Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/29/2024 11:09 About us
www.mybaycity.com November 3, 2008
(Prior Story)   Sports ArTicle 3245   (Next Story)

Garber Runs Past Millington 33-20; Freeland Next

Aho Pounds 40 Carries For 214 Yards

November 3, 2008       3 Comments
By: John Keuvelaar

Printer Friendly Story View

Life is often about second chances. It is what we do with that second chance that is important. For Garber, it wasn't enough to make the playoffs. They wanted a second chance against Millington.

Saturday afternoon, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures, was a perfect day for playoff football. Garber saw this as a perfect day to not only avenge a loss, but to right a wrong. To have a second chance at proving who was the better team this year. And what better way to prove that than at the Millington field the scene of the previous crime.

Millington received the ball and immediately went to an air attack. Garber was ready with a relentless pass rush and tight coverage. Except for a tipped pass that was caught for a 15 yard gain, they couldn't move the ball and had to punt.

Garber was pinned on their 11. They came out with an all Aho attack and like the Cardinals, they too could not move the ball and had to punt.

Millington's next possession was at midfield. This again was unproductive forcing another punt putting Garber on their 24. Then came the first break of the game.

On second and three, a bad handoff exchange resulted in a fumble that was scooped up by Millington's Ken Hoffman who scampered 31 yards for a touchdown and with a good extra point kick, a 7-0 lead.

No doubt thoughts of the two teams previous meeting crept into their heads where they turned the ball over 5 times in the second half. But the coaching staff had the boys prepared for this and when Garber took possession on the 14, they went right to work. Jake Hebert got things moving with a 9 yard pass to Todd Walraven. A few nice rushes by Andrew Aho and a roll out pass to Jimmy Cornejo and Garber was at the Millington 31 when the first quarter ended. The second quarter started with more Aho rushes then Hebert found Walraven over the middle on a post pattern for a 22 yard touchdown. Garber's extra point had things knotted at 7.

Garber's Jake Hebert launches a pass down field.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Andrew Aho get tackled by Millington defense while trying to move the ball down field.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber cheerleader try to pump the crowd up.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Todd Walraven catches long pass in the end zone for Garber touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

It was Millington's turn to get their offense rolling. After being pinned on their 14, the Cardinals came out with a running attack off their shotgun passing set featuring quarterback Tyler Reinert and running back Kyle Hemingway. They moved the ball to the Garber 48 and a pass to Joshua Williams for 11 yards had Millington at the 37. Moments later, Hemingway was trapped at the 28 when he cut up field, broke a few tackles and blew by the Garber defense into the end zone. Millington's freshman kicker, Mitch Wilkerson made it 14-7. Momentum clearly has switched to the Cardinal side.

The situation went from bad to worse for Garber on the kick return. A helmet hit on the ball produced a fumble that was recovered by Millington's David Tyson at the 25. This second fumble lost in the first half had many wondered of "Be careful what you ask for. You may just get it." Millington struck quickly as Reinert scrambled to the 7 and Hemingway took it off right tackle to end zone. While things looked bleak at this point, a bad and bobbled extra point snap forced the kick into the line and a glimmer of hope shone for the Dukes as it was now 20-7.

Garber was now faced with a must score drive leading into half time. Starting at their 20, the Dukes used a mixture of passing formations to disguise running plays, Garber was on the move. An inside flanker screen to Jimmy Cornejo put the ball on the Millington 40. Mixing up Aho runs and short pass had Millington on their heels. Aho burst through for 11 yards. Mindful of the clock, Hebert hit Walraven on a nice out for 12 yards to the Cardinal 37.

Then fullback David Laskowski caught a pass in the flats for 9 more going out of bounds on the 28 stopping the clock. Next was Jimmy Cornejo's turn with a 7 yard out to the 7 yard line. Andrew Aho drove it to the 3 forcing a measurement which stopped the clock letting Garber preserve their last timeout. Once the ball was set, Aho powered for the first down momentarily stopping the clock at 14 seconds to move the chains. Once set, Hebert hit Cornejo just inside the goal line on a quick slant for the touchdown.

Asel's kick was good and Garber entered the half down only 20-14 and knowing they were receiving the kick to start the second half.

Garber's Kyle Asel kicks off to Millington.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Tyler Reinert carrying the ball gets swarmed by both 34 Andrew Aho and 87 Briar Keen.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Rushes down the field trying to get Millington touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Andrew Aho attempts to block from getting the extra point.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber started the second half on their 30. Coach Schwartz surprised everyone with two quick handoffs to David Laskowski who drive forward for 13 yards. Using various formations to confuse the Cardinals, Garber went back to Aho and moved the ball down field to the Millington 32. Lady luck appeared to be on Garber's side on the next play. Hebert rolled left but was caught. He then reversed field and turned up field when he spotted Travis Britko all alone in the back of the end zone for an apparent touchdown. Jubilation was short lived as Hebert had passed the line of scrimmage, negating the touchdown and ultimately forcing Garber to punt.

