Garber Delivers A Trogan Horse To Frankenmuth, 41-21

October 11, 2009
By: John Keuvelaar

While heavy rains often force teams to stick to a ground attack, that was just fine with Garber. Pounding out to a 28-7 third quarter lead, the Dukes had to hold off a fourth quarter charge to defeat Frankenmuth, 41-21. With the win, Garber clinched at least a share of the TVC title and secured a 9th straight appearance in the Michigan playoffs.

With at least a share of the championship on the line and a trip to the playoffs, Garber wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. After holding Frankenmuth to three and out, Garber jumped right on their "Trogan" horse and rode his hard running right down the field. Once near the goal line, Garber turned to their power formation and strong running fullback, David Laskowski, powered in from the five yard line. When the kick went wide, Garber was ahead 6-0.

After forcing an Eagle punt, Garber drove right back down field. Mixing in some passing, Lee Madziar showed no problem with the rain as he hit blocking tight end Briar Keen on a crossing route. The senior receiver took the ball to the one. As the Dukes approached the line, senior center Chad Hages told Madziar to "take it yourself." Then Hages opened the hole and Madziar pounded right in for a touchdown. The two point conversion failed keeping the score 12-0.

On Garber's next possession, Frankenmuth saw more of the same as Trogan and Company ran the ball down field. Then the senior southpaw quarterback hit Todd Walraven in the left corner of the end zone for a 19 yard score. Madziar looked back to the corner for the two point conversion finding fullback Dave Laskowski all alone and Garber was looking at a route 20-0.

But Frankenmuth teams are well known for their never quit desire. Under the leadership of quarterback Luke Sheppard, the Eagles mounted a scoring drive of their own. Running the Veer offense, he ran and passed the Eagles down field. Then Jacob Frank hit the seam for a three yard touchdown putting Frankenmuth down 20-7 at halftime.





The second half clearly showed Frankenmuth's strategy to stopping the Garber attack was to not let them have the ball. Kicking off, Frankenmuth used a short squib kick that seemed to confuse Garber and the Eagles recovered. The plan momentarily failed as the Eagles fumbled the ball right back and now Garber had the ball. Going right back to their running attack, they moved the ball. The Dukes drove right down the field and Madziar capped off another drive by following his center into the end zone for another Garber score. Laskowski ran wide and lowered his head reaching the end zone for a two point conversion and a 28-7 lead.

Sheppard then went to the air with quick hitting slant routes with some success. Then looking deeper, defensive back Steven Yax picked off the pass at the 29 and Garber had the ball back. It didn't take long before Dominic Trogan broke the game wide open with a 48 yard burst through the Eagle line and secondary and Garber had built a 34-7 lead.

Showing even more determination, Sheppard continued with the quick hitting air attack. Finding Ryan Stainworth, the speedy receiver split the Duke secondary and ran 44 yards for an Eagle score narrowing the margin to 34-13.

Frankenmuth, needing to get the ball back and keep Garber from possessing it, drilled a kick at Garber's front line. The ball ricocheted off a player finding its way into Eagles' hands. Moments later Sheppard went around left end for a one yard touchdown and added a two point conversion himself. Suddenly Garber held an uncomfortable 34-21 lead.

On the following kickoff, Frankenmuth bunched all their players up and kick another onside kick. As soon as the ball reached ten yards, all eleven seemingly hit the Duke Player at once and Frankenmuth had the ball back. But Garber wasn't in position to win the conference and head to the playoffs because of lack of character. The Dukes' defense led in part by the intense play of Nick Dion stopped Frankenmuth and got the ball back on downs at the Eagles' 42.

Looking to "seal the deal," the Duke line opened holes allowing Dominic Trogan to break free for a 29 yard touchdown and a 41-21 Garber victory.

While the victory guaranteed at least a co-championship of the TVC, Coach Schwartz was already thinking of next week.

"This will be a huge week for us," noted Coach Schwartz. "Bridgeport is fast. There are a lot of distractions. With it being homecoming, the bona fires, the powder puff games, we will need to keep focused. We will work as hard as we ever have this week."

Schwartz's focus is but one reason why Garber will be in the playoffs for the 9th consecutive year.

For the game, Dominic Trogan led all rushers with 237 yards on 28 carries. David Laskowski added 47 yards on 7 carries. Lee Madziar had no trouble with the rain as he threw for 121 yards on 7 of 10 throwing.

Luke Sheppard led Frankenmuth with 7 of 18 throwing for 124 yards. He also added 38 yards on the ground while Jacob Frank ran for 61 yards on 13 carries.