consol touchdowns in the third quarter were compliments of Bryan turnovers.
Following a Chris Johnson fumble, Bronowski hit Quinton White for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Bryan then threw an interception on the ensuing possession, which led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Durassis Nutall.
Two three-and-outs and two turnovers resulted in a 28-point Tiger outburst in the third quarter. When the period ended, the damage was done.
Consol added a touchdown in the fourth quarter using mostly reserves to go up 49-21.
Nutall led the Tigers in rushing with 104 yards on seven carries, while running back Quinton White finished with 168 all-purpose yards and two touchdown receptions.
But it was Bronowski’s effort that paced Consol. The senior quarterback finished with 207 all-purpose yards, two touchdown passes, and three touchdown runs.
For Bryan, running back Kevin Jefferson ran for 100 yards on 23 carries. Defensively for the Vikings, linebacker Tyler Allen had a solid game, finishing with several solo tackles.
Bryan’s schedule gets no easier as the Vikings host Copperas Cove next Friday at Merrill Green Stadium. Consol is also at home next week, hosting Killeen Shoemaker.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final
Bryan 7 14 0 0 21
AMC 0 14 28 7 49
1st Quarter
Bryan, 2:55 Chris Johnson 15 yd TD pass from Zach Alvarado (Chris N. Johnson kick), 7-0
2nd Quarter
AMC, 11:57 Jacob Bronowski 1 yd TD run (Dillon Moore kick), 7-7
AMC, 9:50 Quinton White 35 yd TD pass from Bronowski (Moore kick), 14-7
Bryan, 2:51 Kevin Jefferson 51 yd TD pass from Johnson (Chris N. Johnson kick), 14-14
Bryan, 0:28 Johnson 6 yd TD run (Chris N. Johnson kick), 21-14
3rd Quarter
AMC, 10:07 Bronowski 9 yd TD run (Moore kick), 21-21
AMC, 7:22 Bronowski 7 yd TD run (Moore kick), 28-21
AMC, 5:40 White 31 yd TD pass from Bronowski (Moore kick), 35-21
AMC, 3:42 Durassis Nutall 25 yd TD run (Moore kick), 42-21
4th Quarter
AMC, 7:40 Jalyn Williams 2 yd TD run (Moore kick), 49-21