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www.mybaycity.com October 15, 2008
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Glenn-Garber Jr Football - WHAT A GAME!
'It Was Just Like a Rocky Movie'

Glenn Edges Garber 32-28 -- A Rivalry Is Born

October 15, 2008       1 Comments
By: John Keuvelaar

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Anthony Merchant drives the opening kickoff.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Two unidentified Bobcats jar the ball loose for a fumble that the Bobcats recovered.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Derek Clyde hands off to Quentin Thomas with Alex Delgado leading the way.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The game played out like the final fight scene of a Rocky movie.

Two "Junior Football Titans," standing toe to toe, exchanging devastating blows.

Momentum swung back and forth as coaches directed, fans cheered loudly and players inflicted and felt pain and exhaustion like never before. Even as the comeback occurred and the outcome appeared more certain, factors intervened changing that uncertain outcome multiple times.

It came down to the final play, the last four seconds and one step that raised one fighter in jubilant victory and dropped the other in defeat.

For players, coaches and fans, this is the classic rivalry. This is East versus West, one program versus another, John Glenn versus Garber.

This is the bragging rights for a year that will carry through their senior years and beyond.

Coach Dobbins summed it up best after the game. "Any time we play Garber it's exciting. It was exciting when we saw them on our schedule. This was a game we circled back in June. This is a game we talked about. This is a very important game for us. Through out the whole year, we looked at this as being the must game to win."

In big games, coaches agree that turnovers are the key. It changes momentum of a game immediately. This point was never more true on Tuesday night. The Jaguars started their first drive and within moments, Bangor forced and recovered a fumble. The Bobcats immediately attacked and a few short minutes later, fullback Quentin Thomas punched the ball in for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

Quentin Thomas drives toward the end zone.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Thomas drives through Patrick Smith's tackle as Tristin Morse gives chase.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Conner McEvoy eludes a Bobcat tackler on the kickoff.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Conner McEvoy bowls over an unidentified Bobcat as he heads down the sideline.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)



Bangor seized this momentum and shutdown the Jaguars forcing a punt. The Bobcats started their drive on their 30 yard line and pounded the running game down field. Derek Clyde finished off this drive with a 20 yard pass to Alex Delgado putting Bangor up 12-0.

The Jaguars settled things down and started their comeback. Starting on their 30, they began fighting back. Conner McEvoy took the ball around right end for a 15 yard gain. Then Wesley Asel ran around left end and sprinted 45 yards for a touchdown. This narrowed the margin to 12-6.

Bangor took the Garber blow and was determined to strike back. Having downed a line drive kick on their 40, they delivered a combination punch. Thomas burst right up the middle, steamrolling 37 yards to the Jaguar 23. From there, Derek Clyde hit Alex Delgado for a 23 yard touchdown pass (second for both) and an 18-6 lead.

The Jaguars took the blows but didn't flinch. They struck right back on their first play from scrimmage. From their 35 yard line, Luke Scharich stepped back and threw a 65 yard scoring strike to Josh Wreggelsworth putting the Jaguars right back in the game at 18-12 in the second quarter.

The Jaguars then seized this new momentum and stopped the Bobcats on the kick off at the 23. They then pushed Bangor back 3 yards forcing a punt. A short punt later, the Jag's were ready to deliver their own combination blows. Wesley Asel took the ball up the middle and went untouched 30 yards for a tying touchdown. Then Luke Scharich bootlegged the ball to the left scoring the first two point conversion of the night propelling the Jaguars to a 20-18 lead right before halftime.

But the bell hadn't rung yet ending the second quarter. Derek Clyde pitched the ball to Anthony Merchant running left. Merchant took the pitch around the end and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. This put Bangor back on top 24-20 with under a minute to go. Just like the Rocky movies, the Jaguars finished the half swinging as they went to the bomb. This was intercepted by Tim Elswick at midfield, the bell rang and both teams finished the first half ready to keep fighting.

