GAYLORD — Over the course of 4 games, Gaylord’s football team followed the famous cliché of “bend but don’t break. “to a 3-1 record.
There are a certain number of push-ups that a unit can do before it can no longer bend.
Another low-scoring defensive war gave the impression that things were in Gaylord’s favor on Friday when they hosted the Cadillac Vikings in a pivotal game in the Far North for their return game, but it was the Vikings’ defense that won the day, holding the Blues up. Hecks in nine troubles in a 19-9 victory.
PHOTOS: Gaylord Homecoming vs Cadillac football game 2022
Aside from the reunion festivities, the game has had many implications; With either group entering with 1-0 records at the convention, the winner would seal at least a percentage of the convention crown and keep the tiebreaker head-to-head over the main competitor.
After Cadillac’s offense exploded by more than 40 points against Alpena a week ago, the question coming into the game was whether Gaylord’s solid defense, which allowed just 14. 5 points per game, would be up to the task.
Certainly, they were.
In addition to a breakaway practice that put Cadillac deep in Gaylord’s territory, Cadillac’s offense struggled to move football into defensive coordinator Jeff Pretzlaff’s organization in the first half, scoring just six points in the first two quarters while pitching just one first attempt with less than a minute left. to move to halftime.
However, the Vikings defense also did its job, restricting Gaylord to one basket in the first two quarters to take a 6-3 lead in the locker room.
Gaylord’s defense was never completely shattered, allowing only 121 yards of offense (68 rushing, 53 on the road), but the part of the moment brought more than the unit can handle.
Outside halftime, the defenses traded turnovers, with Cadillac getting a loose ball and turning around on attempts, while Gaylord’s Brady Pretzlaff caught his interception moment of the year, while the Blue Devils also regained their own breakaway.
However, Gaylord’s interception through the back gave the Vikings a correct position on the field, and they achieved it with a three-yard landing through Derek Rood to increase the lead.
Another quick turn put a tired Gaylord defense back in the box, and the Vikings discovered sustained success, going down to the box before Charlie Howell connected with Rood for another TD, putting Cadillac ahead 19-3 in the fourth quarter.
The profit war was only won through Cadillac, but that played a major role in the bottom line. Gaylord had two interceptions and two breakaways against the Vikings each, while 3 of Gaylord’s 4 turnovers led directly to trouble for Cadillac.
With their backs to the wall, the Blue Devils’ offense responded. Quarterback Caleb Aungst led the correct practice at a critical moment, breaking through the defense with a deep pass to Louden Stradling before completing things with a landing run to bring Gaylord to ten points. .
However, with less than 4 minutes to go, when a kick attempt failed, the Blue Devils necessarily had little time. Deficit points and no timeouts, Cadillac filled Gaylord’s offense on a fourth attempt to complete the critical victory.
At halftime, the members of the 2022 Gaylord Court of Return were honored. Members included freshmen Jaron Bensinger and Karlee Pretzlaff, sophomores Michael Cheek and Lauren Rigney, junior Russell Hush and Savannah Wilson, and seniors Rylie Smith, Louden Stradling, Gus James, Hector Gea Lozano, Maggie Galacz, Fayth Sanom, Kaija Lazda and Chloe Erwin.
2022 Gaylord Homecoming King and Queen winners Hector Gea Lozano and Fayth Sanom.
Ty Bensinger: 19 carries, 108 yards, receptions, 20 yards, 2 tackles
Caleb Aungst: 10 carries, 22 yards, 1 TD, 12 in 23 passes, yards
Brady Pretzlaff: 2 catches, yards, 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT