Football: Freshman Chemics crush Wolves

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Despite dealing with turnover problems, the Midland freshman football team was able to jump out to a big lead against visiting Bay City Central and stymie a late charge by the Wolves to take a 41-21 win Wednesday at Midland Community Stadium.

The Chemics’ offense was running on all cylinders as Midland jumped out to a 28-0 lead, and pushed it to 41-7 before two late touchdowns brought the score back to respectability.

“We talked to the kids about coming out hard this week, getting fired up, and not letting down,” said Midland coach Tim Kipfmiller. “We played extremely well… and I was really pleased with how we executed today.”

After struggling in a season opening loss to Mount Pleasant, the Chemic offensive line looked to dominate the trenches early.

And they did just that, allowing Midland ball carriers to run over, around, and through the Wolves’ defense resulting in Paul Lynch’s 12-yard scamper midway through the first giving Midland a 7-0 lead following Garrett Wallen’s extra point.

The Chemic defense then sunk its teeth in and refused to budge, forcing Central to punt away to David Walters. And Walters made them pay. He handled the Wolves punt at the Midland 15 and broke through the oncoming rush, sprinted past Wolves’ defenders 76 yards down within the Central 10-yard line.

But a fumble, on the ensuing possession, turned the ball over to the Wolves.

That didn’t stop the Chemics, though, as Lynch added his second touchdown six minutes into the second quarter from 15 yards out to make it 14-0 following Wallen’s point-after try.

With just over two minutes left in the half, Lynch took to the air and found Walters for a 33-yard completion that moved Midland into Central territory, before a Lynch-to-Walters strike went the next 40 yards for a touchdown making it 21-0 going into the half.

The Chemics looked to continue their domination in the second half, until turnovers reared their ugly head again on Midland’s opening drive.

But Central wasn’t able to capitalize against the ferocious Midland defense.

“I thought the defense played extremely well,” Kipfmiller said. “Last week, we weren’t flying to the ball. This week we were flying to the ball and had some really nice hits and we were gang tackling.”

Tyler Kuehne added to Midlands’ lead by plunging in from 3 yards out to make it 28-0 mid-way through the third.

But on their next possession, the Chemics fumbled again. And this time the Wolves made them pay as Robert Paul was able to find Robert Anthony from 23 yards out to put Central on the board with three minutes left in the third.

Midland responded on the first play of the fourth, when Lynch found Alec Moulton wide-open beyond the secondary and completed a 61-yard strike down to the one where Kuehne punched it in for his second score of the game. The extra point was no good.

Avery Chatman scored on a 1-yard plunge with six minutes remaining to complete the scoring for the Chemics.

Central added two late scores, one a 71-yard run by Stephon Hardwick, but the damage was done.

“The kids really responded well after last week,” Kipfmiller said. “We played hard last week and it was tough to lose like that. Overall, I thought we executed much, much better today and I’m very pleased.”

Midland improves to 1-1 on the season. The Chemics return to action Wednesday, September 10 when they travel to Saginaw Heritage to take on the Hawks. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.