Central QB Mike Schepper is under center during first period action against Arthur Hill. Schepper completed 8 of 16 passes on the night. (MyBayCity Photo by Tom Baird) Bay City Central Hangs Tough in 14-7 Loss to Arthur Hill
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Bay City Central played a whale of a game against the 6th ranked Saginaw Arthur Hill at Engel Stadium. The Wolves played even with the highly ranked Lumberjacks for 58 minutes only to see All-State quarterback Mike Schaaf throw a 43 yard bomb to Omari Humes. That put the Lumberjacks on the Wolves 3 yard line and ran in the for the go ahead score on the next play for a 14-7 lead.
Bay City Central head coach Morley Fraser said "We played even with them basically the entire game but just couldn't put them away and we used the clock well. Travis Koziatek played outstanding tonight."
With the 14 -7 victory, the pre-season favorites to win the Saginaw Valley Conference now move to 3-0 while the Bay City Central Wolves fall to 0-3.
The first half was a game of position for both teams. The Lumberjacks scored first when quarterback Schaaf dove in from the 1-yard line with 1:45 left in the first quarter.
Bay City Central's Jordan Murphy (who had a fine night on the ground) scored on a 1 yard run and the PAT gave Central their first lead 7-6. That would hold until the last 90 seconds of the game. Under the threat of rain the entire evening, both teams were content to move the ball close to the 50 yard line and then punt to keep their opponents in bad field position all night.
A balanced running attack by Bay City Central was lead by Jordan Murphy with 108 yards and Marquise Rangel added 86 yards. The offensive line, which is improving each week, gave the running backs time to hit the holes and move the ball down the field.
The game featured several fumbles that were costly to both teams. The Wolves also picked up a costly holding penalty at the end of the 3rd quarter. Marquise Rangel broke to the sidelines and then cut back to the middle of the field for a 77 yard touchdown only to have the run called back. Bay City Central, which uses the no huddle offense during the entire game, managed the clock well keeping the Lumberjacks high powered offense off the field.
(MyBayCity Photo by Tom Baird)
(MyBayCity Photo by Tom Baird)
Coach Fraser praised the defense saying "The defense played great tonight. That's a good team, Arthur Hill." When asked about the rest of the season he quickly pointed out "I told them (players) our playoff season starts next week," Fraser went on. "We will have to win each week. We have improved each week of the season and will have to continue to do that."
The Wolves running game looks much improved from the first two weeks of the season. Central QB Mike Schepper finished the night completing 8 of 16 passes for 79 yards. The defense also turned it up a notch, registering 7 sacks on the night keeping the Arthur Hill All-State quarterback on the run.
The large crowd at Engel Stadium was stunned by the final outcome but could see the strides that this young team is making.
With the 0-3 start the Wolves now come to probably the easier part of their schedule going to Mount Pleasant next week. Still looming on their schedule is the season ending clash at Bay City Western who is off to an 3-0 start -- defeating Saginaw High School on Friday night.
Former High School All-American Bay City Central alumnus Dennis Wirgowski was at the game and watched the Wolves play. "They played a heck of a game against a very talented Arthur Hill squad," Wirgowski said. "The Wolves hung tough until the very end."
(MyBayCity Photo by Tom Baird)
(MyBayCity Photo by Tom Baird)
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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers! |
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bwirgo Says:
On September 15, 2008
at 10:42 PM
very good photo and journalistic coverage
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Tom Baird |
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