Burnham Midgets outlast Derry Decatur in thriller

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: November 5, 2023

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – This season’s Central Keystone Football and Cheer League Freedom Bowl was a thrill a minute with the Burnham Bulldogs and the Derry Decatur Midgets taking center stage.

The game had a little bit of everything to offer, big leads, a thrilling comeback attempt, turnovers, interceptions, big offensive passes and runs and clutch defensive stands.

But after all the dust settled and the final buzzer sounded, the Bulldogs found a way to get the job done, winning 36-26.

Early on, the Bulldogs had its offense going on all cylinders.

Burnham’s second drive started at their own 35.

They rolled down the field on a nine-play scoring drive, capping it off with a 14-yard hook up from Austyn Shank to Rowan Deamer. The two hooked up on the 2-point conversion, making it a quick 8-0 lead.

Both defenses took over the rest of the first period.

However, the Bulldogs would be back in the end zone immediately after.

Facing a 3rd and goal from the 10, the Dawgs went back to the air attack as Layten Bowersox found Deamer for the score. With the successful two-pointer, Burnham upped its lead to 16-0.

After forcing a turnover on the Cyclones first possession of the period, the Bulldogs were back in action.

This time Deamer would take a hand off and run it in from 17 out, upping things to a 22-0 lead with 7:58 left in the half.

Derry Decatur refused to stay down. They would get back on the board for the first time minutes later when Shawn Shepard broke loose and rambled for a 31-yard run, cutting things to 22-6 with 5:21 left in the quarter.

Ferry’s defense stepped up and forced a turnover, getting the ball back in Bulldog territory. Three plays later, the Cyclones circled to scoreboard, making it a 22-14 contest on a Drake Finetrock TD.

The two went into the intermission with Burnham leading Derry 22-14.

Coming out of the intermission, the Bulldogs bumped up their lead to 30-14 on a 7-yard touchdown run by Bentley Felmlee.

But again, the Cyclones refuse to give up, scoring minutes later, putting them within striking distance at 30-20.

Finetrock again scored for Derry, closing in on Burnham.

Derry Decatur’s defense shined and forced its way to getting the ball back.

This time the Cyclones went to the air as Nathan Charles found a wide open Carson Laub for the touchdown, with still a whole quarter to go, Derry Decatur cut the lead to two, 30-28.

But Burnham grinded its way back onto the scoreboard with 1:08 to go.

Again the Bulldogs went to the air when Bowersox found Deamer for the game clincher 36-28.