By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
HAMLER (September 12, 2025) – The Patrick Henry Patriots won a decisive victory against the Bryan Golden Bears at home Friday night, winning 49-7.
Out of the gate, the Patriots plowed down the field with a 62-yard kickoff return by senior Cal Schroeder, who carried the ball from their own two-yard line to the Golden Bears’ 36.
After a successful run by senior Jaidan Rutter and a pass to junior Reid Creager, Schroeder carried the ball the remaining 21 yards over the course of three plays, putting the Patriots up 7-0 after a successful point after by freshman Aiden Gerken.
Bryan struggled to find any momentum on their first drive, with freshman quarterback Jake Arnold getting sacked twice to bring up fourth and 23 and the Golden Bears’ first punt.
During Patrick Henry’s next drive, Rutter did much of the heavy lifting, carrying the ball a total of 23 yards before Schroeder again did the honors over the course of two plays, carrying the ball the final seven yards to score another touchdown. Gerken again put it through the uprights to bring the score to 14-0.
Aided by a facemask call against the Patriots, the Golden Bears earned a first down, but were stymied when senior Aaden Wallace caught a lateral pass only to be knocked back hard by Schroeder and then tackled by senior Mitch Prigge for a loss of 10.
On the following play, a pass intended for junior Jacob Uran was intercepted by senior Grant Schwab at the Patrick Henry 45-yard line.
Schroeder carried the ball on the next play, stumbling to an 11-yard gain and first down, when a 44-yard pass was carried in by Schwab for another Patriot touchdown. Gerken did his duty, and Patrick Henry went up 21-0.
Bryan was again unable to gain any momentum on their next drive, losing two yards in a three-and-out before punting.
With ten seconds left on the clock, Rutter carried for a first down, leaving just two seconds remaining and 56 yards to go. Junior quarterback Tristen Rosebrook obliged, with a 56-yard pass to Schwab, which, along with Gerken’s work, gave the Patriots a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
After receiving to start the second quarter, the Golden Bears pushed for a first down after a no-gain pitch to sophomore Hunter Watson was followed up by a 12-yard run by sophomore quarterback Rhett McGill, putting them just shy of midfield.
Three more plays were only able to get them four yards, however, and a sack by senior Akevian Kryder on fourth and six turned the ball over on downs at the Bryan 45-yard line.
Maintaining the same momentum they showed in the first quarter, the Patriots immediately scored with a 55-yard run by Rutter for a touchdown. Gerken added one to bring the score to 35-0, using just 10 seconds of the clock for their drive.
The story was much the same for Bryan, who was only able to gain two yards before a pass intended for Wallace was picked off by Creager at the Patrick Henry 32.
A lateral pass to Rutter resulted in a 40-yard gain, and after a run by Schroeder and a pass to Creager put them on the six-yard line, Schroeder ran in another, pushing their lead to 42-0 with the assist from Gerken.
The Golden Bears started to gain traction on their next drive, finding success in their running game courtesy of senior Cade Carlin, carrying the ball four times and pushing across midfield, McGill was then sacked by junior Reed Jackson on the next play, bringing up fourth and 11 and the punting crew.
Bryan continued to struggle against the offensive onslaught of the Patriots, as they were flagged for holding on the next play and for encroachment on the play after.
A two-yard run by Jackson to get the first down was followed by a 69-yard run by Prigge for yet another Patriot touchdown. After Gerken’s kick, Patrick Henry found themselves up 49-0 with less than two minutes to go in the half.
The Golden Bears went three and out on their next drive, with Kryder getting another sack of Arnold. After the punt, the Patriots took a knee to run out the clock in the second quarter.
Play in the second half progressed quickly, with the clock ticking down continuously due to the Patriots’ lead.
Bryan received the ball to start the half and found success moving the ball with Patrick Henry’s second string on the field.
Arnold held onto the ball for a quick gain, which then Carlin gained a first down near midfield. A pass to junior Anthony Weber gained 35 yards and set up a run by Arnold to the nine-yard line.
Arnold passed to Wallace on the next play for the first and only touchdown the Golden Bears would score during the matchup.
Senior Carter Luce put in the point after, and the score was left at 49-7 with just over half of the quarter remaining.
UP NEXT: September 19 – Bryan (1-3, 0-1 NWOAL) at Liberty Center (4-0, 1-0)
BHS 0 0 7 0 – 7
PHHS 28 21 0 0 – 49
PH – Schroeder 4-yd run (Gerken kick)
PH – Schroeder 1-yd run (Gerken kick)
PH – Schwab 43-yd pass from Rosebrook (Gerken kick)
PH – Smith 21-yd pass from Rosebrook (Gerken kick)
PH – Rutter 45-yd run (Gerken kick)
PH – Schroeder 6-yd run (Gerken kick)
PH – Prigge 69-yd run (Gerken kick)
B – Wallace 9-yd pass from Arnold (Luce kick)