OLIVEHURST, CA (YSBC) – The Lindhurst Blazers football team came into the 2025 season looking to make a statement and they did on Friday, Aug. 22 in a 21-18 loss to the Bear River Bruins.

Bear River defeated Lindhurst by more than 30 points to open 2024 and the Bruins opened the 2025 season with a quick score in the first few minutes of the game. 

Bear River received the opening kick and the first play from scrimmage, they ran the ball 40-plus yards down the right side and quickly got on the scoreboard when Bruins senior wide receiver Corbin Dagang caught a 12-yard touchdown pass for an early 7-0 lead.

Lindhurst junior running back Ismael Sanabia (14) rushes the ball on Friday, Aug. 22 during the Blazers' 21-18 loss to Bear River. Photo by Steven Bryla

As the first week of football began Friday, turnovers are expected as teams are still working kinks out, there were double-digit turnovers in Olivehurst on Friday.

Bear River extended their lead to 14 after senior safety Seamus McKeown scooped a Lindhurst fumble and took it back 55-yards to the end zone with five minutes left in the first.

The Bruins had the early momentum no doubt, but after Bear River missed a 42-yard field goal, the Blazers controlled the rest of the first half.

Lindhurst junior running back Ismael Sanabia was a brute with running the ball on Friday. Sanabia rushed the ball 14 times for 77 yards and it always took multiple defenders to bring him down.

Sanabia put the Blazers on the scoreboard for the first time this year when he scored on a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

Bear River wide receiver Ty Cleek (4) catches a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone on Friday, Aug. 22 in a 21-18 victory against Lindhurst. Photo by Steven Bryla

Lindhurst sophomore running back Chan Hicks added a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to six. Hicks ran the ball 11 times for 70 yards in the loss.

Bear River answered back quickly with their proficient pass game as junior wide receiver Ty Cleek hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jayden Brock.

That was the last was the last time the Bruins would score a point for the remainder of the game. The Blazers quickly capped of a quick two-minute drill as they converted a 59-yard drive to trail 21-16 at the half.

Lindhurst senior quarterback Nieko Reyes tossed a 28-yard pass to Hicks and the drive was capped off by a 16-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Alex Covarrubias. Covarrubias had 59 rushing yards in the defeat.

Blazers head coach Troy Spangler expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that he was proud of his team for fighting back with a 14-point deficit in the first quarter.

Spangler added that the defense responded great in the second quarter.

Lindhurst senior running back Alex Covarrubias (8) runs the ball downfield in the Blazers' 21-18 defeat to Bear River on Friday, Aug. 22. Photo by Steven Bryla

Lindhurst opened the second half with a 10-minute drive that ended deep in Bear River territory with a turnover on downs.

As the Bruins were pinned back deep in their territory, the Blazers defense brought the heat as they forced a punt. As Bear River attempted to punt, a high snap went over the punter and rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

Lindhurst had a great opportunity to take the momentum, but the ensuing punt went over the head of the returner and instead of having great field position, the Blazers started on their own seven.

Spangler told YSBC that was a big missed opportunity being backed up deep in their own territory.

Lindhurst struggled to move the ball in the second half and Spangler told YSBC that they simply just didn't execute offensively. 

Lindhurst senior Riccy Phienemanh (5) celebrates the safety in the third quarter of the Blazers' 21-18 defeat to Bear River on Friday, Aug. 22. Photo by Steven Bryla 

The Blazers had three offensive possessions in the fourth and turned the ball over on downs each time. Defensively, Lindhurst forced a fumble on the Bear River 31 and Blazers junior Angel Gonzalez recovered it and Lindhurst had their best chance to take the lead for the rest of the game.

Despite the offense being unsuccessful at moving the ball, they still had one shot within the final minute of the game and had the ball near midfield.

The Bear River defense held their own and knocked down the final pass attempt from Reyes to Riccy Phienemanh near the Bruins 30-yard line as the clock hit triple zeroes.

Although Lindhurst took the loss, they made a positive statement and accomplished that goal. They get the next opportunity to get a win as they travel to play Oroville on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.