Northville Youth Football Association

The JV Stallions beat the previously-undefeated Livonia Eagles on Oct. 5 at Livonia’s Bentley Field. 

The game was a defensive battle from start to finish. After trading punts and turnovers on downs, the Stallions finally scored on a pass from #14 Cooper Derkach to #12 Dylan Young. The extra point was no good, leaving the score 6-0. 

The Stallions didn’t score again until the second half. After giving up a safety and forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing Eagles’ drive, #25 Austin McGarrow picked up a critical first down. #98 Hunter Stokes then ran the ball almost 50 yards for the score. The extra point was again no good, leaving the score 12-2. 

The Eagles’ only points came on the safety before Stokes’ touchdown. #24 Tyler Shelide intercepted an Eagles’ pass in the end zone, then ran it out to the two. On first down, the snap was a little over #14 Derkach’s head. He was sacked after he corralled it, giving the Eagles their only points of the game.

The Stallions’ stout defense forced four punts and two turnovers on downs. #5 Ryan Jaafar also recovered a fumble, and #30 Brody Grezak stripped the ball for another turnover. #23 Aiden Kersey had the Stallions’ second pick of the day, and #25 Austin McGarrow ended the game with the third pick. 

#1 Zane Ader, #5 Jaafar, #12 Young, #23 Kersey, #24 Shelide, #25 McGarrow, #32 Nolan Toomey, #52 Hamilton, #98 Stokes, and #99 Brayden Sparks all had tackles or tackles for loss, rarely giving the Eagles any breathing room on offense.  

Orange Crush also won the development game, scoring their second touchdown in as many games. The Eagles started out the first-half development game on offense, but Orange Crush forced a four-and-out. #11 Koen Raitz had a tackle for a five-yard loss and #7 Jonathan Salah and #75 Jakob Stuzin combined for another tackle for loss to force the turnover on downs. 

On offense, #6 Andrew Shukeireh took a quarterback-keeper in for the score. #7 Salah scored the extra point, giving Orange Crush a 7-0 lead. 

#20 Nick Lundberg intercepted the Eagles’ pass on first down on the Eagles’ ensuing drive, but the Stallions had no time to move the ball. 

In the second half development game, Orange Crush’s defense went back to work after an unfortunate interception cut their time on offense short. #11 Raitz had another tackle for loss, followed by another tackle for loss by #79 Edward Cho two plays later. On fourth down, #7 Salah and #38 Mitchell MacKellar combined to force another turnover on downs. 

Back on offense, #20 Nick Lundberg battled for a five-yard gain. #11 Raitz picked up another couple of yards, then #19 Collin Kenneally got the first down. But Orange Crush again ran out of time before they could move the ball any further. 

The Stallions are back in action at Bentley Field on Oct. 12 when they take on the Livonia Orioles.