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Posted: 2008-10-17
2008 GAME SUMMARY: Varsity vs. Waterford Mott
Hartland beats Waterford Mott, 30-12
Hartland (6-2) clinched a playoff berth by defeating Waterford Mott, 30-12 Friday night in Hartland. Our boys put on quite a show in a game that had a little bit of everything. Congrats, boys!
Hartland started out on defense and held Mott to one first down before forcing them to punt. Carson Pippin made great play to put them in a 3rd and long situation (see video #1363), then it was big Jon Stevens who buried Mott's QB deep in their own territory (video #1364). Vonn Jones had a huge punt return — down to the Mott 41-yard line (video #1365).
Hartland's first offensive possession did not produce a first down and we turned the ball over on downs.
Our defense stuffed Mott on their next possession with big plays again from Stevens (video #1366) and Jones (video #1367). Then Jake Warner and Charles Putz teamed up for a huge QB sack forcing Mott to punt (video #1368).
Matt Kenwell had a big run on Hartland's second possession thanks to a huge hole opened up by Josh Theis and Jon Stevens (video #1369). However, that was all we could do on that drive and punted back to Mott who returned it to around mid-field.
Mott's offense came together as they started to march down the field to end the 1st quarter. They continued that drive to start the 2nd quarter and finally punched it in on a 1-yard QB sneak. Their extra-point kick was mishandled and the holder paid dearly for it (video #1371). Mott led 6-0 at 11:57 of the 2nd quarter.
On Hartland's next possession, runs by Chris Cagle (video #1372) and Kenwell (videos #1373 and #1374) put Hartland in scoring range inside the 5. We couldn't get in the end zone after three attempts and settled for a Zach Minor field goal (video #1375). (Zach arrived to Hartland Stadium just minutes before kicking the field goal because he was at the Hartland districts soccer match against Holt.) Mott still led 6-3 with 7:39 left in the half.
Mott could not produce anything on their next drive and punted to Hartland. Unfortunately, niether could Hartland and we lined-up to punt back to Mott. A slippery Mott player found a gap and slithered through the line untouched to block Matt Poches' punt and return it for an easy six. Mott attempted a two-point conversion by throwing a quick slant to the left side. Hartland was called for pass interference — giving Mott another shot at it, but you'll see in video #1378 that the QB paid the price courtesy of Jake Warner. After the injury time-out they tried to go up the middle, but Hartland's defense complete collapsed the line — denying Mott the conversion. So, at 4:45 left in the half, Mott led 12-3.
Following a beautiful double-team by Jake Warner and Thomas Lashbrook, Vonn Jones ran the ensuing kickoff out to the Hartland 45 (video #1379). Cagle took over from there with a run of his own (video #1380). (I love at the end of that play how our linemen show their dissatisfaction with a Mott player's cheap-shot taken on one of our own receivers.) Later that drive, Cagle threaded the needle to receiver, Max Nystrand (video #1381). He then connected with Vonn Jones for another gain (video #1382). Cagle also found Lashbrook for what would have been a duplicate play to Pippin's against Pinckney last week (#1337). Lashbrook caught the pass from Cagle, tip-toed the sideline, then dove for the end-zone pylon. Although he stepped out of bounds before scoring, it made the highlights because it was a great effort for the big fella (video #1383). Hartland again could not punch it in and had to settle for another Zach Minor field goal. With 1:04 left in the half, it was 12-6 Mott.
On Mott's next possession, Vonn Jones made an AMAZING solo tackle on Mott's best running-back — with just his right arm. Jones was already falling down after being blocked and still made the great effort, out-stretched from five yards away (video #1384). Mott's drive ended with a perfectly-positioned Jared Felix making the interception in the end-zone (video #1385) with :26 left on the clock.