As much as Garber gave away the second half in their first meeting, they dominated the second half Saturday. Starting on their own 20, Garber bottleneck the Millington offense, forcing them back to their 16 and a three and out punt.

Garber received good field position on the Millington 45 following the punt. They appeared to be rolling when a holding penalty set them back and on fourth and 8, were forced to punt. Sometimes, you have to make your own breaks and Coach Schwartz figured now was that time. In punt formation, they snapped it to Andrew Aho as he took the ball down to the Millington 28. From there, the inspired offensive line and team hammered away with Aho rushes. It was straight forward power football as he ran the ball to the 15, then 9, then flew to the 3 and finally into the end zone for the tying touchdown. When the go ahead kick sailed wide right leaving it at 20-20, it seemed to charge the Dukes up even more.

Garber then kicked a low, lining grounder that went through the kick returner's legs pinning Millington on their 18 to start the fourth quarter. Garber's front four dominated the line of scrimmage allowing the linebackers to make big plays and Millington couldn't get going. Then a dropped pass forced a three and out and had Garber thinking of taking the lead.

The Dukes started on their 43 but without Andrew Aho who was experiencing severe leg cramps. The offensive line, anchored by center, Chad Hages with guards Shane O'Mara and Kyle Asel with tackles Chris Roshow and Nick Bouchaert continued to blow out holes for the junior backfield of Domonic Trogan and starter David Laskowski. The tandem helped march the ball down to the Millington 34 before Andrew Aho returned. Looking for the go ahead strike, Hebert looked deep for Jimmy Cornejo who was running and out and up. But hit as he was throwing the ball fluttered short and was intercepted at the 8.

Offensive line blocks Millington giving Jake Hebert time to scan for openings.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

David Laskowski weaves his way down the field dodging Millington players.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Jimmy Cornejo catches pass giving Garber the touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Millington's Tyler Reinert tries to evade tackle from Shane O'Mara.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber's offensive line stands at the ready for the snap off.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The interception gave Millington a momentary spark as the moved the ball to their 24. A penalty moved them back to the 19. Reinert rolled out left but as he turned the throw, he was hit by back side pressure led by David Laskowski and sacked at the 4 yard line. Desperate to gain back some yardage if nothing more but to give his punter some room, Reinert rolled out right looking in the flats. Andrew Aho stepped in, intercepting the ball on the 10 and running in for the go ahead touchdown. With the kick, Garber had erased a 13 point deficit and was ahead 27-20 with 3:05 left to play.

Following a pooch kick placing the ball on the 31, Millington went to work. A scramble and a run got them a first down. Then on fourth and six from their 46, Reinert hit his receiver at the sidelines for a first down at the Garber 47. As Reinert was looking right to pass, sophomore defensive end Anthony Meyers came for the back side, punching the ball out and Garber recovered on their 38 yard line.

Garber was looking for one more first down to run out the clock. In a fitting ending to this game, Andrew Aho banged off left guard taking Millington's linebacker head on, spun to his left and bolted 62 yards for the games final score sealing the victory at 33-20. For the day, Andrew Aho carried the ball 40 times for 214 yards while Hebert threw for 102 yards. Garber next travels to Freeland Friday at 7 pm for the district championship.

"They showed a lot of grit, a lot of character. Anytime you play in a playoff atmosphere like this, on their field with two evenly matched teams, and your able to pull if off at the end like this, what a great feeling," beamed a proud and satisfied Coach Schwartz. "We didn't want to change a whole lot from what we did in week 5. We did have some wrinkles and other things that we did especially early, but as the game continued to develop, we went back to some of those things that allowed us to be successful in week 5."
Aho leaps over Millington defensemen.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber's student section cheers on football team.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Millington Tyler Reinert suddenly gets swarmed by Garber.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

David Laskowski celebrates with fellow teammate after successful touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Aho shows off some moves in celebration of winning the game.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber rallies as team rejoices in victory over Millington in State Tournament.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Printer Friendly Story View
Prior Article

February 10, 2020
by: Rachel Reh
Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
Next Article

February 2, 2020
by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should

"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

bkeen Says:       On November 07, 2008 at 02:18 PM
love your articles. i always look forward to them. but you spelled my son's name wrong #87 is BRIAR KEEN.

keep up the good work.
OJ_Cunningham-(PUBLISHER) says:       On November 07, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Sorry for the Spelling error . . . It has been "repaired."
Agree? or Disagree?


John Keuvelaar

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

More from John Keuvelaar

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View


--- Advertisments ---
     


0200 Nd: 03-25-2024 d 4 cpr 0






12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

SPONSORED LINKS



12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
Bay City, Michigan USA
All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:noPaperID
  pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-25   ax:2024-03-29   Site:5   ArticleID:3245   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
claudebot