Defense holds in red zone, Clare escapes with 25-20 playoff win

Freeland (6-4) 20

Clare (10-0) 25

 

Despite a fumble returned for a touchdown and a pass intercepted, the Pioneers stopped the Falcons from scoring on Clare’s 12-yard line in the final minute and escaping with a 25-20 playoff win in the first round of Division 5.

 

Freeland could not complete a pass on fourth down with 18 seconds remaining.

 

The Pioneers had a 25-14 lead with 9:06 remaining in the game before the fumble and interception.

 

Two special team meltdowns caused two Clare scores early in the first half.

 

A Freeland punt was partially blocked which led to Clare’s first score: a three-yard run by quarterback Kris English.

 

The Falcons later attempted a fake punt, which failed and led Tyler Gillis to score; a two-point conversion gave Clare a 15-0 lead.

 

Clare had a comfortable 22-0 lead late in the first half until sophomore David Ruhlman punched in a two-yard run with 2:22 remaining in the half.

 

Friday was the seventh meeting in the last five years between the two teams: Clare leads the series 4-3. Besides a 20-0 Freeland win back in 2005, no other game was decided by more than a touchdown.

 

Gillis led the Pioneer offense with 111 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries; contributed nine tackles on defense.

Zach Simon and Ben Randall totaled17 tackles each.

Ruhlman led the Falcon offense with 30 carries and 120 rushing yards.

Clare will host Pinconning (7-3) on Friday. The Spartans shutout Houghton Lake 12-0.

 

Suttons Bay (7-3) 7

Sanford Meridian (9-1) 14

 

Quarterback Alan VanNortwick threw two touchdown passes in the Mustangs’ 14-7 win over Suttons Bay.

 

Suttons Bay struck first with a pass from David Horton to David Pasch in the first quarter.

 

Sanford Meridian strikes back in the second quarter with a safety and one of VanNortwick touchdown passes with gave the Mustangs a 8-7 lead at halftime.

 

He also hit Brandon Krause for the 30-yard, game-winning touchdown.

 

VanNortwick completed 10 of 22 passes for 103 yards along with his two touchdowns. Krause led the air attack with four caught balls for 50 yards.

 

Eric Decker carried the ball 13 times for 43 yards and Cody Wendt had 14 carries for 48 yards.

 

Zac Kucharek led the defense with eight tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Trent Hawkins and Wendt both contributed six tackles and an interception.

 

The Mustangs will face the defending state champions of Montague on Friday.

 

Ashley (5-5) 8

Beal City (9-1) 45

 

The Aggies rallied up 24 unanswered points in the first quarter and 38 points in the first half to cruise past Ashley 45-8 in their playoff opener.

 

Brian Bleise and Mark Gallinger each ran for two touchdowns for the Aggies, while Stone Beckwith and Kegan Rojas added one each. Bleise carried the ball only four times for 84 yards. Gallinger totaled 75 yards on four carries. 

 

Beal City will face Fulton-Middleton on Friday. Fulton-Middleton won 20-16 over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.