SAN JOSE - Tanner Scattini’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Jesus Ruiz was the first score in a Branham (4-2, 3-0) Homecoming blowout over Leland, 31-0.
“All we did was drive down the field and play hard,” Scattini commented.
The momentum of the game carried on from there, with a Scattini pass to a diving Nick Majors for a 30-yard touchdown. The Bruins led 17-0 at halftime, after a Tyler Pesavento field goal late in the second quarter.
Leland (0-6, 0-3) failed to create offense into the second half, punting to Ruiz, who returned it 63 yards to the Leland seven-yard line. Branham capitalized on the field position with a one-yard run from Nolan Gallagher, as the lead went up to 24-0. On the next Branham drive, fueled by a 60-yard run from Gallagher, Ruiz ran in a 15-yard touchdown with six seconds left in the third quarter.
Branham was able to maintain their shutout into the fourth quarter, as Leland was stuffed at the one-yard line on fourth down. To end the game, D’Ante Bonnard picked off a desperation pass to culminate a dominating victory.
"Hard work and practice got us here," said Branham coach Nick Gardiner. "We set a goal tonight and we achieved that goal through working hard in practice."
Gardiner also recognized that the team's current success in league play has created higher expectations.
“When you’re undefeated this far, people will notice you," Gardiner said. "And we have to practice that much harder.”
“It all comes from practice,” Scattini agreed. “That’s how we stay undefeated in league.”
