[ad_1]
LAKE FENTON – What a football opening night.
The Gaylord Blue Devils football team has been waiting to prove that this year’s version of the team is different, and the Lake Fenton Blue Devils immediately provided the perfect opportunity to do just that. The Flint Metro Conference champions, Lake Fenton, had an opening night win over Gaylord a season ago.
If the team had taken steps forward and head coach DJ Simoniak and company were preaching, it would have been obvious on a team led by Lucas Storm and Jack Conley.
Early on, it looked like the same as the turnovers and fouls kept Gaylord points on the board and allowed Fenton Lake to build a 14-0 lead heading into the third quarter.
But that was where Gaylord football’s changes really began to show.
After falling behind by two points, the Blue Devils came back and the offense came up with clutch plays in big minutes as the defense held Lake Fenton scoreless the rest of the way.
Trailing 14-7 late in the game, Caleb Aungst’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Ty Bensinger was followed by Russell Hush’s two-point conversion to give Gaylord its first lead with less than a minute to go. , 15-14 come from behind victory on opening night.
“The kids, all the effort they put in during the break,” Szymoniak said after the game. “They get together and they do that.”
Opening half tackles allowed Lake Fenton to move forward.
While things looked good for both Blue Devils in the first half, both teams had their footballing style wrong in the first half of the season.
Gaylord’s first possession appeared destined for the end zone, but a fumble inside the five-yard line gave Lake Fenton a crucial stop in their own territory. However, the ensuing sack gave the ball back to Gaylord.
First it was Lake Fenton, quarterback Carson Lewis led the Blue Devils down the field with a seven-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
Gaylord had a chance to respond before halftime, but moved the ball back into Lake Fenton territory, but a field goal attempt that bounced off the uprights kept the Blue Devils scoreless through two quarters despite two trips into the red zone.
Loading the return
After halftime, it looked like more of the same was in store as Gaylord’s first drive of the game ended on a play, Lake Fenton’s first drive ended with another Lewis touchdown pass, and the home Blue Devils took a 14-0 lead.
Something had to change, and someone had to instigate the change. Gaylord can credit Russell Hush.
Their running backs had key plays, but none more important than the 69-yard kickoff return that gave Gaylord the ball and, more importantly, new life at the 28-yard-line. Gaylord helped the offense drive those final 28 yards down the field when a sneaky sneak by quarterback Caleb Aungst got on the board.
Trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, the defense stepped up twice in clutch positions. After the first stop, a quick fumble returned the ball into the hands of Lake Fenton in Gaylord State. Once again, the defense stood tall and forced another punt, but an unfortunate rush caused Fenton to fumble the ball at the one-yard line.
With time not on their side, Gaylord’s offense was forced to go 99 yards if they wanted any chance of winning.
And that’s what they did.
Aungst led a masterful drive, completing passes of eight yards, three yards and 15 yards with a final 34-yard touchdown connection to Ty Bensinger that seemed to tie the game.
However, the dramas were not over; After initially sending the ball away, head coach DJ Szymoniak took some time out and after talking, the offense attempted to turn the game into a game-winning two-pointer.
Szymoniak said after the game that the decision was not made by him.
“Players called that,” Szymoniak said. “We were about to kick it but I saw the intensity in the eyes of my officials and they said, ‘Coach, we’ve got this.'”
They made good on their promise, forcing Russell Hush into the end zone to take a 15-14 lead with a minute left.
Big time players make big time games
The game wasn’t over, however, and Lake Fenton’s first punt return made Gaylord State’s last-second field goal that much more real. Still, they had to find a way past a Gaylord defense that came up big in the second half.
After putting Fenton Lake on first down, Gaylord needed a leader up top, and that’s exactly what they got as linebackers and 2024 prospect Brady Pritzlaff got in front of Carson Lewis’ pass, caught the interception and sealed the comeback win for Gaylord.
“Brady is a special young man, and he’s been working for this for a long time,” Szymoniak said. “He has a lot more work to do, but I have no doubt that he will put it in.”
Statistics
Caleb Aungst had six completions for 78 yards and a TD along with nine carries for 37 yards and another TD. Russell Hush led the rushing attack, carrying the ball 17 times for 82 yards. Ty Benzinger had five catches for 60 yards and a crucial late TD, while Hush added 18 yards.
Leading the defense with 10.5 tackles and a game-clinching INT was Brady Pritzlaff. Other key contributors include Bensinger (8.5 tackles), Riley Hush (3.5 tackles), Gus James (2.5 tackles) and Keaton Abraham (2.5 tackles).
The rushing game was won by Gaylord, with 125 yards to Fenton Lake’s 43, but the Blue Devils threw the ball effectively and finished with 20 receptions for 234 yards.
Gaylord is off to its first 1-0 start to the season since 2019. The Blue Devils next play Kingsley on Thursday, September 1st.
[ad_2]
Source link
