Northville Youth Football Association

The Varsity Stallions battled the Livonia Orioles, earning a 31-6 win at Bentley Field on Sept. 12. Strong performances on both sides of the ball helped the Stallions overcome injuries to secure the victory. 

The Stallions built a 29-0 lead in the first half. The first touchdown came on first down of the Stallions’ third possession when #8 Cooper Derkach completed a pass to #4 Justin Minard, who raced to the end zone for an 80-yard score. #30 Brody Grezak easily kicked the points-after, putting the Stallions up 8-0 with 2:31 left in the first quarter. 

#8 Anton Hildebrandt then kicked an onside kick and the Stallions recovered it. On third down, #98 Hunter Stokes caught a pass from Derkach and ran it in for a touchdown, but it was called back on a holding penalty. Three plays later, Derkach hit #41, Nathan Brohl, with a touchdown pass. Grezak again connected on the points-after kick, making the score 16-0 with 11:40 left in the second quarter.

After forcing a four-and-out, the Stallions quickly scored again. After no gain on first or second down, Derkach kept the ball on third down and battled for nine yards. On 4 and 1, Stokes rushed for a 32-yard touchdown. Brohl caught a point-after pass, pushing the score to 23-0. 

The Stallions forced a turnover on downs on the Orioles’ next drive, then fumbled the ball away on second down. But the defense recovered a fumble on the second play of the Orioles’ drive. After a 7-yard carry by Minard and a roughing the pass penalty after #23 Aidan Kersey completed a pass to #18 Colin Stankovic, Kersey again hit Stankovic for a touchdown. The Stallions failed to convert the point-after play, leaving the score 29-0, just before the half. 

The second half looked much like the first for Stallions on defense, and it was the defense that completed the scoring for the Stallions, getting a safety on a blocked punt on the first drive of the second half. Injuries forced some substitutions, with Minard seeing time at quarterback and punter. 

The Orioles finally scored on their only offensive drive of the fourth quarter. After getting a first down, the Orioles broke off a huge run, with #3 Jacob Heinen speeding down the field for a touchdown-saving tackle. The Stallions stopped the Orioles on first and goal, but the Orioles scored on second and goal. The Orioles failed to convert the extra point, leaving the final score 31-6.  

The Stallions defense made play after play, forcing four turnovers on downs and two punts, including the blocked punt. Brohl, #27 Ryan Richardson, #1 Zane Ader, #52 Aiden Hamilton, and #25 Austin McGarrow had tackles for loss. Minard, Stokes, #84 Ty Stankovic, and #20 Nick Lundberg all contributed tackles. Stokes also had a sack and Ty Stankovic broke up a pass two plays before a tackle on a quarterback keeper, followed one play later by an almost-interception that resulted in one of the turnovers on downs. 

The Stallions face the Redford Eagles next at home on Sept. 18.