By Chad Wingert (Contact / Staff Bio)

Originally published October 17, 2009, 03:37 p.m. EST. Updated October 17, 2009, 03:37 p.m. EST

By Chad Wingert

Sports Editor

NORTH BRANCH — Trailing Millington by 20 at the half was nothing to worry too much about for North Branch and head coach Pat Forster. However, the Broncos had nothing to show for it as the Cardinals did their best to grind out the clock in the first half. Millington then went on to double its first half performance, chalking up 20 more points in the second half to defeat North Branch 40-8, capping the game with a 19-yard Dave Tyson touchdown run.

Going into tonight’s match-up with the Cardinals, Forster and his crew knew that all they needed was one win in their last two games to make the playoffs. Now the Broncos have to prepare for Yale, and it’s all or nothing.

“The playoffs begin a week earlier for us now,” Forster said. “This is a position our kids are not used to. But, we need to continue to prepare for Yale just like any other game. I have a lot of respect for them and their program.”

Millington continues to roll with just one game left on their schedule, and the same can be said for running back Justin Stutler who totaled 283 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries for the Cardinals. Overall, Millington rumbled for 508 yards of offense on the ground.

“They really took it to us, and I have to credit Millington. They really racked up the rushing yards and ground out the clock,” Forster said. “This is definitely not the same Millington team we watched play Caro this week on film.”

North Branch’s lone score came on a 17 yard pass play from Doug Griffin to Jacobson in the third quarter. Griffin completed 12 passes on the night for a total of 27 yards and a TD while Dennis Natke ran the ball three times for 51 yards. Griffin also had 44 yards on 13 attempts.

Millington now improves to 7-1 (5-1 TVC East) on the season while North Branch falls to 5-3 (4-2 TVC East) as they now hope for a win against Yale that will send the Broncos to the playoffs.

For more Friday night football action, see page B4

Reese rolls to fourth-straight Sugar Bowl

- Reese, Vassar and EPBP all clinch share of GTW -

By Chad Wingert and Jon Grady

Sports Writers

REESE — Sweet victory.

Reese not only clinched a share of the Greater Thumb West title on Friday night, they also chalked up its fourth straight Sugar Bowl victory with a 43-13 routing of USA.

“After we lost to Vassar and we lost (Josh) Pickell, we really challenged these guys. And tonight, they rose up,” Reese head coach Bob Saylor said.

The Rockets’ took a 28-0 lead into the break and never looked back as they allowed the Patriots points in the third quarter. USA’s Tyler Masse posted both of the Patriots touchdowns, rumbling in from 34 and nine yards out. Masse totaled 107 yards and two scores on 22 carries for the night.

However, Reese had too many weapons for USA to handle as they got it done on both sides of the ball.

Jimmy Hahn led the Rockets rushing attack with 75 yards on nine carries while Andrew Mendyk jaunted seven times for 65 yards.

Defensively, Reese scored two touchdowns including an interception return from Kyle Yaklin and a Cody Somerville scoop and score that was good for six. Kyle Kinasz gathered 15 tackles to lead the Rockets defense while Matt Dietrich added nine and Yaklin had eight.

Now, with one game left in the season, it may be hard for Reese not to mentally prepare for the playoffs. But, Saylor says that next week’s game will help the Rockets prepare.

“We need to have another good performance next week,” Saylor said. “Then hopefully we can take that momentum and roll into the playoffs. But really, we need to treat it as just another week.”

For USA head coach Jason Beagle and his squad, they continue to improve, but things are not getting any easier for the Patriots.

“We are really improving every week, but by now I think they know its an uphill battle,” Beagle said. “But I give my kids a lot of credit. They are not fading away. They keep trying harder even though things are not getting easier for us.”

Vassar 35, Cass City 3

CASS CITY — What started out as a very close game, slipped away from Cass City with just 19 seconds remaining in the first half. That’s when Vassar found their stride and didn’t look back.

Keif Vickers started the scoring for the Vulcans in second quarter when he punched it in from three yards out. Cass City punted the ball to Vassar with less than a minute remaining in the first half, with the score still 7-0. With less than 30 seconds on the clock, the Vulcans went into their version of the “Wildcat” formation on their own six yard line. Wide receiver Troy Hecht took the snap and broke off a 94 yard touchdown run just before the first half came to an end, sending the Red Hawks into halftime completely deflated, trailing 13-0.

Cass City fought back in the third quarter, opening the second quarter scoring with a field goal by Jalen Ferris. That would be the last time the Red Hawks were able to score.

The Vulcans would come right back in the third with a scoring drive that quarterback Kyle Aurenhamer would end with a four yard touchdown run. They would finish the night with a 68 yard touchdown pass from Aurenhamer to Madison Harper and another Vickers touchdown run, this one from 10 yards out.

Vassar would be led by the threesome of Vickers who had 15 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns, Hecht who had 11 carries for 128 yards and the long touchdown, and Aurenhamer who complete 7-11 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown.

