Cards keep playoff hopes alive with win
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
The Onaway football team made a statement during last Friday’s homecoming game that they are still in the hunt for a playoff berth.
The Cards (5-3) got their starting quarterback Cortez Washington back on the field and the entire squad played like a team on a mission, jumping out to a 36-0 lead and steamrolling an old Ski Valley Conference foe, 62-14. It was Onaway’s first home win of the season, although the home schedule has not been very easy.
It does not get any easier this week with Pickford (5-3) in town. It’s a team that defeated Bellaire in week six, 37-26.
With Friday’s win, the Red Birds have put themselves in a fine position to extend their season and play postseason football for the first time since a 2012 playoff loss at Central Lake.
According to Onaway High School athletic director Marty Mix, a win Friday over Pickford and the Cards are in. Heading into week nine, they were in with 34 playoffs points in the 16th and final slot. Right behind them is Pickford.
Following the loss the week before to Posen, coach Jim Cleaver said, “We had a long talk with the guys on Monday about giving up on themselves and talked about how we need to win out to make the playoffs. I was very happy that they showed up and played hard.”
The Cardinal defense set the tone early, forcing the Bellaire offense to punt on three of its first four possessions. The Eagles turned the ball over on downs on the other one.
The Onaway offense was running on all cylinders. Bradley Brewbaker rushed for 70 yards on two plays, including a touchdown run of 50 yards. He caught the two-point conversion from Washington for an 8-0 lead.
On Onaway’s second offensive possession, Brewbaker found lots of open turf along the Bellaire sideline and went 54 yards. That gave him more than 100 on three plays. It set up a 1-yard touchdown run up the middle by Washington. He also ran in the two-point conversion for a 16-0 lead.
The passing game got into the act as well, as Washington connected on a 65-yard bomb to Zeke Nave to increase the lead to 22.
The highlight play of the game came in the second quarter when D.J. Fenstermaker scooped up a fumble, broke a few tackles and then found himself out in the open with a convoy of blockers around him for an 85-yard score.
Later in the half, Brewbaker tipped a ball in the air and caught it from his defensive end position and ran it back 27 yards for another defensive score. The score was 34-6.
Bellaire finally answered with a touchdown pass, but on the next play, special teams was not going to be denied. Brewbaker went the distance for a 76-yard kickoff return and a 40-6 halftime lead was enjoyed during the long break for the band to play and the awarding of crowns.
Brewbaker added two
It’s the fourth time, the Onaway offense has scored more than 50 points in a game this season.
Cleaver said the goal this week remains the same.
“We need to play at our best and win to keep our season alive,” the coach said.
Statistics:
Rushing: Brewbaker 20/268/3 TDs; Tibbits 4/58/TD; Washington 14/46/TD; Devin Fenstermaker 1/3.
Passing: 10-for-19, 189/TD.
Receiving: Nave 3/99/TD; Derick Wregglesworth 4/71; Jonathan Bay 1/15; Brewbaker 1/3; Tibbits 1/1.
Defense: Washington 11 tackels, fumble recovery; Brewbaker 9, interception, sack, fumble; Nave 9, Int., sack; Lucas Tollini 8, fumble; D.J. Fenstermaker 7/fumble; Tibbits 6; Derick Wregglesworth 5; Bay 3; Troy Klein 1; Paul Ransom 1; Garrett Roat 1.