Burns lights up scoreboard, totals 10 TDs

BROOKLYN — The move from 8-player to 11-player football has been no problem for BGM’s Beau Burns.

In the top five statewide and a leader in Class A across several statistics, Burns added to his numbers in a 74-21 rout of Martensdale-St. Marys in Class A District 6 play Friday.

The dynamic quarterback totaled 10 touchdowns on the night, eight on the ground.

“I got to give credit to my linemen. They work their tails off day in and day out,” Burns said. “I’m able to do what I’m able to do because of them.”

Four of Burns’ touchdown runs came on explosive plays of over 60 yards, highlighted by an 80-yard score in the first quarter.

The game was a blowout, but BGM started sloppy.

Three turnovers in the first quarter allowed the Blue Devils to stay in the game until the middle of the second quarter.

A 13-yard TD pass to Hunter Dooley on fourth-and-goal tied things up at 21 midway through the second quarter. Dooley scored all three touchdowns for the Blue Devils.

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It was all BGM after that. The Bears shut down the Blue Devils and scored 53 unanswered points to end the game.

The Bears also forced three turnovers in the run with three interceptions from Beckett Rhoads, Cayson Achenbach and Ethan Bridgewater.

“We knew we were better then that,” Burns said of the team’s start. “We just had to bounce back and keep our heads up and keep playing the way we know how to play.”

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Burns has been doing more with his feet this season, which is understandable after he lost his top three receivers.

Landon Hassett has become Burns’ favorite target this season, with 533 yards through five games.

Hassett fumbled twice in the first quarter and dropped a pass, so Burns knew it was important to give his top receiver some confidence heading out of this game.

That happened in the third quarter when Burns connected with Hassett on a deep go route up the sideline for a 65-yard score.

“Hopefully that TD helps get his confidence back,” Burns said. “He is a heck of a player and a great play maker. I just need to get him the ball in space, and he’ll do the rest.”

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Burns ended the night with 171 passing yards to go along with 441 rushing yards on just 23 carries. That’s 19.2 yards per carry.

Including just Burns’ touchdown carries, he averaged 43.6 per carry.

The win put the Bears at 2-2 in the district, with two important games coming up.

“It was huge and a good confidence booster,” Burns said of the win. “Especially with a big game next week (at Earlham).”

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BGM 74, Martensdale-St. Marys 21

At Brooklyn

BGM Team Stats

Rushes-yards — 29-469

Passing yards — 196

Comp-Pass-Int — 11-17-1

Scoring

Martsensdale-St. Marys … 14 7 0 0—21

BGM...................................21 19 21 13—74

BGM — Burns 71 run (Beckett Rhoads kick)

MSM — Dooley 27 pass from Hamilton (Ethan Cross kick)

BGM — Ethan Bridgewater 30 pass from Burns (Rhoads kick)

MSM — Dooley 18 pass from Hamilton (Cross kick)

BGM — Burns 80 run (Rhoads kick)

MSM — Dooley 13 pass from Hamilton (Cross kick)

BGM — Burns 61 run (missed PAT)

BGM — Burns 34 run (conversion failed)

BGM — Burns 1 run (Rhoads kick)

BGM — Burns 66 run (Rhoads kick)

BGM — Hassett 65 pass from Burns (Rhoads kick)

BGM — Burns 36 run (Rhoads kick)

BGM — Burns 11 run (Rhoads kick)

BGM — Sully Thompson 26 pass from Izaha Thompson (missed kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing: BGM — Burns 23-441, Izaha Thompson 3-17, Nathan Findlay 3-11

Passing: BGM — Burns 10-16-2-171, Izaha Thompson 1-1-1-26

Receiving: BGM — Hassett 4-96, Bridgewater 2-38, Findlay 2-28, Sully Thompson 1-26, Robby Tometich 2-9

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