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Posted: 2008-10-24
2008 GAME SUMMARY: Varsity vs. Livonia Franklin
Hartland Finishes 7-2 with win over Franklin
Hartland finished the regular season at 7-2 after defeating Livonia Franklin, 31-6. Their 7th win ensures home field advantage in the first round of playoffs set to start next week.
The weather conditions were not the greatest — light, misty rain all game and temps in the upper 40's — but when you're playing for the possibility of home-field advantage in the playoffs, Hartland didn't care too much about the weather. They simply wanted to smack Franklin around and go 7-2 on the season. On the line for Franklin was the possibility of not even making the playoffs, so they were pretty jacked to win this game.
Franklin went on offense first, but Hartland was able to contain their top-rated QB — forcing them to punt.
Hartland took over and proceeded to drive down the field with runs from senior RB, Kyle Summerfield and senior QB, Chris Cagle. Once inside the 5-yard line, Summerfield took the quick pitch right and punched it in for the score. Senior place-kicker, Zach Minor added the point-after kick and at 8:55 of the 1st quarter Hartland took the lead, 7-0.
Franklin looked much better on their second possession. Before our defense could adjust, they marched down and scored on an off-tackle left run. However, their extra point kick was blocked and Hartland maintained the lead, 7-6 with 2:42 left in the 1st.
Senior WR/DB, Vonn Jones' 15-yard kick return set Hartland up in decent field position. Cagle's three QB keepers in a row kept the ball moving. A couple plays later, Cagle rolled right and when it looked like he ran out of time, he pulled-up and drilled a pass to senior WR/DE, Jon Stevens for the 1st down. (The quarter expired during this drive and the teams switched sides.) Hartland continued to mix it up with runs from Summerfield and Cagle. After a holding penalty put us in a 2nd and 18 situation on Franklin's 24-yard line, it was time for Cagle-to-Poches combination. Cagle rolled left and threw a strike to sophomore WR, Matt Poches who backed into the end-zone for the score. Minor's point-after kick was good (of course), and Hartland led 14-6 with 8:11 left in the 2nd quarter.
Franklin's next possession was cut short after they fumbled the ball away. I didn't see who made the recovery for Hartland. Hartland took over, hoping to score again before half-time. Cagle went to the air and found Stevens again who barreled over DBs like they were standing still for the 1st down. That setup a Cagle touchdown on a keeper with 4:39 left in the first half. Minor's point-after kick was good and Hartland lead 21-6.
I missed a series or two just before the half because I was having a great conversion with one of my buddies who coaches at my alma mater, Wayne State. He was there looking for recruits and I had a lot to say about this group of seniors. Good stuff.
Hartland started the second half by kicking off to Franklin. Seniors, Jared Felix (DB) and Nick Schlagheck (LB) made some great plays on defense to put Franklin in a 3rd and 16 situation. That's when Franklin's QB (running for his life from our relentless pass rush) attempted a pass to his receiver in the zone of senior DB, Ryan Tackas. Big mistake, and that poor receiver paid the price because Tackas laid him out and the ball fell incomplete. Franklin was forced to punt.
Franklin caught a break on the punt after the slippery ball was mishandled by Hartland and Franklin pounced on the loose ball at our own 12-yard line. Still with fire in their bellies, our defense went back on the field and rose to the occasion. We stuffed the first three attempts from Franklin trying to punch it in on the ground. Then, on 4th and inches with the ball on the 3-yard line, they tried to jam it on the right side...DENIED! Hartland's defense came up HUGE on that series after being pinned deep in our own red zone. The Hartland stands went crazy! At that point it appeared that all the wind was taken from Franklin's sail. Ultimately, they would never score again.
Hartland took over at their own 3, but was unable to attain a 1st down. Punting from the back of his own end-zone, Poches booted the ball to mid-field. Franklin tried again to get something going, but more great play from Schlagheck put them in another 3rd and long situation. The Franklin QB rolled right — again with pressure from the Hartland pass rush — and threw the ball into the arms of Hartland's junior DB, Ed Livingston. Great control on the sideline interception, Ed! Hartland took over at their own 21.
On Hartland's next possession, we were looking at 3rd and 14 after an illegal procedure call. A sprint-right pass play was called, but our receivers were covered, so Cagle took off down the field...WAY down the field. He cut-back against the grain, made some poor defenders miss, then alertly followed some key lead blockers before being brought down on Franklin's 15. Great run, Chris! A few plays (and a few penalties) later both teams switched sides to start the 4th quarter and Hartland continued their drive. Cagle threw an in route to Poches that put us close to the 1st-down marker, but not close enough. Minor came out to attempt a 25-yard field goal and nailed it. Hartland led 24-6 with 11:05 left in the 4th quarter.
Franklin was able to move the ball little on their next possession, thanks in part to a bad pass interference call against Hartland. Franklin completed a couple of passes, then started to self-destruct with penalties of their own. The senior-led defense added to Franklin's frustration. Jake Warner, Josh Theis, Jon Stevens, and Nick Schlagheck all closed-in and overwhelmed the Franklin QB — causing him to fumble. Schlagheck recovered the fumble on Franklin's own 38-yard line with 8:01 left in the game.
Although Summerfield saw most of the action at RB, senior WR/DB, Carson Pippin entered the game as back-up to Kenwell who missed the game with a head injury. Pippin's speed was a perfect compliment to Summerfield's power — and the defense was caught off-guard. Pippin ran the ball twice for the 1st down and just when the defense started to adjust and key on him, Cagle kept a fake to Pippin and ran for an 8-yard gain. Then on 2nd and 2, it was Pippin again on a pitch-right. He got the corner of the end-zone so fast that everyone looked either confused or stunned. Clearly, they were not prepared to defend Pippin's break-neck speed to the corner. Even us in the Hartland stands we're like, "Holy crap, Carson!" Minor's kick was good and Hartland went up 31-6 with 6:18 left in the game.
Franklin's woes continued as they fumbled the ensuing kick-off. I missed (again!) who recovered for Hartland, but he put us in great field position. Our drive didn't last long — we fumbled the ball right back to Franklin at mid-field.
Franklin's next possession again was marred with penalties. The Hartland defense continued to play tough — denying Franklin a 1st down and ultimately forcing them to turn the ball over on downs.
Junior back-up QB, Taylor Garner and a whole host of fresh players entered the game to finish-off Franklin with under five minutes to go in the contest. After burning-up some time on the clock, Hartland punted the ball to Franklin.
Franklin moved the ball a little on their last drive, but Hartland continued to pound them with big hits from Ed Livingston and Jake Ostrowski. Hartland stuck a fork in Franklin on the last play of that drive (and the game) when Ed Livingston picked-off the Franklin QB in the end-zone and ran it back to mid-field as time ran out. Game over! Hartland wins, 31-6.
GO EAGLES!