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www.mybaycity.com August 30, 2009
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Central Stumbles 25-7 in Home Opener to Mt Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant Capitalizes on Central Mistakes

August 30, 2009       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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On a beautiful Thursday night with just a taste of fall in the air, the 2009 high school football season got on the way. What better way to kick off the season than at Engle Stadium for a league opener between Bay City Central and Mt. Pleasant. But opening mistakes spelled doom for the home Wolves as Mt. Pleasant posted a 25-7 win.

After both side failed to move the ball on their first possession, the Oilers got their offense rolling. Starting from their own 44 yard line, they mixed end sweeps with a flanker slant pass to Cody Weisenberger to put the ball on Central's 30. Quarterback Josh Rathje rolled out hitting Weisenberger on the 2 yard line and Jon McCann finished off the drive sweeping to the left for the score. Dan Pittsley's kick made it 7-0 Mt. Pleasant.

Moments later, the Oilers were back in business when Connor Tribe jumped on a Central fumble at the Wolves' 32. Rathje immediately when to the air finding Tyler Duke on a deep crossing route putting the Oilers on Central's six. The Wolves defense stiffened stopping Mt. Pleasant on the one to keep the score 7-0.

Quarterback Brennen Gohr gave Central some breathing room when he stepped back into the end zone and hit Deon Martin down the left sideline for a nineteen yard reception. After another first down, an errant pitch put Central in a hole forcing a punt.

Mt. Pleasant started at midfield and went back to the air. Rathje hit Duke on a short pass putting the Oilers on Central's 33. After a bad snap put the Oilers on Central's 48, Rathje used a flanker screen to gain back 20 yards. Then Rathje hit Duke on a fourth down pass for a first down at the 21. Moments later, Ryan Heeke caught a Rathje pass and split the Wolf defense for a touchdown putting Mt. Pleasant up 14-0 at the half.
4 Deon Martin puts his foot into this punt.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

6 Issac Saucedo looks to stop 9 Jon McCann as he heads into the end zone.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Tyler Duke hauls in this pass with Issac Saucedo making the touchdown saving tackle.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Crowd raises to their feet as they watch Ryan Heeke out battle Jordan Priest for the ball.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

4 Deon Martin bobbles the ball before catching this 19 yard pass.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)



The second half saw mistakes keep Central from getting on track. Following a nice kickoff return by Marques Rangel, the Oiler defensive line took over. Plugging holes, they kept Central from getting their running game going forcing a punt.

Starting from their own 29, Mt. Pleasant used a combination of runs and short passes to move the ball to the Wolves 15. As was the theme of the night, the Central defense stiffened resulting in a 32 yard field goal by Mt. Pleasant's Dan Pittsley and a 17-0 lead.

Disaster struck on the ensuing kick off. Central's returner dropped the high kick on the 5 yard line. Trying to make something happen, he got pinned in the end zone for a safety giving Mt. Pleasant a 19-0 lead.

After returning the free kick to Central's 42, the Oiler's looked for a quick strike. Throwing down the right sideline, Central's Issac Saucedo picked off the pass on the 8 and Central had dodged another bullet. Unable to move the ball, Central went for it on fourth down. Mt. Pleasant stopped the gamble giving their offense excellent field position on Central's 18.

The Central defense showed a lot of pride and determination in the fourth quarter. First they held the Oilers to a field goal on this possession keeping the score in reach, 22-0. Then they kept Mt. Pleasant from scoring after the Oilers had recovered a backfield fumble on Central's six yard line. Another fumble gave the ball back to the Oilers on Central's 23. But the Oilers were unable to reach the end zone settling for another field goal and a 25-0 lead.

The defensive stands seemed to inspire the offense. Having taken over quarterback duties late in the first half, Jacob Lochinski looked to move the offense. He stepped back and hit Deon Martin on a 25 yard strike. Running the option, the Wolves moved the ball. Then tailback Jordan Murphy got the Wolves on the board. Racing around right end, he spun off a would be tackler at the one and reach pay dirt. Chris Volk's extra point kick made the final Mt. Pleasant 25, Central 7.

On the night, Mt. Pleasant racked up 277 yards in total offense. The balanced attack was led on the ground by Jon McCann who rushed for 82 yards on nine carries. Quarterback Josh Rathje was 13 for 17 for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Central amassed 146 yards in offense led on the ground by Jordan Murphy's 38 yards on nine carries. Jacob Lochinski was 5 for 8 passing for 56 yards.


The referee gets a piece of the action.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Jordan Murphy gets sent airborne by Mt. Pleasant's Mark Lee.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

7 Jordan Priest and 6 Mark Lee battle for this long range pass near the end zone.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

42 Jake Collins nearly blocks Dan Pittsley's 32 yard field goal.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

17 lasers a pass.
(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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