Yoemen move to 0-2 on season, set for Franklin

The Yoemen fell to the Bellville Brahmas on Friday 41-26 to fall to 0-2 to start the season. 

Bellville jumped out to a 28-0 lead and then used a strong rushing performance to hold off the Yoemen as they attempted a fourth quarter comeback where the Yoemen cut the Brahma’s lead to a one score deficit two different times in the game. 

Before the comeback attempt, Cameron did not score a point until a 31-yard field goal attempt by Landon Greene (9) in the second quarter. After a scoreless third quarter from both teams, Cameron started to show some life and started to tighten up the game.  

The Yoemen tried to rally in the fourth quarter behind three touchdowns by Pharrell Hemphill (4). He scored on a 7-yard and a 10-yard pass from Ryan Muniz (7) to close the margin to 28-17. Hemphill also returned a kickoff for a touchdown by running it 60 yards to the endzone. With a 2-point conversion pass from Muniz to Phaibian Bynaum (5), the Yoemen closed the margin to 34-26. However, a late 11-yard run and another score by Bellville, and after a couple of failed onside kick attempts, the Brahma’s closed out the game for the final score of 41-26 to end the game. 

Muniz played an impressive game despite the two interceptions with passing for 200 yards and throwing two touchdown passes. Bynaum also ran the ball well as he ran for 88 yards. Along with returning his third kickoff for a touchdown this season, Hemphill also caught two touchdown passes. 

Braylan Drake played phenomenal on defense with 46 solo tackles along with an interception. The Yoemen now sit at 0-2 and have twice outscored their opponents in the second half and look to rebound next Friday night when the Franklin Lions come to Yoe Field. The Lions are currently ranked as the #1 3A-DII team in the state and it will be a battle until the very last second. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.