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Posted: 2007-09-25
2007 GAME SUMMARY: Varsity vs. South Lyon
Week #5: Hartland loses to South Lyon, 42-28
FIRST QUARTER
Hartland kicked-off to South Lyon (SL) to start the game. SL was able to reach mid-field before fumbling the ball. Hartland recovered the fumble and on the first play from scrimmage, QB Chris Cagle hit WR Greg Matthysen on a short hitch route to the left. Matthysen took it from there when he juked inside, then back outside and up the sideline for a 50-yard score. RB Drew Mixter assisted with a great down-field block that sprung Matthysen (SEE VIDEO #1034). Zach Minor added the extra point kick and Hartland led 7-0 with 10:43 left in the 1st.
After the ensuing kick-off, SL began to drive the ball down the field — mostly through the air. They finally punched it in from the 1-yard line and the extra point kick was good making the score tied at 7 with 7:03 left in the 1st.
On Hartland's next drive, we could not reach the 1st down marker and had to punt away. SL again went to air — one play Matthysen nearly intercepted a pass from their QB (SEE VIDEO #1035). However, SL continued to mix-up their air-attack and eventually from the 6-yard line, their QB rolled right and dumped it to their RB who leaked out down the line of scrimmage for the score. Extra point attempt failed and SL led 13-7 with 3:33 left in the 1st.
After Vonn Jones put us in good field position at our own 35 with his kick-return, Hartland again could not gain a 1st down and had to punt. Brian Olszewski (who averaged 38 yards in four punts) buried SL on their own 11.
SL started their next drive by continuing their already-successful air attack. Some great secondary coverage by Carson Pippin and a few key run stops by Jake Warner and Jared Felix helped keep SL honest (SEE VIDEOS #1036 and #1037).
SL led 13-7 at the end of the 1st.
SECOND QUARTER
SL's 1st-quarter drive continued, until Pippin intercepted the SL QB and had a great run back to SL's 43-yard line (SEE VIDEO #1038). Hartland began to move the ball with a Cagle run (SEE VIDEO #1039) and a sweet after-the-catch run by Jones (SEE VIDEO #1040). Facing a 3rd and 3 situation, Jones was interfered with on an attempted pass reception from Cagle. That reset the downs to 1st and on the next play Cagle scored on the QB sneak (SEE VIDEO #1041). Minor's extra point was good and Hartland led 14-13 with 8:37 left in the 2nd.
After the ensuing kick-off, SL made some strategic adjustments and began testing our run defense. Even when one of their long runs was called back, they continued to march down the field. At one point they scored on a slant route, but that was called back due to an offensive penalty. They tried to go for it on 4th down, but Hartland was credited with a coverage sack and SL turned the ball over on downs (SEE VIDEO #1042).
Hartland took control and went to work. Cagle connected with Jon Stevens on a couple plays to keep that drive alive (SEE VIDEO # 1043). Then, on 2nd down on SL's 38-yard line, Cagle rolled-out right and was looking to throw a short pass to Jones. However, Cagle saw an opening further up field and waived Jones off his route and up the sideline where Cagle (showing tremendous composure and finesse) threw to the wide-open Jones who kept his balance and tip-toed into the end-zone for the score (SEE VIDEO #1044). It was exciting to see the communication between QB and WR in live play. Way to make it happen boys! After Minor's successful extra-point kick, Hartland led 21-13.
After the kick-off to SL, they immediately went back to the run which was very successful in their last drive. But, a few big plays like Warner's QB chase-down (SEE VIDEO #1045) and Charles Putz' QB sack (SEE VIDEO #1046) kept the drive interesting. Then SL got greedy, went back to the air and attempted a delayed tight-end dump pass. Matthysen, playing Free Safety on defense, saw it a mile away and easily picked the pass and ran it down the left sidelines before stepping out at the SL 15-yard line with :15 seconds left in the half (SEE VIDEO #1047). The crowd went into a frenzy!
