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Garber's team effort leads them to victory.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Special Teams and Special Plays Help Lead Garber to a Thrilling 34-33 Win

Levi Britton records 2 blocked XP's, an interception & a fumble recovery

October 6, 2014       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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Garber and Standish-Sterling entered the Friday night game as mirror images of each other. Both have explosive playmakers, both needed the win to stay in contention for a playoff berth and both teams have the character and tenacity to fight to the end. These characteristics played out at Ed Harvey field as both teams stopped a big play short of the goal line preventing a touchdown, both blocked an extra point and both fought to the last second as Garber came away with an exciting 34-33 win.

The excitement of big plays was only an opening kickoff away. Garber kicked off to Standish-Sterling where explosive tailback, Miles McFarland received the ball. He headed up field then broke to the sideline heading by all would be tacklers with the end zone in sight. But Garber's Brenden Ulrey had the angle and determination as he knocked McFarland out of bounds at the Duke 3. Three plays later, a fumble snap was pounced on by Duke's Levi Britton and Garber had avoided an opening touchdown.


Brendan Ulrey stops Miles McFarland from reaching the end zone.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber then responded by marching the length of the field for a score. Using a combination of Kody Wenglikowski and Logan Martin runs to go with swing passes followed by a strike to Brendyn Claerhout and the Dukes were knocking on the Panther's door. Moments later Martin burst through from the right side and with the Brady Wieland kick, led 7-0.


Brendyn Claerhout catches pass along the sidelines.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Logan Martin powers in for a Duke touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

After a solid return coupled with a fifteen yard Garber penalty, Standish-Sterling took over at midfield. Garber's defense held on downs putting the Garber offense at midfield for the next drive. Garber struck quick as Martin hit Claerhout on a quick post at the right hash marks. Claerhout splits the defenders and raced 45 yards putting Garber up 14-0.


Brendyn Claerhout runs in for Touchdown after splitting the Panther defense.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Just when it looked like Garber was in full control and ready to make this a route, the Panthers Miles McFarland put the team on his back. Running the kickoff to the Panther 45 as the quarter ended, McFarland opened the second quarter by slashing off the right side and racing 55 yards for one of his four touchdown scampers. With the kick, Standish-Sterling was back in the game down 14-7.

Garber went back on their third straight scoring drive starting at their 38. A key play was Kody Wenglikowski's fourth and one burst through the Panther defense taking the rock from the Panther 26 to the 9 yard line. Martin then hit Andy Crete in the flats where the senior receiver made a diving catch in the end zone for the score and a 21-7 lead.


Logan Martin leaps over the goal line for the Touchdown.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

A key Garber miscue lead to Standish-Sterling next score. After forcing Standish to a three and out, the Dukes roughed the punter giving the Panthers a first down. Then McFarland went for another long touchdown run as he cut through the left side then raced 54 yards for his second score narrowing the margin to 21-14.

After going three and out, the Panthers were looking to even the score when Levi Britton turned the tables and momentum with a leaping interception at the Panther 41 and returned it to the 39. Dan Kolanek ran a counter play eighteen yards to the 5 yard line where Logan Martin finished off the drive as he dropped back to pass then scrambled to the left for the score putting Garber up 28-14 with just over 40 seconds to play.


Dan Kolanek races around the end as Tommy Kusterer of Standish-Sterling tries to make a tackle.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Dan Kolanek fends off a Panthers defenseman.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)


But the half wasn't over. McFarland had one more long run left in him for the half as he burst through the Garber defense from midfield sending his team into the locker room down 28-21.

The second half started much like the game did. After Martin had a nice run to the Standish-Sterling 45, Wenglikowski peeled off 45 yards down the sideline. The Standish-Sterling determination caught the runner at the one preventing a sure touchdown. Then a fumbled snap was recovered by a Panther ending the Duke drive.

Garber got the ball back and drove right back down field to the Panther 10. Martin threw what looked to be a touchdown to Jake Sansburn but a penalty erased the score. A pass interference in the end zone put Garber back on the Panther door step but they were not able to score. Neither team would score in the third quarter leading to an exciting fourth quarter.


Andy Crete contends with a Panther player
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Nick Neering takes the brunt of a McFarland block.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Down 28-21, the Panther offense got going. QB Nate Moore connected with Noah Ryan for a 46 yard pass play to the Duke 11. Then as the Duke Defense was tackling Moore, the QB pitched back to McFarland who scampered the 11 yards for a touchdown. With the tying kick ensuing, Duke's Levi Britton powered through the line and leaped up to block the extra point attempt preserving a narrow 28-27 lead.


Levi Britton blocks Standish-Sterling extra point kick securing Garber's Win.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

After a midfield return, Garber looked to cement the victory. For this they turned to Andy "Quick" Crete. The senior wide out stepped in as tailback and delivered a much needed 21 yard run through the Panther's right side carrying the ball to the 23. Then he added another 8 yard burst putting Garber solidly in scoring position. After Martin carried the option to the four yard line, "Quick" Crete made his second diving touchdown catch to give Garber a 34-27 lead. Standish-Sterling returned the extra point favor as they blocked Garber's attempt keeping the margin at 7.

The Panthers now turned to McFarland to even the score. The sophomore tailback broke lose to the Duke 35 then to the 22. Moore carried it to the 15 where the Dukes held bring it to fourth and three yards for a first down. Standish-Sterling threw a change up as they went to the air tossing the ball over the middle to heavily guarded Kyle Sullivan who caught the ball in heavy traffic for a touchdown. Surprisingly, Standish-Sterling went for the tie with a kick but Levi Britton would have nothing to do with a tie. He again powered through the line blocking his second extra point of the night and preserving a one point lead, 34-33.

Garber had many players step up in this game to get the win. On the offensive side, Logan Martin lead the way with 138 yards on the ground and 115 yards in the air for 253 total yards. Kody Wenglikowski enjoyed one of his best performances rushing for 98 yards and Andy Crete added 41. Brendyn Claerhout had 5 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown and Crete had 8 key yards resulting in two diving catch touchdowns.

The defense was led by middle linebacker Montena Owczarzak who had 10 tackles and outside linebacker Levi Britton. Britton spearheaded the defensive effort with not only 8 tackles but more importantly two takeaways with a fumble recovery and an interception. But it was his two extra point blocks that preserved the Duke win.


Levi Britton gets a hit on Nate Moore with Montena Owczarzak charges in for backup. The two dominated on defense.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

To see more game photos, go to: http://koovsphotography.smugmug.com/Sports/Garber-2014-Football

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John Keuvelaar

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

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