Royals Blast Bobcats, 39-6

OTTAWA LAKE – From the first snap of the game, it was clear who the better team was in Blissfield’s 39-6 win at Ottawa Lake.

Dalton Goetz rushed four touchdown runs of six, 17, seven and nine yards to lead the Royals. Blake Haupricht scored on a five-yard run and Blissfield carried a 39-0 lead in the first half.

On the first play from scrimmage, Josh Knorr put the Bobcats on their heels. Knorr took the handoff from QB Eric Schmidt and stormed through a gaping hole created by the big, young offensive line. It took a great effort by Aaron Kellerbauer to catch Knorr and tackle him after a 55-yard run to the Whiteford nine. Goetz punched it in on the next play and then scored on the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead just 64 seconds into the game.

Goetz said the quick start was important.

“We knew all week that they would come out really emotional and spirited. So it was an important to get the upper hand right away. And that first play with Josh’s (Knorr) run is where it all started,” Goetz said.

After a 15-yard return by Cody Donnelly, the Bobcats started at their own 30. A Royals’ offside penalty on third down gave Whiteford a first down. Whiteford appeared to be over mid-field with a good run by Corey Roberts, but a penalty wiped out the run and the Bobcats were forced to punt from their 48. Junior Garrick May caught the punt at his own 20 near the Whiteford sideline. He got a couple could blocks and then began sweeping toward the Blissfield sideline. Once there, he turned it back toward the Whiteford sideline and was finally taken down at the Whiteford 21.

On first down, Schmidt scampered for four yards. On the next play, Goetz ran up the middle, untouched, for a 17-yard score.  Schmidt scored on a keeper for the two-point conversion and a 16-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

A bad start for the Bobcats got worse on the resulting kickoff. The hard-hitting Royals stripped the ball from Donnelly. The Bobcats and Royals scrambled for the loose ball. Jacob Coleman came up with the ball and Blissfield took possession at the Whiteford 36.

Goetz ran for 15 yards on first down, but the drive stalled there. Corey Roberts broke up Schmidt’s end zone pass for Knorr. George Vergote then tackled Schmidt for no-gain. Justin Holtz broke up a pass intended for Blake Haupricht. A fourth-and-long pass for Haupricht was broken up by Corey Roberts. The Bobcats took over at their 21 but couldn’t go anywhere.  The Royals forced a fumble that Whiteford recovered at their own 14 and the Bobcats punted from their 15.

Blissfield started at the Whiteford 27 and were pushed back after a false start penalty. After a couple runs were stuffed, Schmidt and Haupricht hooked up for a 21-yard gain. Blissfield had first-and-goal at the Whiteford 10. On third down from the five, Haupricht swept around the crowd for a touchdown. Knorr scored on a sweep to complete the two-point conversion and it was 24-0 with 2:19 to play in the first quarter.

Whiteford’s next series started at their 13 after a personal foul penalty on the kickoff. Blissfield’s line closed the holes on the first two downs, and Mitch Winkelman and Coleman sacked Grosteffon for a four-yard loss on fourth down. Whiteford punted it away and Blissfield took over at the Whiteford 40 after a nine yard return by Knorr.

On the first play of the second quarter, Schmidt’s short pass to Noah Schultz turned into a 30-yard gain to the Whiteford 3. Two plays later, Goetz ran it in from seven yards out.  Schmidt passed to Knorr for the two-point score and Blissfield led 32-0.

Whiteford began its next drive at the 18 and was awarded a first down after a penalty to Blissfield for a late hit. But the Royals defense continued to penetrate and fluster the Bobcats. On second down, several Royals broke through and forced a fumble during a handoff. Whiteford fell on the ball for an eight-yard loss and punted two plays later. Blissfield started at their 32. A run by Dalton VasBinder and Schmidt pass to May pushed the Royals over midfield. A few plays later, Schmidt’s tossed a short pass to Haupricht, who sprinted 25 yards to the Whiteford seven. Two plays later, Goetz forced his way in from the nine for his fourth touchdown of the game and sixth of the season. Riley Creps’ extra point attempt sailed through the uprights for a 39-0 lead with 4:31 to play in the half.

Late in the fourth quarter, Whiteford backup quarterback Gabe LaRoy engineered a scoring drive. Corey Roberts started it off with a 26-yard run into Blissfield territory. A face-masking penalty tacked on 15 more yards. LaRoy’s pass to Tabbert for 15-yards on third-and-six kept the drive alive. Then, on third-and-six from the nine, LaRoy passed to TE Grant Track, who pushed his way into the end zone making it 38-6. The two-point conversion fell just short when Tabbert was met just before crossing the goal line.

Blissfield coach Ron Estes said a good week of practice had the Royals ready to go.

“We had a tremendous start, with a couple big runs, a big punt return and a fumble recovery. We just kept punching it in,” Estes said. “I told the kids Monday that you win on Friday nights by what you do in practice during the week. We had a great week of practice, even though it was a short week, and we were ready to go. I was really proud of them.”

Estes was pleased with his offense, defense and special teams. And he credited the work of his offensive and defensive lines.

“They opened up holes for the runners and did a good job shutting down what they wanted to do,” Estes said.

Whiteford coach Matt Garno knew his club was in for a tough game.

“I thought we battled hard, but we got a little wide-eyed in the first quarter,” Garno said. “We have to understand where Blissfield is at and where we were at. The Blissfield program didn’t develop over night. The weight program and camp and all those things take time to develop.”

He said his seniors have an important job.

“It’s a big responsibility for them. We only have six returning seniors and it’s one their shoulders to know that they are building something for the future,” Garno said.