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There wasn’t a lot that was pretty about the season opener between West Branch and Lisbon on Friday and at times it was down right ugly.

But the Bears managed to find away to come up with a beautiful result.

West Branch forced three turnovers and limited Lisbon to 99 yards of total offense in a 12-6 win over the Lions on a warm and muggy night in Lisbon.

In a game that saw the teams combine for seven punts, six turnovers and 17 first downs it was fitting that the games biggest play came on defense.

West Branch senior Cash Woody returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown with four seconds left in the third quarter to give the Bears a 12-0 lead they would never give up.

Andy Henson rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries to account for all but 20 yards of the West Branch total offense but it was enough for the Bears to win the opening thanks to a suffocating defense.
West Branch recovered a pair of fumbles and intercepted a pass while limiting Lisbon to just 20 rushing yards in the win.

After a scoreless first quarter the Bears took a 6-0 lead when Henson capped the best drive of the game for either team with a 3-yard touchdown plunge on a direct snap.

The touchdown run capped a 10-play, 63-yard march for the Bears that was set up when Woody recovered a Lisbon muffed punt.

Henson carried six times for 36 yards on the drive and junior quarterback Carver Boelk converted a third-and-five play with a 6-yard run that kept the drive alive.

It remained 6-0 until Woody picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards to paydirt late in the third quarter.

Lisbon cut the lead in half on a 59-yard touchdown pass with 3:51 left but the Lions would get no closer.

Logan Wright and Drake Berry each had a sack for West Branch and Berry led the Bears with seven tackles.

Boelk finished 3-of-6 passing for 24 yards.

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