Brownsboro quarterback Ryan Owens throws a deep pass in the first quarter of the Bears season-opening win over the Palestine Wildcats. A.J. Crisp Photo The Brownsboro Bears defeated the Palestine Wildcats, 20-14, in a thrilling season opener at Wildcat Stadium on Friday.

Brownsboro senior defensive lineman Dillon Croley intercepted Wildcat quarterback Kenny Green’s pass inside the 5-yard line as time expired to preserve the victory.

“All wins are good,” Brownsboro head coach John Settle said. “To come out against a quality opponent and come out with a win was good.”

Brownsboro senior wide receiver Deondre Taylor scored on a 34-yard touchdown reception with 3:34 left in the game on a pass from senior quarterback Ryan Owens.

On that play, Owens faced a heavy pass rush from Palestine and scrambled back tow ard midfield before heaving the gamew inning score to Taylor.

Brownsboro running back Matt Simpson takes the handoff from quarterback Ryan Owens in the first half of the Bears season-opening win over the Palestine Wildcats. A.J. Crisp Photo “Ryan made a play and that’s what he does,” Settle said. “Ryan’s a gamer and he found a way to win the game and that’s the most important thing.”

The point-after attempt was no good, which left the door open for Palestine to win the game with a touchdown and converted extra point.

Palestine returned the ensuing kickoff to the 35-yard line with 3:27 remaining, 65 yards away from a potential game- winning score.

Green and running back Terrance Simon, who piled up 145 rushing yards, did the majority of the work on the last drive, exchanging carries and moving the ball downfield.

Then Green completed a 33-yard pass to Nico Barhnard down to the 3-yard line with eight seconds remaining and a final play.

Settle Green dropped back to pass, scrambled in the backfield for a few moments before throwing it in the middle of the field when Croley snagged the pass on the goal line to end the Wildcat threat.

Bears’ junior running back Keuntis Thompson scored two rushing touchdowns for Brownsboro on the night.

The first came with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter on a 3-yard run to put Brownsboro up 7-0 early.

Palestine’s first score came via special teams on a blocked punt when a number of Wildcats fell on the ball near the back of the end zone, which tied the game at seven.

That would remain the score at halftime.

Despite Palestine’s offense not scoring a first-half touchdown, the Wildcats were able to move the ball, racking up 121 first-half rushing yards and eight first downs.

On the other side, Brownsboro struggled offensively in the first half, amassing 96 total yards.

Owens “It was ugly for us at times,” Settle said. “Offensively, we just couldn’t quite get it going. I told the kids we’ll fix the mistakes but tonight, we’re undefeated and you can’t take that away from us.”

Thompson’s second score came in the third quarter on another 3-yard plunge into the end zone, which made the score 14-7, after a pass interference penalty against Palestine on fourth down set up first and goal for the Bears’ offense.

Palestine answered that score with a nine-play, 65- yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Simon to knot things up at 14 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

Owens finished the game 12 for 20 with 133 yards for the Bears.

Junior safety Cody Strickland had an interception for Brownsboro in the second quarter at the 21-yard line to end an early Palestine scoring threat.

Strickland also blocked a punt in the second quarter.

Brownsboro (1-0) will host Van this Friday night at 7:30 for the Bears home opener at newly renovated Bear Stadium.

The Van Vandals (1-0) are coming off a 44-6 drubbing of Grand Saline last weekend.

“I expect a tough, physical contest,” Settle said. “Every time we play Van, it’s always a close, tough football game, and that’s what we’re expecting.”