Preston Iverson catches a 36-yard from CJ Mathews to score one of Oroville’s only two touchdowns against Brewster Friday. Photo by Gary DeVon

OROVILLE – Perhaps the Hornets had gotten too complacent easily defeating all comers, when they met the Brewster Bears it was a much different story.

The Brewster Bears, the only other team in the NCW B League took Oroville to school besting them 24 to 12. The Hornet’s first league loss was compounded by the fact that took place on Oroville’s home field in their Homecoming game.

“Fumbles and penalties played a big part in the 24-12 loss to Brewster. Our game plan offensively was do to do want we’ve done all year, run at them, but continued to shoot ourselves in the foot with fumbles or penalties every time we got something going,” said Head Coach Tam Hutchinson after the game.

At the start Oroville showed some of their old spark, with quarterback Preston Iverson carrying the football across into the endzone for the first TD of the game with 5:24 off the clock. Iverson missed the Point After Touchdown attempt and the score stood at six to zero, with neither team scoring the rest of the quarter.

About half way through the second quarter however, Brewster’s Eli Driessen rushed for two yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick was missed by Ramirez and the score was six all heading to the locker rooms.

At 6:04 into the third quarter, the Bear’s Pio rushed eight yards for Brewster’s second TD. The Hornets blocked the kick and it was 12 to 6 in Brewster’s favor. The Hornets came back with another touchdown pass from CJ Mathews to Charlie DeMartino in the last few minutes of the third quarter and tied it up 12 to 12. Oroville tried to go ahead with a two-point PAT, but the attempt failed. The fourth quarter really was the Hornet’s undoing with Brewster’s Driessen scoring twice more on Oroville with a three- and eight-yard rushing carries before it was all over.

Oroville’s Nick Perez, usually in the triple digits for rushing, was kept down in the double digits with 84 yards on 17 carries. He was followed by CJ Mathews, who rushed for 48 yards on five carries and Jose Velasco who rushed for 25 yards on two carries. QB Iverson had eight yards on 10 carries and passed for a total of 63 yards, his longest pass being 45 yards against Brewster.

“Defensively we were geared for them to spread the field and try to pass more. We were successful in stopping the pass, but did a poor job of stopping their running game. I don’t know if the week-long activities might have had some effect on our focus, but I do know that some of our starters simply didn’t show up to play,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said Brewster’s coach took credit for stopping us by going over/under on CJ Mathews.

“I really think that had no effect on the outcome. Truth is, his seniors up front simply kicked our butt, and we did very little to stop them. This loss may effect the rest of the season if some of the seniors don’t step it up! We may go into the playoffs with just our juniors and young players, which will be fine, because they won’t quit trying and this point want it more,” said the coach.

For the playoffs, Oroville’s Athletic Director Brett Fancher said Week 10 will be a cross-over game with the South Division. The North Division #1 (Brewster) will host the South #1. The winner will be the #1 seed to state play-offs, the loser #2 seed. The North #2 (Oroville) will host the South #3. The winner will be the #3 seed to state play-offs. The North #3 will host the South #2, the winner will be the #4 seed to state play-offs, according to Fancher.