Wildcats Bring the Bell Home with Historic 54-0 Victory, Claiming the IVL Title in the 81st Annual Bell Game
Brawley, CA — The Brawley Wildcats, a Division 2 school, ended their season with a dominant 54-0 victory over the Central Spartans in the 81st Bell Game, reclaiming the bell after two years and securing the Imperial Valley League (IVL) title. This historic game marked Brawley’s first scoreless Bell Game win in over a decade.
The night kicked off at 5:30 p.m. with a memorable pregame show, featuring a spectacular drone display, a performance by Brawley Union’s new high school rock band, and a grand arrival by CIF Commissioner Joe Heinz, who landed midfield in a helicopter, thrilling the crowd.
Central began with the ball, but Brawley’s defense quickly took control, forcing turnovers and stopping key plays. Senior quarterback #8 Matthew Gutierrez led the Wildcats’ offense, scoring the first touchdown with a 10-yard rush. Gutierrez ended the game with an impressive 311 passing yards and three touchdowns.
One of the game’s standout moments came when Gutierrez connected with wide receiver #3 Bubba Garcia for a 30-yard pass in the end zone. Garcia finished with 190 receiving yards. Gutierrez also threw touchdowns to #10 Roy Rosas and #23 Matthew Moreno, extending Brawley’s lead in the first half.
Brawley’s defense proved unbreakable, with linebacker #36 Camillo forcing a fumble that gave the Wildcats another scoring opportunity. Moreno scored his second touchdown of the night shortly after, pushing the score to 34-0 by halftime.
The Wildcats kept up the momentum in the second half, including a 60-yard touchdown from Gutierrez to Garcia. Sophomore #24 Noah Castro and #26 Kevin Valenzuela each scored in the fourth quarter, closing out the game at 54-0.
After the game, senior running back Matthew Moreno expressed his excitement. “We haven’t had the bell since my freshman year. The community needed the bell back, man. It just feels great. I got no words right now.”
Gutierrez added his reflections, saying, “We work for this moment, and we work for the bright lights and big stages. First and foremost, all glory to God. My adrenaline is really going good.”
Looking ahead to the playoffs, Moreno summed up the Wildcats’ ambitions: “It speaks volumes, man. We’re coming for a championship, that’s the biggest goal on our minds. We just had to come out here and make a statement for the community. We needed this dub, and we secured it.”
With this victory, Brawley enters the CIF playoffs as the top team in the Valley, bringing home both the IVL title and the bell, making this Bell Game a night to remember for the Wildcats and their fans.
