Blue Water Area football: Week 8 roundup
Blue Water Area football teams won big in week 8 as the five local MAC schools beat opponents on average 42-13, and the BWAC finally found a champion – or two: Armada and North Branch.
By the end of this week, we’ll have the final regular season records and standings as well as the district pairings. But for now, let’s review some of last weekend’s games:
The Broncos broke open a tie game at the half with back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter to secure a victory and a share of the conference title. Senior running back Ryan Henne had three of the Broncos’ touchdowns, leading the team with 260 rushing yards.
Junior running back Gabriel “Belly” Groppi is back for the Pioneers after being sidelined with an injury in week 3. Now recovered and ready, he led his team’s offense with 206 yards on 23 carries for one touchdown.
Cros-Lex (6-2) will host Freeland (7-1) this Friday as a rematch of last year’s regional semifinal. The Falcons’ defense has held opponents to less than 10 points per game so far this season and will face a test against the Pioneers’ offense averaging 35 points per game.
The Broncos (7-1) will play Three Rivers, a 5-3 Division 4 team that finished second in the Wolverine Conference this fall. The two teams are meeting halfway at Okemos High School.
Marysville 50, Warren Lincoln 12
The Vikings played a high-scoring game on both sides of the ball Friday night to improve to 5-3 overall, winning their last three games 93-18 in total.
Junior Carter Saccucci led with four rushing touchdowns and 127 yards, while junior Tommy Hadacz added one more score.
And defensively, two different players caught an interception and returned it for six: seniors Conner Coates and Aidan Donahue. Junior Conner Fraley and senior Mitchell Donaldson each recovered a fumble as well.
Marysville will play Port Huron High (6-2) this week in one of the two local MAC crossover matchups. Port Huron Northern (7-1) will travel to St. Clair (3-5).
Almont 35, Yale 14
Almont’s offense remained steady early on in the game, scoring just once in each of the first three quarters to take a 21-0 lead.
The Raiders were led by senior running back Bryce Ferman. He had three touchdowns and 251 rushing yards, including a 96-yard touchdown run. Senior quarterback Trenton Kruse went 3-for-7 for 75 yards and one touchdown to junior Cole Walton (two receptions, 66 yards).
Yale junior quarterback Connor Jakubiak scored the Bulldogs’ two touchdowns, both on the ground. He totaled 82 rushing yards and 74 passing. Senior Khazen Morton had five receptions for 37 yards, and fellow senior James Bahr added 73 rushing yards.
Bahr also helped lead the Bulldog defense with 11 tackles on the night along with senior Kaden Proctor who posted 13 tackles. Junior Ayden Ferqueron led the Raiders with 17 total tackles, including three for loss.
The Bulldogs (4-4) are returning home to play Macomb Lutheran North (3-5) this week while the Raiders (6-2) will travel to play Goodrich (7-1).
Marine City 34, Center Line 12
The Mariners led 34-0 early in the fourth to secure their seventh-straight win this season.
Senior quarterback Jeff Heaslip was efficient in commanding his offense with a 6-for-8 performance that totaled 91 yards and one touchdown. On the receiving end was Parker Atkinson who had 47 yards for the score.
Senior Anthony Ruffino led the running game with 108 yards and two more touchdowns. Sophomore Paul Muscat and freshman Lyncoln Osterland each scored one more, and junior Cameron Milewski added 74 yards.
With three interceptions and two fumbles, Marine City’s defense limited the Panthers to just 18 minutes of possession.
Leading the way, junior Bodie Ramsey had 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception returned four yards on the night. Muscat caught one interception and returned it 46 yards and recovered one of the fumbles, and freshman Nicholas Ruffino added nine more tackles as well.
The Mariners (7-1) will play the 8-0 Mid-Michigan Activities Conference champion Durand this Friday on the road. The Railroaders have scored 50 points or more in five of their games this season, giving Marine City a strong test heading into the postseason.
Imlay City 40, Detroit University Prep Math and Science 6
The Imlay City Spartans picked up their first win of the season Saturday afternoon in dominant fashion. Senior quarterback Brady Vanderploeg led the way with a 4-for-7 performance that totaled 60 yards in the air while adding 60 more yards on the ground for three touchdowns.
Senior Julian Rojas added 67 more yards for two touchdowns, and sophomore Andrew Cezik added one more score on a 14-yard carry. Junior Brady Redd led the defense with eight tackles, including one for loss.
The Spartans (1-7) will play Flint Southwestern (1-7) this Friday on their home field.
OTHER AREA SCORES
Armada 27, Richmond 3
Capac 54, Genesee 8
Cardinal Mooney 22, Whitmore Lake 0
Deckerville 44, Burton Atherton 36
Harbor Beach 28, Bad Axe 7
Laker 62, Memphis 0
Peck 76, CPS 36
Port Huron 59, Warren Fitzgerald 26
Port Huron Northern 24, Eastpointe 8
Sandusky 40, Reese 18
St. Clair 41, Hazel Park 6
Ubly 42, USA 0
Vassar 29, Marlette 22
STANDINGS AND RANKINGS
To view the latest BWAC standings, click here.
To view the latest MAC standings, click here.
Latest Blue Water Sports Media Association Poll: Voted on by Brady Beedon and Dennis Stuckey of Get Stuck On Sports, Brenden Welper of The Times Herald, and Calli Newberry of The Sports Report.
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