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Posted: 2008-08-29
2008 GAME SUMMARY: Varsity vs. Livonia Churchill
Hartland defeats Livonia Churchill, 47-14
Now that's what I'm talking about! WOW!
Hartland opened their season at home with a convincing 47-14 victory against cross-league opponent, Livonia Churchill. The evening started with all the fixings of a great night of football — tailgating, food, friends and family, and great weather. Everyone was smiling and enjoying the festivities — after all it was our first home game of the season — and everyone was anticipating a break-out game from our boys. And boy did they deliver!
Hartland started early — moving the ball on the ground with great runs from Chris Cagle (QB) and Kyle Summerfield (RB) (see videos #1109, 1110, 1111). Cagle capped the drive at 9:28 in the 1st by throwing a quick-slant to sophomore, Matt Poches (WR) (see video #1112). Zach Minor's extra-point kick was good and Hartland went up 7-0.
The impressive offensive start fired-up our defense and they came out swinging on their first series (see videos #1113, 1114, 1115). Our aggressive play forced Churchill to punt — their first of several through-out the night. The bad punt put us in great field position on Churchill's 40. A great Cagle run down the left sideline (see video #1117) put us in even better field position. Then at 4:59 in the 1st, Cagle took the snap and started running right, then saw an opening and cut-back up the middle for the score (see video #1118). Minor's extra-point was good and Hartland led 14-0.
The next defensive series was a carbon-copy of the first — more great play by seniors Ryan Simancek, Nick Schlagheck (see videos #1120 and 1121). The result was another bad Churchill punt — because of the intense pressure applied by our punt rushers.
Again with great field position, Cagle's offense took to the field. In short order, he delivered a devastating blow to the Churchill defense with only two throws. The first one was a deep fade down the left sideline to a leaping Poches — who exhibited tremendous athleticism by keeping one foot in-bounds while falling on his back (see video #1122). Cagle's next pass was to Jones on a roll-right, deep out route in the end-zone (see video #1123). Big props to the offensive linemen who gave their QB all the time in the world. (Hey Chris, it was a good idea to take your linemen out to breakfast on game-day morning.) Minor's extra-point kick was again good, and Hartland took a commanding 21-0 lead with 3:35 left in the 1st quarter.
Churchill got a little lucky on the ensuing kick-off — running down inside our 40 — then tacking-on a Hartland penalty gave them great field position inside our 30. Churchill's luck continued on that drive by scoring on a fluke play in which their receiver came back to a poorly thrown pass that our two defenders would have been in great position to defend. The result was a Churchill touchdown and extra-point was good. Hartland led 21-7 with 2:54 left in the 1st.
Jones took the ensuing kick-off to our 35 (see video #1125). After Cagle's pass to Poches (see video #1126), the offense went back to the run to keep the defense honest. Junior, Matt Kenwell's (RB) number was called and took the hand-off running behind big senior Josh Theis (RT). Watch Theis pancake this guy on video (see video #1127). The next play had Cagle hook-up with Poches again down the left sideline for a 46-yard touchdown (see video #1128). This is when the crowd started looking at each other and saying, "holy crap!" Minor's extra-point was good and Hartland again extended their lead by three touchdowns with 2:27 left in the 1st quarter.
The 1st quarter ended with Churchill in great field position after another long kick-return. However, that drive didn't last long thanks to tremendous defensive efforts of Jake Warner and Simancek (see videos #1129, 1130). Then, in the beginning of the 2nd quarter senior Jared Felix (DB) showed incredible concentration when he intercepted Churchill's QB in the end-zone (see video #1131). This allowed our offense to start on our own 20.
On this drive Hartland was facing its first, 3rd-and-long situation — but handled it beautifully. With the defense now keying on Poches, Cagle started spreading the love to his two other, equally-talented receivers, Jones and Stevens. Cagle tossed the ball over the head of a very confused DB trying to cover Jones (see video #1132). The pass was just a little shy of catching him on stride for a score, but it got us the 1st down and put us in Churchill territory again. A holding penalty put us back a little on the next play, but Cagle made up for that on following play rolling to his left and find Poches on a curl route. We were facing a 4th and 8 situation, but we were too far for a field goal attempt and too short for a punt — so having a comfortable lead, we went for it. We were unable to convert and turned the ball over on downs.
On our next possession we saw a Summerfield-to-Jones reverse for a big gain down the left sideline. After a few plays we drew Churchill off-sides for the 1st down on the 15. After a few more plays Hartland called a time-out facing a 4th an 5 situation. Hartland ran another reverse to Jones who avoided a loss and ran for the 1st down inside the 5 (see video #1136). Then Cagle showed his leadership and composure by finishing the drive in dramatic fashion. After fumbling the shot-gun snap, he picked-up the ball and started running right, then saw an opening in the secondary, waived to his receiver (Stevens), and threw the ball where only Stevens could reach it. Touchdown! (see video #1137). Minor's kick was good and with 2:32 left in the half, Hartland led 35-7.
After half-time, Hartland came out with just as much intensity and spirit than they had in the first half. The defense was ready to finish-off Churchill and their play continued to be aggressive — check-out Jake Warner on this play blowing by two blockers to fluster the QB and then finishing-off the play by whacking another blocker just standing around. LOVE IT!!! Go until the whistle blows baby! (see video #1139). Churchill couldn't put anything together and punted the ball away.
Hartland's first drive of the 2nd half included runs by Pippin and Kenwell, catches by Thomas Lashbrook (see video #1140). On a 1st and 10 situation on the 10-yard-line, Cagle again connected with Poches on a left-side, quick slant — identical to his first score, but this time he beasted the safety on the goal line (see video #1141). Minor's kick was just shy left; Hartland led 41-7 with 7:38 left in the 3rd.
Churchill's next drive lasted awhile — in part do to a couple of Hartland penalties that gave them 1st downs. Churchill had some tricks up their sleeve as well, successfully running a throwback pass to get them down inside our red-zone. This drive definitely had some great defensive plays (see videos #1142, 1143). Then, on 4th and 6, Summerfield intercepted their QB and ran it down to our 40 before having hit punched-out by Churchill — who then recovered the fumble for a whole new set of downs (see video #1144). Our defense was pretty mad at that point and wanted to avoid being on the field much longer. So they regrouped and focused — and played tough football. Watch Lashbrook and Charles Putz tear it up on these two plays (see videos #1145, 1146). Our secondary had enough as well. Carson Pippin picked-off the Churchill QB and ran it back for a nice gain to the Churchill 43. The 3rd quarter expired with Hartland up 41-7.
Maintaining possession in the beginning of the 4th, Hartland was facing a 3rd and 14 situation. As they did earlier, Cagle and Jones connected an a great pump-fake down the right sideline to pick up the 1st down — keeping the drive alive (see video #1148). On the next play, Kenwell's number was called and he delivered with a great run up the middle for Hartland's 7th touchdown of the night (see video #1149). Minor's kick missed its mark and at 11:49 left in the game, Hartland led 47-7.
With 6:43 left in the game, Churchill managed to score another touchdown, making the score 47-14. On Hartland's next possession, backup QB, Taylor Garner led the offense down the field, before Hartland finally had to punt. The punt buried Churchill inside their own 10 and they couldn't do much from there. Game over. Hartland wins, 47-14!