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Garber Stopped At Goal Line, Lose To North Branch, 14-8

September 5, 2010       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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Mason VanSumeren looks for running room as Broncos converge.
 
Brandon Williams last second catch is just short of the end zone as Bronco's Anthony Pinconeno puts the hit on in front of the goal line.

(All Photos by John Keuvelaar)

The storyline going into the game was that North Branch was bigger and faster and should handle the young Garber team. As the game progressed, it was the Dukes that stopped North Branch time and time again. Unfortunately for Garber, they also stopped themselves with miscues and penalties. In the end, it was the Broncos that held Garber one yard short of a comeback victory on the final play of the game as North Branch came away with a 14-8 victory.

The game opened up with Garber grabbing the first break of the game on North Branch's opening possession. When the handoff was muffed, senior Anthony Meyers jumped on the loose ball and the Dukes were in business on the Bronco's 28 yard line. But the excitement was short lived for Garber. On the Dukes first play from scrimmage, North Branch's Tanner Frisch read the Duke flanker screen and intercepted the pass from sophomore Mason VanSumeren.

The Duke defense was dominant the rest of the first half holding the much larger Bronco's offense to only one first down for the half. Meanwhile, the Garber offense got rolling. After several penalties made it third and 23, VanSumeren hit Ryley Henika down the sidelines for a first down and some momentum. This opened up the running attack and soon they were knocking on the Bronco door. North Branch stiffened and on fourth and five from the 18 yard line, they forced VanSumeren to try and thread the needle on the well covered receivers resulting in a second Bronco interception.

As noted Coach Coquillard, "He (VanSumeren) showed a lot of moxie tonight. After throwing a couple cover picks, we stuck with him and he showed good toughness." Toughness and poise was the key for Garber as the young quarterback never seemed to get rattled.

On Garber's next possession, a backfield mistake resulted in a 9 yard sack. He responded by hitting Kyle Connelly on a slant pass that was just short of a first down. On Garber's next possession, VanSumeren hooked up with Carter Harris on an out and up pattern for 26 yards putting Garber on North Branch's 44 yard line. Chris Guinn then burst through the line for 13. The drive seemed to stall there when VanSumeren hit his receiver in stride at the 3. But the pass went through the receiver's hands incomplete and North Branch had dodged another bullet.

Luke Tait takes the ball around end for the Broncos.


"The Dominator" puts a big hit on North Branch"s Brandon Urchick.


Mason VanSumeren eyes his receivers down field.


Kyle Connelly goes high for this reception.


North Branch"s Joe Raymond tries to go over defender Kyle Connelly but the pass falls incomplete.


Wes Asel nearly blocks the punt as Taylor Sullivan gets it away.


Mason VanSumeren fires a pass to the sidelines.


Wes Asel sends the Bronco quarterback flying with this big hit.


A light rain during halftime added to the slippery conditions for handling the ball. Like North Branch did in the first half, Garber fumbled the handoff and North Branch had great field position at the Duke 28. Quarterback Daniel Jacobson and halfback Brandon Urchick insured that this was not a wasted opportunity. Just when the Duke defense looked like they were going to hold, Jacobson took a keeper off tackle to the thirteen yard line. Urchick then pounded it up the middle to the two where Jacobson finished the scoring off making it 7-0 North Branch.

The Broncos tried to take further advantage of the wet conditions by trying a squib kick that Garber recovered at midfield. Garber squandered this good field position when a low snap while in the shotgun formation resulted in a loss. Guinn bailed his team out with a booming punt to the one yard line and North Branch had their backs to the wall.

Garber's Justin Dominowski wasted little time on this opportunity. The "Dominator" burst through the line nailing the halfback in the end zone for a safety narrowing the score to 7-2.

Because it was a safety, Garber received the ball getting good field position at midfield. The Bronco's Frisch grabbed back the momentum by intercepting another pass to stop Garber. Unable to move the ball, it was North Branch's turn to pin Garber at the two yard line with a punt. Unable to move the ball out, Garber punted giving North Branch excellent field position.

After moving the ball on the running of Urchick and Jacobson, the Broncos took advantage of a decide height difference as 6'5" Trevor Marceau took a slant pass 21 yards for another Bronco touchdown and a 14-2 lead.

The penalty and dropped pass woes haunted Garber again on their next drive. An effective pump and go move saw the pass bounce off the open receiver's pads incomplete and Garber was again forced to punt. Then the Garber shutdown defense turned it up a notch. On fourth down, junior Travis Meyers blocked the punt giving Garber first down at the Bronco 8.

VanSumeren took matters into his own hands as he drove up the middle for 4 yards then carried it in off tackle to make it 14-8.

North Branch got a big momentum break when the kickoff went out of bounds giving them the ball on their 35 yard line. Then a 15 yard sideline penalty moved the ball into Garber territory. This seemed to inspire the Duke defense more as they came up with a big tackle in the backfield for a loss. Then Cole Martens batted down a pass forcing a Bronco punt.

Taking the ball on their 18, VanSumeren hit Carter for 12 yards. Following a reverse, VanSumeren hit Henika down the sidelines as he made a nice grab on a tipped ball. But more dropped passes cost them possession and with 2:10 left all seemed lost. Then came the break they needed.

With Garber out of timeouts, North Branch elected to stay in their shotgun formation. A high snap glanced off Jacobson's fingertips and was recovered by Travis Meyers at the Bronco 22 with less than a minute to play.

VanSumeren immediately found his receiver down the far sidelines. The pass that went through his outstretched hands falling incomplete. Undaunted, VanSumeren hit Carter over the middle who carried the ball to the three yard line. A illegal procedure penalty moved the Dukes back with eight seconds on the clock. An incomplete pass made it five seconds to play. On the final play, VanSumeren scrambled looking for an open receiver finding Brandon Williams crossing the field just in front of the goal line. While the pass met its mark, the Broncos responded keeping Williams out of the end zone and winning the game.

When gathering his team, Coach Coquillard reflected the pride he had for his team for their fight. "You showed a lot of moxie and courage down the stretch for such a young team."

As disappointing the loss was, Garber will now have to regroup as they take on Millington next week at Millington. The Cardinals were big winners over Birch Run Thursday night and will be a huge test of this young team. North Branch will travel to Frankenmuth, themselves big winners over Caro.



Trevor Marceau tries to break free from defensive back, Kyle Connelly.


Chris Guinn and Matt Madigan put some major hurt on QB Dan Jacobson.


Cole Martens brings down RB Brandon Urchick.


Wes Asel wraps up QB Dan Jacobson.


Brandon Urchick finds it hard running as Matt Madigan and Company swarm in.


Carter Harris splits the defense for big late game yardage.


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John Keuvelaar

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

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