Royals, Bobcats Kick Off Season With Road Victories

Article | August 27, 2010 | By Tran Longmoore

Blissfield and Whiteford kicked off the 2010 varsity football season in style tonight. Both teams earned road victories against traditionally tough opening night opponents.

At Sand Creek, Dalton Goetz rushed for two touch downs and Eric Schmidt threw a touchdown strike to Josh Knorr as the Royals defeated the Aggies, 22-6. The Royals defense shut down the Aggies defense. Sand Creek’s only trip to the end zone came on a blocked punt in the second quarter. Sand Creek led 6-0. On the next possession, Goetz took over. On the first play of the drive, the senior broke loose for a 37-yard game, moving Blissfield to the Sand Creek 43. After gaining three yards on the next play, Goetz busted through the middle for a 33-yard gain, giving Blissfield first-and-goal from the seven. On the next play, Goetz scored on a sweep to tie the score. He then carried the ball over the goal line to convert the two-point play for an 8-6 Blissfield lead.

Blissfield added to its lead in the third quarter. The Royals began the scoring drive with good field position after a third down sack by Jake Coleman forced Sand Creek to punt from its 14. The Royals took over at the Sand Creek 38. The drive started slowly and was saved when Schmidt converted a fourth-and-two with a keeper. After an eight-yard gain by Goetz on second down, Schmidt converted a third-and-two with a keeper, giving Blissfield a first and goal from the Aggies’ 10. Two plays later, Schmidt rolled out and found Knorr with a short pass. Knorr caught it and charged four yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Blissfield added two points with a keeper by Schmidt and the Royals led 16-6 with 42 seconds to play in the quarter.

Blissfield’s final scoring drive came in the fourth quarter. It started on their 33 and moved out to the 45 after a 12-yard run by Knorr. Then Goetz broke another huge run, pinballing though the pile and then bouncing to the sideline for 46-yard gain to the Sand Creek nine. After a five-yard gain by Ean Sablich, Goetz scored with another sweep to make it 22-6.

The extra point kick attempt failed. Jonathon McEwan and Josh Knorr had interceptions for Blissfield.

The Bobcats defeated Pittsford on opening night for the second straight year, with a dominating 33-6 win.

The Bobcats ran for 261 yards and passed for another 120 yards while limiting Pittsford to 46 yards from scrimmage.

Running back Cody Donnelly ran 18 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. Donnelly also caught a touchdown pass. Kody Baker ran seven times for 23 yards and a touchdown. Forrest Grosteffon ran eight times for 45 yards and a touchdown and also completed five of nine passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Corey Roberts caught two passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Jim Bunge caught two passes.

Grant Track had seven tackles, including five for a loss. Derek Marckel had seven tackles and a sack. George Vergote recorded two sacks. Aaron Kellerbauer and Brian Tabbert each picked off a pass.

Other scores
Britton-Deerfield 27, Allen Park Cabrini 12
Hudson 28, Hillsdale 6
Onsted 26, Addison 19
Dundee 27, Napoleon 20
Adrian 21, Monroe 12
Lenawee Christian 26, Auburn Hills Christian 0
Summerfield 52. Dearborn Heights Annapolis 22
Ida 29, Flat Rock 28
Reading 49, Madison 0
Stockbridge 75, Whitmore Lake 8
Monroe Jefferson 21, Tecumseh 14
For more scores visit http://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/ScoreCenter.aspx

Slideshow

Royals at Sand Creek: Taking The Field (1 of 10)
Captains Dalton Goetz, Eric Schmidt and Eric Diesing lead the Royals on to the field at Sand Creek.
Royals at Sand Creek: Goetz on the Move (2 of 10)
Dalton Goetz runs in the first quarter against Sand Creek.
Royals at Sand Creek: Homecoming Pick for Knorr (3 of 10)
Josh Knorr returns an interception at Sand Creek, where he went to school until his freshman year.
Royals at Sand Creek: Another Gain for Goetz (4 of 10)
Dalton Goetz works in traffic at Sand Creek.
Royals at Sand Creek: The One That Got Away (5 of 10)
Mitch Winkelman gets his hands on a lose ball after a Sand Creek fumble. The Aggies managed to steal the ball back in the pile, however.
Royals at Sand Creek: Goetz Again (6 of 10)
The last time Dalton Goetz played at Sand Creek, he was a sophomore playing his first varsity game. On a long run, Goetz blew out his knee and he missed the rest of the season. This time around, Goetz had plenty of great carries, and he inflicted all of the damage.
Royals at Sand Creek: Bateson Again (7 of 10)
Jordan Bateson is tackled by two Aggies after an interception.
Royals at Sand Creek: Injury Timeout (8 of 10)
The Royals offense takes a breather while a trainer tends to an injured Sand Creek player. Blissfield's Blake Haupricht left the game with a knee injury after making a tackle in the first quarter.
Royals at Sand Creek: The Quarterback (9 of 10)
QB Eric Schmidt looks to the sideline before the snap, deep in Aggie territory in the fourth quarter.
Royals at Sand Creek: One for the Road (10 of 10)
Dalton Goetz breaks for the end zone for his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter at Sand Creek. Blissfield won, 22-6.