Northville Youth Football Association

The Stallions freshman battled the Walled Lake Braves in a Homecoming game to remember at Tom Holzer Ford Field on October 1. The Stallions took advantage of Braves mistakes, beating the only other undefeated team in the WLJFL North Division by a score of 25-13.

The Orange Crush line kicked off to start the game. #6 Andrew Shukeireh had a tackle for loss on first down, but a few plays later the Orange Crush gave up their first touchdown of the season. The Braves made the extra point and took a 7-0 lead.

Undeterred, Orange Crush immediately answered, with #6 Shukeireh returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. After missing the extra point, the Braves retained a 7-6 lead.

After the Black Line came in, the Braves picked up a first down, followed by a five-yard tackle for loss by #30 Brody Grezak. After a #25 Austin McGarrow tackle on second down, the Braves fumbled, and #30 Grezak recovered.

Back on offense, #1 Zane Ader converted a fourth down, but the Stallions couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs a few plays later.

The defense went back to work, with #32 Nolan Toomey bursting through the Braves’ offensive line for an eight-yard tackle for loss on first down. An incomplete pass and a false start penalty left the Braves at 3 and 23, leading to the Braves’ second turnover of the half, an interception by #23 Aiden Kersey.

#25 McGarrow picked up two first downs, one on a fifteen-yard scamper and another on a nine-yard run. But tough defense by the Braves forced a fumble so the Stallions were unable to turn the interception into points.

With the Braves back on offense, the Stallions defense made some plays, including tackles by #1 Ader, #8 Cooper Derkach, #23 Kersey, #30 Grezak, and #25 McGarrow. After giving up a couple of hard-earned first downs, the defense forced a fumble, which was recovered by #24 Tyler Shelide who turned it into a touchdown. Despite missing the extra point, the Stallions had their first lead of the day, 12-7.

The Stallions were unable to capitalize on another Braves’ fumble, which was recovered by #21 Ryan Schuckel, turning the ball over on downs to the Braves. The half ended on a controversial call by the refs, who ruled that what appeared to be a strip-sack resulting in a fumble recovered by #1 Ader was an incomplete forward pass. The Braves then took a knee, and the Stallions took their 12-7 lead into halftime.

Orange Crush started out on offense in the second half. #10 Jurek Nowakowski returned the kickoff to the 50-yard line. #6 Shukeireh then carried the ball 41 yards to give the Crush offense first and goal. #10 Nowakowski rushed for a touchdown on second down, and #27 Ryan Richardson got the extra point, giving the Stallions a 19-7 lead.

The Stallions forced another turnover on downs on the Braves’ next offensive possession. After carries by #25 McGarrow and #5 Ryan Jaafar, #8 Derkach took the Stallions to first and goal on a quarterback-keeper. On fourth and goal, #14 Nic Slagle passed to #30 Grezak for a touchdown. The Stallions didn’t get the extra point, leaving the score 25-7.

Back on defense, the Stallions continued to smother the Braves. After a tackle for a loss, a facemask penalty gave the Braves a first down. #32 Toomey and #1 Ader worked together for a four-yard tackle for loss. After a short gain and an incomplete pass, the Braves once again turned the ball over on a #24 Shelide interception.

The Stallions and Braves then traded possessions, all resulting in turnovers on downs, until midway through the fourth quarter. #24 Shelide had a touchdown-saving tackle, and #32 Toomey, #21 Schuckel, and #1 Ader also had tackles.

With 3:30 left in the game, the Braves scored again but missed the extra point, making the score 25-13. The Stallions got the ball back and ran out the clock, taking a knee to finish the game.