For two and a half quarters Friday night, B-CC had Northwest on the ropes. The Barons matched the Jaguars’ speed and physicality, stunned them with a halftime lead, and looked poised to pull off a big early-season upset. In the end, Northwest’s depth proved too much, and B-CC fell 28–14. But unlike their season-opening stumble, this loss felt different. It felt like progress.
The spark came early. On the Barons’ first drive, senior Jack Nucci broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run, setting the tone for the offense. In the second quarter, senior running back Gabe Eisler powered into the end zone, capping a drive that showcased B-CC’s offensive line at its best. Eisler finished with 40 yards on 11 carries, with his longest run being a 15-yarder, showing just how tough yards were to come by. As a team, the Barons rushed for 101 yards, building on the dominant ground game that carried them past Blair in Week 2.
Momentum shifted in the fourth. With the score still within reach, sophomore quarterback Jack Conley slightly rushed a throw on one of the Barons’ best blocking plays of the night. The interception swung the game for good, and Northwest capitalized.
Even in defeat, there was plenty to like. Conley still showed positives as a young quarterback. The Barons’ discipline improved dramatically after a penalty-filled week one, though the few flags thrown still proved costly. On defense, seniors like Eisler and Andre Ekani set the tone, flying around the field and keeping the Jaguars in check until late in the game.
Senior running back Gabe Eisler summed it up afterward: “Yeah, the score hurts, but we’re focused on the positives. We showed who we can be tonight, and now it’s about building on this and taking care of business next week.”
The Barons now turn to Week 4, where they face what many expect to be a “test” this Friday, September 26, at Wheaton. But if B-CC plays the way they did, and the way they can, the Barons should steamroll the familiar Knights.
