Pinny's Sam Bourcier breaks off a nice run as Garber's Chris Guinn and Travis Meyers give chase. Youth Is Served As Garber Blanks Pinconning 18-0
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The maturation of youth was the best way to describe the opening game for Pinconning and Garber. With both teams losing a large and strong senior class to graduation, this season began with less than 12 seniors on either team's sideline.
Only one senior started in the backfield for either team affording a lot of opportunity for underclassmen to step forward and help their programs. But in the end, it was an aggressive Garber defense that quickly jelled to take over the game and bring home the first win of the season.
"Thank God for the defense," exclaimed a relieved Coach Coquillard after the game. "Coach Miller (Garber's defensive coordinator) put together a great scheme against Pinconning and the boys played very physical."
Both teams' offenses struggled initially on offense as they sought to find a rhythm. When the Spartans took possession on Garber's 47 yard line following a punt, it looked like Pinconning might get on track first as they started grinding the ball deep into Garber territory.
The tide quickly turned as the Duke defense stepped forward to assert itself. Consecutive big plays by sophomore linebacker Wesley Asel and senior Kyle Connelly pushed Pinconning back to midfield. Then came the first break of the game as the snap on the punt sailed over punter Matt Martin's head and was recovered at the Spartan 29.
The fired up Dukes looked like they might get their offense moving but a strong Spartan effort aided by back to back procedure penalties ended the threat forcing a punt that was downed at the Pinconning nine. Then disaster struck for Pinconning.
After a nice out pass helped Pinconning get a first down and some breathing room, Garber recovered a fumble on the 21 and the Dukes were back in business. The fired up offense opened holes for junior Chris Guinn as he broke through the middle heading toward the end zone. A jarring tackle knocked the ball loose which was recovered by Garber's Ryley Henika at the 2. Moments later sophomore quarterback Mason VanSumeran ran off right guard into the end zone for a 6-0 Garber lead.
Following a nice Andrew Shoemaker kickoff return brought the ball out to the Spartan 45, neither team could move the ball as they exchanged punts. Garber threatened when Chris Guinn broke a 45 yard run to the Spartan 10 late in the second quarter. The Spartans held and with just over a minute to play in the half, they regained the ball on their own 10.
After a penalty pushed them back to their 5, the Duke defense came up with the big play of the game. Kyle Connelly came on a cornerback blitz hitting the Spartan quarterback, Colin Lorenz from the backside forcing a fumble that was recovered by Justin Dominowski for a Duke touchdown and a 12-0 half time lead.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
Pinconning started the second half on fire. Following a 24 yard run by junior Sam Bourcier, the Spartans started grinding the ball down field. Then came the big play Duke defense. When a third down loss by Kyle Connelly and Geno Mason made it fourth and twelve, Cole Martens and company sacked the Spartan quarterback for another big loss giving Garber the ball.
Neither team could muster any further offense until late in the fourth quarter. Desperate for a score, the Spartans ran more determined behind Shoemaker and Bourcier. But tough defense and a holding penalty stalled the drive and Garber took the punt at their 47 with just over four minutes to play.
Behind sophomore quarterback Mason VanSumeran and the tandem running of Chris Guinn and Brandon Williams, Garber moved the ball down field eating up valuable time. Then VanSumeran found wide receiver Carter Harris in the corner of the end zone for a 17 yard touchdown and an 18-0 Garber win.
Coach Coquillard happily noted: "Our offensive line has no varsity experience so we showed some growing pains. But in the second half, we showed some continuity on the line. Big penalties hurt us. We have to clean it up."
The Dukes have little time to clean it us as they head into the tough part of the schedule against favored North Branch and Millington over the next two weeks.
Pinconning takes on Sanford Meridian for the Spartans home opener.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)
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John Keuvelaar |
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