I took a poll and readers would like to see results & stats from surrounding schools so here is Friday night football. Some weeks will be better than others, depending on outcomes!! lol
The Maconaquah Braves opened their 2022 football campaign by blitzing the Wabash Apaches, 31-20 here Friday night in Three Rivers Conference action.
"I'm really, really proud of the team effort" said second-year Brave skipper Tyler Campbell after the contest. "Defensively, I was proud of our physicality and tackling" The Braves held Wabash to minus 24 yards rushing enroute to the win.
On the offensive side of the ball, Mac put points on the board in every quarter and surprised the Apaches early with some slick running by junior Ty Galvan. "Everyone knows that we're a passing team" Campbell stated. Galvan carried the pigskin on Maconaquah's first five offensive plays and scored the games first points with 8:01 showing in the first period when he scampered in from 18 yards out.
"The kids stuck with the (balanced attack) game plan" Campbell noted. "Especially the guys up front" Cody Miller, Zaiden Butler, Joey Butcher, JC Pebley, Jacob Isley and Isaac Pearce anchored the Mac offensive attack that netted 311 offensive yards.
Penalties hurt the Braves as they had four touchdowns called back and were whistled 11 times for 158 yards during the game.
Wabash took its only lead (7-6) of the game with four minutes left in the first quarter on a 20-yard interception return of a Braxton Birner pass. Birner caught fire in the second half and finished with 236 yards on 17-29 accuracy. He moved past Justin Off, Nolan Kelly and Pete Bulmer on the all-time MHS passing list and now has 2191 yards.
The Braves took the lead for good to start the second stanza when the cat-like AJ Kelly made his presence known. Kelly picked up a stray snap on a 23-yard field goal attempt and streaked around his left end to paydirt for a 12-7 lead. Kelly hauled in a 23-yard TD strike from Birner with 2:05 on the clock to give Mac an 18-7 lead at intermission.
Wabash trimmed the deficit to 18-14 midway through the third quarter after a Brave turnover gave the ball to the visitors at the MHS nine. Isaac Wright hit Keaton Fields with a nine-yard TD strike.
The Braves charged back two series later and shoved its lead to 24-14 when the Birner-to-Kelly duo hooked up for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Maconaquah took its biggest lead, 31-14, in the final act when Fuddy Kile grabbed a Birner pass at midfield, stiff-armed an Apache at the 25 and waltzed in for the score. Kyler Hanson added the PAT kick. Kelly led the Braves receiving corps with 106 yards on six receptions, while Kile added 86 on six catches.
Defensively, Ethan Farnell topped the MHS tackle chart with 10 stops, two fumbles caused and a fumble recovery. Kelly and Brady Dausch followed with seven and six tackles respectively.
Campbell's troops will take their 1-0 record to Lewis Cass Friday to tangle with the Kings in a non-conference bout. Maconaquah has not won at Cass since the 1987 sectional runner-up Braves blanked the Kings 27-0.The Death Valley(Tippecanoe Valley) football team picked up their first victory of the season against a tough Wawasee Warriors team, winning 26-0.
Valley controlled the ball for most of the 1st Quarter, using up a solid nine minutes on their first drive, which ended with an 8 yard run from QB Nate Parker. Parker backed it up by picking up the 2pt conversion.
With under a minute to go in the first half, Parker found the endzone once again on a 4 yard run. Parker picked up the 2pt conversion to make it 16-0 at the half.
The third quarter saw Marcus Bernicky take one to the house on a 22 yard run. Gage Overby kicked the extra point to make it 23-0.
Overby would be called upon late in the fourth quarter, putting a 35 yard field goal through the uprights for the final score of the game, 26-0.
Nate Parker led the way for the Vikings, rushing for 101 yards on 18 attempts and also tossed the ball for 12 yards. Dalton Alber trucked his way to 73 yards on 6 carries. Wade Jones and Bernicky also contributed picking up 30 yards and 26 yards on the ground respectively.
The Wrecking Crew defense held their own against a very tough Wawasee offense. Valley only allowed 139 total yards, 114 of which came through the air. A big night for the Secondary included two interceptions from Junior Landon Durkes and one from Junior Cody Eastgate. The Vikings played strong on 3rd down, as Wawasee was only able to convert twice on 11 attempts. Noah Prater led the Vikings with 6 tackles and an assist. Nate Parker also picked up 4 tackles from the Corner position.
Valley racked up 307 yards of total offense, 279 of which were on the ground.
The Vikings will be on the road next week as they travel to Northfield to begin TRC play. Both teams come into the game 1-0 as the Norse picked up a win against Bluffton 21-0. Kickoff is set for 7:00 on Friday August 26th.
The Oak Hill football team defeated Eastern 41-3 Friday.
Oak Hill tallies 346 total yards of offense in the season opening win against Eastern. 321 yards came on the ground with 25 yards through the air.
Kyle Turanchick leads the team with 22 rushes, 204 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Will Warnock added 5 rushes for 48 yards and 1 touchdown, Avery Mills 4 carries for 24 yards, Austin Lawrence had 2 rushes for 22 yards, Harrison York 1 carry for 14 yards, Morshown Cotton 1 carry for 8 yards, and Sylis Brown 2 carries for 4 yards.
Jayden Corey had the lone rececption for 25 yards. R.J. Shugart went 1 for 1 on pass attempts.
The defense holds Eastern to just 3 points with 3 takeaways. Lawrence and Parker Bailey both had interceptions. Bailey also recovered a fumble. Ty Fagan lead the team with 1 sack whilc Lawrence and Bailey added a half a sack.
Thomas Nally returned a punt for 65 yards for a touchdown.
Grant Elzinga went 5 for 6 on extra points.
