Harrison outlasts rival Farwell in exciting gridiron matchup

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

Through the first two quarters of play it looked like it might be a relatively easy win for the Harrison football team on Friday. It turned into anything but, as host Farwell figured things out, turning what had been a three-score game at the half into a nailbiter by the time the fourth quarter rolled around.

Fortunately for the Hornets though, they figured things out again in the final frame, regaining control in what was a 54-32 Jack Pine Conference victory; a win that also gave Harrison possession of the ‘Battle Axe’.

“The first half, I couldn’t have been happier,” Harrison head coach Jamie Lipovsky said of what was the program’s 300^th win. “I thought we did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage and doing what we wanted to do offensively and defensively we kept them in check. Things changed pretty quickly in the second half.”

The Hornets rolled to a 30-6 lead at the half, but the Eagles regrouped to make a game of it. On their first possession of the third quarter, Hayden Roberts scored from 35-yards out to make it 30-14. Harrison fumbled the ball away on their ensuing drive, and that allowed Farwell to get an eight-yard touchdown run by Alan Esterline, and it was 30-20.

The Hornets answered with a touchdown to put their lead back to 38-20, but Farwell scored twice before the third would end, pulling within 38-32.

Ayden Barkley broke free on a 70-yard counter, putting the Eagles in the redzone; and Esterline finished the drive off with a one-yard touchdown plunge. A quick stop for the Farwell defense led to another score on offense, this time from Roberts, who romped in from 15 yards out.

“The slow start can be attributed to a Harrison coming ready to play, and we made some mistakes that gave them all the momentum,” Farwell head coach Travis Waddell said. “The third quarter we flipped the script and were able to get some big scores and momentum, pulling to within six.”

Harrison used its special teams to help regain momentum. Aiden Brewer hauled in the ensuing kickoff, then put on the moves and showed off his speed from there, returning it all the way for a 70-yard touchdown run.

The Hornets then attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Nyxon Rhodes. The Hornets then iced the game later in the drive, getting a 32-yard touchdown run from Brewer.

“We felt like getting the touchdown on a kickoff return was a momentum changer, and we thought if we are going to change the momentum lets change it massively,” Lipovsky said of attempting the onside kick. “I think it surprised them as well. Farwell was doing a good job moving the football and we wanted to keep it out of their hands.”

The game started off with a quick 16-0 lead for the Hornets, who scored on their first two possessions. The Eagles answered with an Esterline three-yard touchdown pass to Dekklyn Hect, and it was 16-6. The Hornets scored twice in the second quarter to make it 30-6 at the break.

“Very happy the kids were able to pull it out, credit to Farwell and their coaching staff and their kids, they mounted a great comeback and did a great job of getting themselves back in the game,” Lipovsky said. “We challenged the kids after the third quarter to pick it up and finish the game like we know how to finish games, and I thought they responded well from that point.”

Harrison was led by Brewer, who on top of the kickoff return for touchdown rushed 13 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Collin Dennis had 76 yards and one score on 10 carries, Matt Latunski ran six times for 65 yards and a score, Rhodes added 43 yards on five touches, Clayten Austin ran twice for 25 yards, and Ray Cosgrove had 13 yards and one touchdown on seven attempts.

1. Latunski was also three-of-four passing for 26 yards, completing passes to Rhodes for 11 yards, Parker Latunski for nine yards and Dennis for six yards.

The Hornet defense had M. Latunski and Alex Jansen both get 10 tackles, Daniel Seefeld had seven, P. Latunski tracked down six, Dominic Stump had five tackles and Cosgrove and Cooper Whittaker had four tackles each.

“I was happy with how things turned out at the end,” Lipovsky said. “It was a little scary in the middle of the second half, but the kids did a good job finishing. It was a good way to finish it off, it got close and then our kids took control at that point.”

Harrison (6-1 overall, 3-1 Jack Pine) has their crossover game on Friday, when they host Shepherd (5-2, 3-2). The BlueJays had a forfeit win over Standish-Sterling last week, and last played on Oct. 2 in what was a 34-28 victory over Clare.

“The lower division has struggled playing the upper division the last couple of years, we are 0-12 right now in the crossover games,” Lipovsky said. “Shepherd is Division 5 so they are a couple divisions bigger than us, they have a couple good running backs and a couple good receivers and some big offensive and defensive lineman. It will be a tall task, they’ve beaten Clare and Ogemaw Heights, and we know that they are going to be good, but I like to think our kids will be up to the challenge.”

The Eagles had Aiden Barkley finish with 158 yards on 13 carries and Roberts ran 15 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Esterline ran for 10 yards and two touchdowns, and he also completed three passes to Hect for 42 yards and one touchdown.

Their defense had Braylin Bailey get nine tackles while Hect forced one fumble and Blake Sholes recovered it.

Farwell (4-3, 3-2) is set to host Ogemaw Heights (5-2, 3-2) for their crossover game Friday. The Falcons are coming off a close loss to Gladwin last week, 26-20.

“Ogemaw is one of the most talented teams in the area,” Waddell said. “They were back-to-back Jack Pine champions, and last year they made it to the Division 5 semi-finals. This year they lost two games, one was by two points, and the other was on a touchdown on the final play of the game.”

Ogemaw has a 566 to 243 enrollment advantage over Farwell, but Waddell knows his team isn’t going to back down.

“Our players are tough and we will give them everything we have,” he said. “We have 15 players on our varsity team, they have 30-plus. We are Division 8 with 243 in the high school. They are 11 kids away from Division 4 with 566 in the high school. This is a David versus Goliath matchup, and we will give everything we have. I am proud of our young men and believe in their abilities.”

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