Red Raiders Respond to Coach's Challenge
After getting beat by Ubly 49-14 in week two, Marlette Head Coach Dennis Lester challenged his team to perform better. The team responded by beating eight ranked Reese by a score of 21-6.
"We challenged them this week," said Lester. "If you saw our team last week and then this week, it was not the same team. The guys stepped up. This is a big win for our program."
Marlette's defense stepped up to the challenge to holding the Reese offense to only six points. They were averaging 49 points per game. The defense also made the Rockets commit five turnovers, all coming on fumbles.
"When you get turnovers, that changes the whole momentum," said Lester. "A lot of those were forced on our hits."
"You have to possess the football to win, and we gave it away," commented Reese Head Coach Bob Saylor.
After a scoreless first quarter, Marlette quarterback Jordan Hayward found receiver John Bishop in the end zone from 19 yards just two minutes into the second quarter. After the conversion kick by Brent Speer was good Marlette lead 7-0. Hayward would finish the night with six completions on 11 attempts for 48 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 31 yards. Bishop ran for 73 yards, while hauling in two balls for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Reese would lose their first fumble of the night just 14 seconds later, but Marlette would not be able to capitalize. Penalties and mistakes in the red zone caused havoc for the Red Raiders all night.
"We need to brush up on some stuff this week," said Lester. "We had some mental errors that hurt us."
The score stayed 7-0 at the half as Speer missed a 37 yard field goal with just over a minute to play. Reese was finally able to get their first first-down of the half, but the Marlette defense held firm to hold on to the lead.
After the kickoff Reese would give to away for the second time on a fumble at the 9:35 mark. Reese wide receiver Morgan Walter was hit by a Red Raider and fumbled the ball. Walter would leave the game with a mild concussion. Marlette's offense stalled giving way to Reese. The Rockets lead by senior tailback Will Tack marched down the field and scored on a two yard plunge by Tack. Tack finished the night with 16 rushing attempts for 99 yards and a touchdown. The two point conversion would fail, and Marlette held onto a slim 7-6 advantage.
Marlette's chances seemed to be slipping after a three and out, and Tack and company started marching down the field again. Tack took the ball left for about ten yards and then the ball slipped out of his hands. The ball was picked up by Hayward and returned 60 yards for the defensive touchdown. Speer kicked the extra point the score stood at Marlette 14 Reese 6.
On the ensuing kickoff Reese would lose their fourth fumble of the game and Marlette looked to capitalize on the turnover. Penalties and mistakes would again plague Marlette as they were unable to score any points on the turnover. The quarter would end with Marlette leading 14-6.
The fourth quarter saw Reese lose yet another fumble. This time Marlette would not be stopped as Hayward found Daniel Gyomory from 15 yards out at the 1:15 mark. Speer's extra point attempt was good. Gyomory would finish the night with 25 yards on two receptions and a touchdown. Speers converted all three extra point attempts and missed on his only two field goal attempts. To add insult to injury Reese could not handle the ensuing squib kick on the kick off. Hayward would kneel down twice and the victory belonged to Marlette.
Reese (2-1) hosts Vassar (2-1) next week at Vito Tutero Field in Reese.
“We have to work on our fundamentals like hanging on to the ball and tackling.” Saylor said. “That is what this game is about, blocking, tackling, and hanging on to the football. If we can manage to do that, we might have a chance next week against Vassar.”
Marlette (3-0) travels to Sanduksy (1-2). Both games begin at 7:00 p.m.
"We challenged them this week," said Lester. "If you saw our team last week and then this week, it was not the same team. The guys stepped up. This is a big win for our program."
Marlette's defense stepped up to the challenge to holding the Reese offense to only six points. They were averaging 49 points per game. The defense also made the Rockets commit five turnovers, all coming on fumbles.
"When you get turnovers, that changes the whole momentum," said Lester. "A lot of those were forced on our hits."
"You have to possess the football to win, and we gave it away," commented Reese Head Coach Bob Saylor.
After a scoreless first quarter, Marlette quarterback Jordan Hayward found receiver John Bishop in the end zone from 19 yards just two minutes into the second quarter. After the conversion kick by Brent Speer was good Marlette lead 7-0. Hayward would finish the night with six completions on 11 attempts for 48 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 31 yards. Bishop ran for 73 yards, while hauling in two balls for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Reese would lose their first fumble of the night just 14 seconds later, but Marlette would not be able to capitalize. Penalties and mistakes in the red zone caused havoc for the Red Raiders all night.
"We need to brush up on some stuff this week," said Lester. "We had some mental errors that hurt us."
The score stayed 7-0 at the half as Speer missed a 37 yard field goal with just over a minute to play. Reese was finally able to get their first first-down of the half, but the Marlette defense held firm to hold on to the lead.
After the kickoff Reese would give to away for the second time on a fumble at the 9:35 mark. Reese wide receiver Morgan Walter was hit by a Red Raider and fumbled the ball. Walter would leave the game with a mild concussion. Marlette's offense stalled giving way to Reese. The Rockets lead by senior tailback Will Tack marched down the field and scored on a two yard plunge by Tack. Tack finished the night with 16 rushing attempts for 99 yards and a touchdown. The two point conversion would fail, and Marlette held onto a slim 7-6 advantage.
Marlette's chances seemed to be slipping after a three and out, and Tack and company started marching down the field again. Tack took the ball left for about ten yards and then the ball slipped out of his hands. The ball was picked up by Hayward and returned 60 yards for the defensive touchdown. Speer kicked the extra point the score stood at Marlette 14 Reese 6.
On the ensuing kickoff Reese would lose their fourth fumble of the game and Marlette looked to capitalize on the turnover. Penalties and mistakes would again plague Marlette as they were unable to score any points on the turnover. The quarter would end with Marlette leading 14-6.
The fourth quarter saw Reese lose yet another fumble. This time Marlette would not be stopped as Hayward found Daniel Gyomory from 15 yards out at the 1:15 mark. Speer's extra point attempt was good. Gyomory would finish the night with 25 yards on two receptions and a touchdown. Speers converted all three extra point attempts and missed on his only two field goal attempts. To add insult to injury Reese could not handle the ensuing squib kick on the kick off. Hayward would kneel down twice and the victory belonged to Marlette.
Reese (2-1) hosts Vassar (2-1) next week at Vito Tutero Field in Reese.
“We have to work on our fundamentals like hanging on to the ball and tackling.” Saylor said. “That is what this game is about, blocking, tackling, and hanging on to the football. If we can manage to do that, we might have a chance next week against Vassar.”
Marlette (3-0) travels to Sanduksy (1-2). Both games begin at 7:00 p.m.
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