The Brewer Witches played a special game on Friday, beating Nokomis 19-8 en route to their first win of the season.
It was homecoming and the team’s first win at Doyle Field since 2019. It was also senior night, honoring the class of 2024, including the late Bryce Basso.
Basso, a 17-year-old cornerback and wide receiver for Brewer, died in a fall at Acadia National Park this past April. The hard-working and well-liked Basso would have been a senior and one of the captains on this year’s team.
Brewer football has carried Basso’s legacy on by creating a flag in his honor, carrying his jersey out to every coin toss, and inviting his family members to the team’s Senior Night on Friday. The flag they brandish states, ‘Friend, Teammate, Brother, Never Forgotten.’
“Everybody loved him,” Brewer quarterback Ethan Leavitt said. “These seniors wanted a win on Doyle and wanted a win for Basso. They wanted it bad.”
With the score locked at 0-0 late in the second quarter, it looked as if 3-3 Nokomis was going to take the lead when it got a first down at the Brewer six-yard line. Coming off a three-touchdown game, Nokomis star big man Seth Bowden was ready to punch it in, but Brewer was playing for something a little extra Friday night.
The Witches stopped the run three times in a row, pushing Nokomis back two yards. They then neutralized a last-ditch pass, forcing a turnover on downs to regain possession at the 8-yard line.
“We rose up against them, and came back even stronger in the second half,” Leavitt said. “The energy was different that game. We went in with emotion and heart.”
On the opening third quarter kickoff, the Witches recovered a gutsy onside kick, and marched down the field for their first of three scores.
“We could tell they couldn’t stop the big boys on our line, so we decided to drive it down their throats,” senior running back Hunter Merrithew said. “They held up for me today. I wouldn’t be the running back I am without them.”
Merrithew finished with 50 yards and all three of Brewer’s rushing touchdowns on only 15 carries.
“It felt really good to score for Bryce,” Merrithew said. “I would score and point to him in the sky because I knew he was looking down, helping me with that game.”
Following Merrithew’s second score, it looked like Brewer had Basso’s win in the bag, but Bowden and the Warriors weren’t afraid to be the villain on Friday night.
After returning the ensuing Brewer kickoff to the 35-yard line, Bowden took a run play all the way to the Brewer endzone on the first play from scrimmage. Then when Nokomis nailed the two-point conversion, it was suddenly a 12-8 game.
“The momentum shifted,” Leavitt said. “But we knew we could still win the game.”
Merrithew, Leavitt and the Brewer offensive line bore down, forging an impassioned 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to seal the victory. Having run the ball all night, the clock was drained, and the Witches had their win.
It was Brewer’s second-to-last game of the year, and their last chance to win at home on Doyle Field. It was a huge victory for the program, especially the seniors and those closest to Basso.
“This team has worked so hard all season to get that win and for it to come on senior night in recognition of Bryce made everyone happier,” senior center and nose guard Josh Bradley said.