That was enough time left to make something happen before going into the locker room. After a decent gain on a Cagle-to-Jones wide receiver screen (video #1386), Cagle went up top to Matt Poches for a huge gain down to the six yard line. Watch Poches display incredible concentration — staying with the ball as it tips several times off all three players (video #1387). GREAT catch, Matt! With only :06 seconds left, we had time to run two plays. Hartland wisely attempted a pass which fell incomplete and stopped the clock. Minor came back out with :03 seconds remaining to kick his third field goal of the night. Mott led 12-9 at the half.
Poches started us off in the second half with a great kick-return out to our 48 (video #1388). Cagle went back to work with pass plays to Jones and Pippin (video #1389). He also found Jon Stevens over the middle for a huge gain down to Mott's 20 (video #1390). Spreading the love, Cagle also hit Lashbrook inside the 10 (video #1391). Cagle went back to Stevens for a would-be touchdown, but Mott interfered and the put the ball on the 4-yard line. On the next play, Cagle avoided a blitzing linebacker and followed a huge double-team by James Burroughs and Charles Putz for the QB keeper touchdown (video #1392). Minor's extra point was good and Hartland took the lead, 16-12 with 8:09 left in the 3rd.
Hartland's defense came out fired-up and did not have any plans to give up the lead. They played a very tough three downs before forcing Mott to punt it away. Mike Carney add a big hit on Mott's running-back with Josh Theis and Kyle Summerfield cleaning up (video #1393).
After a nice gain by Jones on another wide receiver screen (video #1394), Cagle couldn't connect with with Stevens or Jones later in the drive for a 1st down and Hartland had to punt. Hartland's punt coverage was outstanding (video #1395).
Mott started their next drive and was quickly reminded of Hartland's aggressive defensive play. Watch video #1396 as Jake Warner drills the fake dive back, then Pippin flies-up out of nowhere to mess up the option back's path — slowing him enough to allow Ryan Simancek to bring down him down for a loss. Great defense! A couple plays later, Jon Stevens pounced on a fumbled option-pitch and Hartland took over at Mott's 45 (video #1397).
Hartland's next drive didn't produce much and we punted away. Again, Hartland's punt coverage was awesome — led by Matt Boratynski's great open-field tackle and Bill Ritchie's assist (video #1398), we buried them down at their own 10.
Mott also struggled on their next possession and punted back to us from deep in their own territory.
Hartland had great field position after the Mott punt and Hartland took advantage of it. Runs by Cagle and Summerfield put Hartland within striking distance, then Cagle connected with Poches on a quick-slant down to the 2-yard line (video #1399). Two plays later, Kyle Summerfield found the end-zone on a quick-pitch right (video #1400). Minor's extra point was good and Hartland increased their lead to 11, 23-12 with 4:32 left in the game.
Mott's next offensive series was their QB's last of the night. Already nursing sore ribs, he took a beating by Jon Stevens on one play (video #1401) then by Mike Carney on another. You only see the beginning of Carney's hit, but it's the one that put the QB out of the game. it was also on that play where Vonn Jones intercepted the QB pass and took it to the house! Watch Jared Felix's great block to ensure Jones found the end-zone (video #1402). This put the game out of reach for Mott. Minor's point-after attempt was good and Hartland went up 30-12 with 3:28 left in the 4th.
The ensuing kick-off was fun to watch. Kyle Summerfield ran-through someone and Max Nystrand used his speed, pursuit angle and aggressiveness perfectly (video #1403). Great play, Max!
Mott's back-up QB was their starting RB. He tried a few passes, but Ryan Tackas punished one of his receivers on one play (video #1404) and Jared Felix picked him off on another play for his second interception of the night (video #1405). Felix's ran it back 20 yards to Mott's 35.
Hartland's back-up QB, Taylor Garner led Hartland on the final drive with a nice run for a 1st down (video #1406). We lined-up in the victory formation on the final few plays to run the clock out.
Final score: Hartland 30, Waterford Mott 12.
Hartland travels to Livonia Franklin this Friday to face the 5-3 Patriots. Kick-off is 7:00pm. Go Eagles!