The second half saw both teams coming out with roundhouse punches. The Bobcats took the ball at their 36 yard line. Anthony Merchant then ran off right tackle, cut out and sprinted 53 yards for a touchdown losing his shoe on the way. He then punched in Bangor's first two point conversion stretching their lead to 32-20.

Alex Delgado cuts back on the Jaguars.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The cheerleaders had plenty to cheer to and about.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Alex Delgado beats Patrick Smith to the goal line and a Bobcat touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Jaguars struck right back. Following a 22 yard kickoff return by Wesley Asel, Conner McEvoy ran around right end for a 46 yard touchdown. Brad Hages ran around left end for a two point conversion and BAM!, it was now 32-28 late in the third quarter. The quarter ended with Bangor on the march behind a steady diet of Quentin Thomas pounding up the middle.

Bangor Coach Dobbins rallied his troops on the sidelines: "This is the fourth quarter. We play with heart. We play with pride. This is what all our hills, all our sprints, all our up and downs are for. The fourth quarter will tell us who we are."

Bangor came out with a pass from Clyde to Matt Nielson putting the ball on the Jaguar 30. But the Jaguars were also looking to define who they are. The Jag defense rose up, stopping Bangor and taking over possession on their 23 with just under six minutes to play.

Here, the Jaguars began the long drive. Hard hitting runs were met with equally hard hitting tackles. The Jaguars were grinding out first downs as the clock was running down. A full Bangor stands delivering deafening cheers was being met with an equally loud Jaguar crowd. Suddenly, with 58 seconds to play, a fumbled snap resulted in a Bobcat recovery and a seemingly victory in hand. But the final bell hadn't rung yet.



On third down, a fumbled pitch-out was recovered by the Jaguars with 10 seconds to play. Luke Scharich dropped back to pass and under pressure, threw a short pass just off the receiver's finger tips. There was still time for one more play. Scharich dropped back to pass and spotted that his receiver, Josh Wreggelsworth, had a step on his defender. Scharich delivered a high arching pass over the defender's hands and into the outstretched arms of Wreggelsworth. He reached out and grabbed the ball. But he had to reach so far to catch the ball that he couldn't keep his balance and fell to the turf, 18 yards short of glory. It was a valiant effort but as the bell rang, it was Bobcats 32, Jaguars 28.

"It was a back yard battle. Any time you come into a rivalry like this, it going to be a battle," exclaimed an exhausted and jubilant Coach Dobbins.

This was the type of game an athlete works hard for. Delivering your best performance and taking theirs. While the Bangor team lingered in the parking lot with their parents, the Jaguars were left with the satisfaction of a well played game and thoughts of what might have been.

More Great Pics From The Junior Football Game of the Year


Conner McEvoy runs by Ryan Leitermann with Noah Peterson in pursuit.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Wesley Asel crosses the goal line to finish off a 45 yard touchdown run. Kyle Fournier, Kyle Seymour and Andy Wall give chase.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Logan Pijaszek stops Luke Scharich dead in his tracks on this extra point attempt.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Wesley Asel catches this kickoff.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Josh Wreggelsworth hauls in this 65 yard touchdown pass from Luke Scharich.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Coach Dobbins gives encouragement to his defensive troops.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)



Nicholas Rafaill puts a hit on Derek Clyde.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Anthony Merchant out races Wesley Asel for a 70 yard touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Wesley Asel isn't going to let Anthony Merchant get by this time.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Awe, Proud Mom of #42, Logan Pijaszek!
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Conner McEvoy runs by Michael Erndt on his way to a 46 yard touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

BAM! DJ Oswald and Wesley Asel put a lick on Alex Delgado. No football players were hurt on this hit.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Patrick Smith deflect this pass to Alex Delgado.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

We take a knee when a player is down on the field.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Ryan Leitermann, #23 is OK as he is attended by Coach Dobbins. b>
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The parents cheered loud and often for their favorite team.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The fans were definitely the 12 man on the field and the boys appreciated it.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)







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John Keuvelaar

John Keuvelaar is a college student at Midwest Photography Workshops and Delta College.

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