The Red Hawks were led by Josh Jensen who carried 16 times for 60 yards and tied for the team lead in tackles with eight.

Cass City moves to 3-5 on the year with the 35-3 loss. Vassar takes their 5-3 record back home next to take on Frankenmuth, looking to win and seal a birth into the playoffs.

Harbor Beach 46, Mayville 12

MAYVILLE — The fast start by Harbor Beach proves to be too much for the Wildcats, spoiling their homecoming night. Both teams came into the night looking to notch their first victories, and Harbor Beach seemed very determined to come away with theirs.

The Pirates started the game with two straight touchdowns which they followed with two successful two-point conversions. Their second score would have been enough on the night as Mayville was unable to find much of an answer to the Pirate defense.

Harbor Beach wasn’t done scoring however, they found their way to the endzone two more times before half. Jake Coutcher did cap-off a Wildcat scoring drive with an 11 yard touchdown reception from Aaron Mercer in the second quarter, making the halftime score 32-6.

Mayville did battle the Pirates in the second half, allowing Harbor Beach to score only 14 more points. While they also scored on a Kyle Perkins six yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, ending the game with the final of 46-12.

Mayville remains winless on the season. Next week they head to Kingston to take on their rivals who are also looking for their first win on the season.

Caro 48, Tawas City 28

Tawas — Caro would rush their way out of a 13-8 hole in the first, to a find a win on the road against Tawas City.

The Tigers dominated the second quarter, scoring 20 unanswered points. Mike Daniel would score twice for the Tigers on runs of four yards and 16 yards. He would be Caro’s workhorse on the night, carrying the ball 38 times for a total of 216 yards. He would also add three two-point conversions to go with his two touchdowns.

Daniel would not be the only Tiger doing the rushing. As a team, Caro carried the ball 57 times for 367 rush yards and five touchdowns, dominating the time of possession. A major contributor to that ground attack was Brant Miller. He would carry 11 times for 103 yards and one touchdown, also adding a key interception early in the game to swing the momentum back to the Tigers.

Quarterback Caleb Sundblad would rush for a touchdown and throw for two more for Caro. On both touchdowns, he would find teammate Tim Curtis.

Brown City 41, Marlette 15

BROWN CITY — The Red Raiders traveled to Brown City looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Green Devils would crush those hopes with a dominate first half.

Brown City’s defense had Marlette’s number through out the first half, not allowing any points. And Marlette’s defense was plagued by the big play through out the first half, giving up scores of 43, 32, 15, and 45 yards. The Devils would also add on a field goal, to the make the halftime score 34-0.

Marlette’s defense would come to play in the third, shutting down Brown City and keeping them scoreless. They would however, surrender one more score in the fourth.

Trailing midway through the fourth 41-0, Dee Sanchez broke off a 36 yard touchdown run to stop the shutout. Sanchez would also end the game on a one yard touchdown run. He would carry the ball a total of 16 times for 83 yards to go alone with those two scores. Justin Carello would also rush nine times for 72 yards.

This would be the Red Raider’s fourth loss of the season, eliminating them from the playoffs. “This was a tough loss for us,” said head coach Denny Lester. “We will try to really have some fun this week and try to send our seniors out on a winning note.” Marlette travels to Peck next week.

Birch Run 52, Frankenmuth 18

BIRCH RUN — Turnovers and failed third down conversions would prove costly for the Eagles on this night.

Both teams entered the night with identical records of 3-4. Neither team had hopes of a playoff birth, but both looking to finish the season strong.

The Eagles would fumble the ball four times, losing it twice. They would face ten third downs, and only convert five. The Panthers would fumble just once and recover it themselves. They would face just six third downs, and convert four of them. The Eagles were just not able to take care of the ball.

Birch Run ran the ball very effectively throughout the game, led by James Hartley who had 16 carries for 198 yards and a touchdown.

The offensive attack for Frankenmuth was led by Spencer Bell who would have six carries for 67 yards on the night. Five other Eagles would contribute significantly to the team total of 237 yards.

Akron-Fairgrove 14, CPS 6

FAIRGROVE — It was not your typical eight-man football game for Akron-Fairgrove Friday night.

After losing numerous players to injury and eligibility, the Vikings were still able to squeak out a win thanks to some last minute heroics by Corey Jobson.

With the game deadlocked at 6-6, Jobson returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for the Vikings game winning touchdown.

“It was really just enough for us to win tonight,” Akron-Fairgrove head coach Carl Aldrich said. “But next week, we take on Arenac-Eastern in an 11 man game. And as of right now, it looks like we may only be suiting up 13 players.”

Jobson led the Akron-Fairgrove offense with 13 rushes for 94 yards and a TD, along with two kickoff returns for scores that totaled 127 yards. Quarterback Josh Repkie completed two passes for ten yards, but had a bigger night on the defensive side of the ball. Repkie wrapped up 17 tackles including four sacks to lead the Viking defense.