Johnson felt great about the effort and determination the Bears showed during the game. He praised players like Jonathan Ford, Zacch Pickens, Josh Blackwell, and Tre Flowers for bouncing back after injuries.
The star of the night was second-year defensive end Austin Booker. He impressed everyone with three sacks, including a strip-sack that led to a key turnover, allowing the Bears to score a go-ahead touchdown.
Early on, the Dolphins made a strong push. They drove from their own 42-yard line to the Bears’ 1. But linebacker Noah Sewell stepped up, tackling running back Jaylen Wright for a 3-yard loss and forcing a turnover on downs. Earlier, Sewell also caused a fumble, but luck was not on his side, as the ball went out of bounds.
In the second quarter, the Dolphins scored first. Running back Alexander Mattison punched it in for a 1-yard touchdown, finishing a solid 51-yard drive.
The Bears quickly responded, tying the game at 7-7. Quarterback Tyson Bagent connected with receiver Maurice Alexander for a 4-yard touchdown. Alexander made an impressive catch, soaring over two defenders.
“Tyson did a great job,” Johnson mentioned. “That was a big throw. Maurice was the second option, and he made a fantastic play to get the touchdown.” This moment was crucial for the Bears.
The Bears executed a lengthy 16-play, 79-yard drive. Bagent had some key completions, including a 17-yarder to Devin Duvernay and a 16-yarder to rookie Luther Burden III on a third-and-15 situation. Meanwhile, rookie running back Kyle Monangai contributed with 29 rushing yards.
But the Dolphins responded quickly, regaining the lead with Wright’s 7-yard touchdown run just before halftime.
Miami almost extended their lead when safety Patrick McMorris intercepted a deflected pass from Bagent. He returned it to the Bears’ 46-yard line. However, Pickens, along with lineman Dominique Robinson, applied pressure with back-to-back sacks, forcing another turnover on downs.
With just a second left in the half, Bagent threw a 13-yard pass to Burden, setting up Cairo Santos for a 57-yard field goal. Santos nailed it, making the score 14-10 at halftime.
“Luther did a phenomenal job catching that pass and getting out of bounds,” Johnson said. “And Cairo really came through with that kick. It was strong enough; we could have kicked from further back!”
Ending the half on a high note is crucial in football. Scoring just before the break can shift momentum. This game was a clear example of that strategy in action.
Source link
centerpiece,Article – Game Recap


