We were within striking distance with just seconds left in the half. After one incomplete pass, Cagle attempted his second — this time finding Matthysen on a fade route in the left side of the end-zone (SEE VIDEO #1048). Minor's extra-point kick was good and Hartland went into half-time (with a standing ovation from the crowd) leading by a score of 28-13.
THIRD QUARTER
The 3rd quarter started with a short SL kick to Ryan Simancek who returned it to the Hartland 45-yard line (SEE VIDEO #1049). The next drive didn't produce much — other than a couple of powerful runs by Kyle Summerfield with the help of Josh Theis (SEE VIDEOS #1050 and #1051). Hartland coaches then called for a fake punt (great call by the way) in which Olszewski rolled right and threw to the wide-open receiver, Thomas Lashbrook, but the ball fell incomplete and we turned it over on downs.
SL took that opportunity to turn the game around. They continued using their two workhorse running backs and pound the ball down the field. Hartland's defense struggled with the adjustments SL made in the locker room and began to give-up 1st down after 1st down (33 total on the night!). SL punched it in off the left-side. They went for two and converted. The SL comeback began with SL trailing 28-21 with 6:28 left in the 3rd.
Mixter's kick-return brought us out to the 30. After a couple of plays, and one late-hit call against SL, we were sitting pretty at the 50 with 1st and 10. Then, inexplicably, Hartland was called for a delay of game penalty for taking too much time to get the play called in. (Comment: we've GOT to get more organized on the sideline.) After a play or two, we were then faced with a 3rd and 8 situation. The play called was a 5-yard hitch and Cagle threw a shot to Jones. But, because SL adjusted at the half and rolled their corners up, the defender was there the instant ball made contact with the receiver. The risky call resulted in 6 yards gained when 8 were needed for the 1st down. (Comment: if a pass play is called on 3rd and 8, shouldn't we at least call one that's designed to reach beyond the current 1st-down markers. If we catch it - 1st down! If it goes incomplete, then we punt on 4th and 8. Down-and-distance awareness.) Hartland was now faced 4th and 2 and had to punt.
SL's rushing game was able to dig themselves out of a hole after Olszewski's deep punt. They sliced and diced their way through the Hartland defense with their strategic play-calling and strong backs. They began to wear us down — yet they looked fresh and ready to do more damage. SL then ran a timely reverse which brought them down inside our 9-yard line. They got down inside the one when the quarter ended.
FOURTH QUARTER
The 4th quarter started with SL punching it in one more time up the middle. Kick was good and the score was tied at 28.
With 11:49 left in the game, Jones ran the ensuing kick-off into some traffic, the ball popped out, and SL recovered. This was a huge play for SL after just tying the game just seconds ago. They definitely had the momentum going into the 4th quarter and it stayed with them throughout the game. Our defense was exhausted after just coming off the field in SL's last 90-yard drive, now they were tasked with trying to stop their tough ground game WITH their still excited-from-scoring-seconds-ago players. SL wasted no time after the turnover — ran a dive-right and scored. The kick was good and SL took the lead 35-28.
Hartland's next drive included a mixture of runs and passes (SEE VIDEO #1053), but we were only able to gain one 1st down before punting the ball away with 9:32 left in the game.
SL again marched down the field after starting from their own 12 (thanks to another great Olszewski punt). Some of our defensive players were showing signs of exhaustion. There were a lot of missed tackles. We looked out of place, unsure and unconfident. We clearly did not adjust at half-time to SL's run game and we continued to pay the price. Later that same drive, with 5:12 left, SL scored off-tackle right. Kick was good, and SL increased their lead by 2 touchdowns, 42-28.
On Hartland's next drive, with under 5 minutes left in the game, they tried to mount a comeback drive of their own — gaining a couple of 1st downs through the air. But, the drive crashed when an SL linebacker picked-off Cagle's pass attempt at SL's 29-yard line.
With under 3 minutes left in the game, SL kept it on the ground and continued to rack-up 1st downs. Hartland then called two timeouts with under a minute left. SL punted the ball on 4th and 5 with :45 seconds left. Starting from our own 20, we managed just one 1st down then ran out of time.