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Coach Morley Fraser celebrates with his players after a big win. (MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Big Plays and Turnovers Propel Central Past Western,42-14

Central's Brenden Mulligan scores four touchdowns and rushes for 118 yards

October 26, 2014       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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Central versus Western football game is more than a rivalry. It is an experience unto itself. This year featured the TL Handy High School Reunion with the introduction of the State Championship teams: 1987 baseball team, 1988 softball team and 1961 football team. But make no mistake about it, the show was the game on the field starting with the opening squib kick to the final celebration. In between was a hard fought game with plenty of big plays and extra efforts on both sides as Central celebrated with a 42-14 win.

Western was intent on grabbing early momentum as they executed a squib kick and recovered the ball. Unable to capitalize on the possession, they attempted a fake punt that was intercepted by Central's Brett Tahash. Nine plays later, Brenden Mulligan scored what was to be the first of his four touchdowns on a 7 yard run. A blocked extra point kept the Wolves lead at 6-0.


Western's offensive line battles at opening up a running lane.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

QB Bruce Mann hurdles a tackler before Zach Collins puts the hit on him.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Western went on the march looking to even the score when Central's Nathan Anthony intercepted the ball at the Wolves two stopping that drive. Central then drove the ball the length of the field highlighted by a Jordan Miller 55 yard run. Then Mulligan finished off the drive with an 18 yard run. Western stopped the two point attempt for a 12-0 first quarter lead.


Brenden Mulligan drives across the goal line for Central's second touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

A turnover would stop Western again. After flushing QB Bruce Mann out of the pocket and under heavy pressure, Central's Kyle Neering would step in front of the receiver, intercepting the ball and giving the Wolves good field position at midfield.

Moments later, it was Brenden Mulligan again as he blew through the right side and raced 43 yards for a third touchdown. Andrew Kern's kick made it 19-0 early in the second quarter.


Central's student section was fired up all night.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Play settled down as both defenses took over. Then late in the quarter, Central started on their 19 and on two big running plays, found themselves deep in Warrior territory. First Jordan Miller burst through the Western left side for 34 yards then Devonte Mysliwski used the same play for 36 yards to the Warrior 9. But Western's defense stiffened and Central settled for a 24 yard Kern field goal to post a 22-0 half time lead.


Devonte Mysliwski powers through the Western defense.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

As the theory goes, the best way to stop an offense is to keep them off the field. In the third quarter, Western did just that holding Central to one offensive play. But boy was it a big one.

Western received the kickoff and marched down field. QB Bruce Mann kept the drive going with a key third and 17 yards to go strike over the middle for one first down and a fourth and 7 yard conversion on a pass to Ryan Adcock again down the middle. Kane Wendling finishes the drive diving in from three yards out and with the Nick Christensen kick, Western had narrowed the lead to 22-7.


Kane Wendling fights through a Central tackler.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Kane Wendling scores the first Western touchdown on the night.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

That moment would not last long. Devonte Mysliwski picked up the kickoff on the second bounce and picking his way through the first wave of would be tacklers, darted to his right and broke several tackles for a 77 yard touchdown run extending his Wolves lead back to 29-7.


Devonte Mysliwski pulls away from a shirt tackle and the sideline erupts has he crosses the goal line capping off a 77 yard kickoff return.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Western responded by driving the length of the field again. Aided by another key third down strike to Adcock, Wendling blew up the middle for 22 yards to the Wolves 9. Then he scored from three yards out as he extended the ball over the goal line narrowing the gap to 29-14.


Bruce Mann was under pressure all night.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Bruce Mann fights for yardage against a strong Wolves defense.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Ryan Adcock braces for a hit from Central's D-backs after a reception.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

With 24 seconds left in the quarter, Central ran its first and only offensive play as Jordan Miller ran left and fired down field, 63 yards for a touchdown. With the Kern kick, the score was back to 36-14.


Kane Wendling has his legs taken out from under him.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Kyle Neering puts the hit on the kickoff returner.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Central would add one more score in the fourth quarter. Following a Kyle Neering fumble recovery at the Western 42, the Wolves faced a fourth and 9 at the Western 24. They ran a reverse to Brenden Mulligan who scored in spectacular fashion. He raced around the right end then cut back across the field eluding tacklers before getting outside containment and finding a clear path into the end zone. While the two point conversion failed, the Wolves had secured a well earned 42-14 rivalry win.


Brenden Mulligan cuts back across field then finds a clear path to the end zone.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

On the night, Central was led by Jordan Miller who ran for 177 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. Brenden Mulligan added 118 yards on 11 carries and scored 4 touchdowns while Devonte Mysliwski ran for 74 yards on just 5 carries but added a 77 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.


Mitch Syring soars over the Wolves defense for extra yards.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

There were many big hits all night like the one Keith Rodriquez received while running the ball.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Kane Wendling paced the Western attack with 103 yards on 21 carries. QB Bruce Mann added 52 yards on the ground while throwing for 94 yards.

See more game photos . . .
Go to www.koovsphotography.smugmug.com


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John Keuvelaar

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

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