Patriot Pride

Walled Lake Western- Western running back Derrick Russell scored the first touchdown of the game with 1:26 left in the first quarter in the 20-17 victory over the visiting Livonia Franklin Patriots. Franklin’s defense continued where they left off from the Livonia Stevenson game stopping Walled Lake from crossing the fifty yard line in the first ten and a half minutes of the game.

The Franklin offense had trouble moving the ball themselves. The Patriots tried to fake the punt on their second possession and fumbled the ball on their own 39-yard line. Walled Lake took advantage of the great field position and scored on the next play with a 39-yard touchdown run by Derrick Russell. The Patriots offense ended the first quarter with their third punt of the quarter.

Franklin’s defense held their ground on Western’s next possession forcing a bad punt that only made it fourteen yards to the Walled Lake 38-yard line. Wide receiver Robert Ringe started off the series with a nice catch to the 29-yard line. Running backs Mike Gadsby and Chris Vantuyl moved the ball to the Walled Lake 7-yard line. A penalty on the next play moved the Patriots back to the 12-yard line. Franklin receiver dropped a nice pass from quarterback Brent Marzion at the goal line. The great field position only resulted in a Franklin field goal with 6:10 remaining in the first half giving Walled Lake a 7-3 lead.

The Patriots defense couldn’t stop Western quarterback Sam Welch. Welch scored a 21-yard touchdown with a quarterback keep, giving Walled Lake the lead 14-3 with 4:16 remaining in the second quarter. Sam Welch made such a nice fake that the Franklin defense and even the fans in the bleachers thought running back Derrick Russell had the ball. Franklin’s offense failed to convert on their next possession. It only took Walled Lake Western’s offense four plays to increase their lead. Quarterback Sam Welch ran for a nice 24-yard gain to the Patriots 21-yard line. Running back Derrick Russell finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run. The Patriots special teams blocked the extra point. Walled Lake has a 20-3 lead with 1:14 remaining in the first half. The Patriots did end the first half on a positive note when Mike Gadsby intercepted Western quarterback Sam Welch.

The Patriots offense came out strong in the second half. It started off with a great catch and run from receiver Antoine Banks resulting in a first down on the Walled Lake Western 37-yard line. Full back Chris Vantuyl ends the drive by steam rolling 37-yards for the Patriots first touchdown of the game. The Patriots trail Walled Lake 20-10 with 10:29 remaining in the third quarter.

The Patriots held Walled Lake scoreless for the remaining of the third quarter.

Walled Lake used a large dose of running back Derrick Russell for their first possession of the fourth quarter. Russell brought the Warriors down to the Patriots 18-yard line. The Patriots defense stopped Walled Lake on the next three downs forcing a field goal attempt. Western missed the field goal giving the Patriots another chance to cut into the lead. Running back Chris Vantuyl ran hard up the middle for a ten yard gain. After a couple of Brent Marzion incomplete passes, running back Mike Gadsby threw a pass to Justin Dean for a 63-yard touchdown. Western leads the game 20-17 with 4:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. This is why they condition in the offseason and do two a days. They do it because of games like this. This is the time that the defense needs to step it up and give their offense another chance to either win or send the game into overtime. That is exactly what the Patriots defense accomplished with the Warriors next possession forcing them to turn it over on downs.

The Patriots offense made their last possession an exciting one that ended short. Franklin started off on their on 30-yard line with 2:29 remaining in the game. Quarterback Brent Marzion first pass was thrown incomplete. Marzion threw a 14-yard pass to receiver Robert Ringe to the 44-yard line. Running back Mike Gadsby catches a 14-yard pass from Marzion on the next play. Marzion comes back to his other receiver Ringe for an 11-yard gain to the Walled Lake 31-yard line. Full back Chris Vantuyl gains a yard to the 30-yard line. Marzion come back to Gadsby with a four yard pass to the Western 26-yard line. It was third down and the Patriots had five yards to get a first down to keep the drive alive. Quarterback Brent Marzion drops back and throws a nail bitter to receiver Robert Ringe at the 1-yard line. Walled Lake’s secondary played great defense and was all over the pass not giving Ringe a good chance to make a great catch. Ringe can catch the ball so why no throw it to him? Head Coach Chris Kelbert sent in his field goal unit to put the game into overtime. The Patriots field goal fell short. Walled Lake held onto their 20-17 lead with a win over the stunned Franklin Patriots.

By Ray Finamore

Rayzor Edge Sports

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