NORTHVILLE STALLIONS VARSITY CAPTURE “THE SHOE” WITH A WIN OVER THE COLTS, 30-13

  The Varsity Stallions (5-3) ended the regular season with a win over cross-town rivals The Northville Colts on Sunday at Tom Holzer Ford Field with a score of 30-13.

    The Stallions defense set the tone early as tackles in the backfield by Jaquan Crawford and Shane Rankin stopped the Colts cold.  The turnover gave the Stallions a chance to move down the field.  Running backs Rankin, Brennon Pelland and Jack Barnes led the drive, resulting in the first touchdown of the game.  Kicker Jake Moody added another 2 points making the score 8-0.  The Stallion defense, with key plays by Conner McKee and Tyler Troyer, held the Colts at bay and gave the Stallions the opportunity to end the quarter in position to score again.

    The second quarter started off with a bang as the Stallions drive ended in the end zone with a run by Jack Barnes, and 2 extra points by Moody giving the Stallions a 16-0 lead.  The Stallion defense kept the Colts scoreless with stops from Rami Al-Awadi, Jonathan Michalak, Barnes and McKee.  Barnes’ pass to Troyer resulted in a 70 yd. run for the Stallions third touchdown, making the score 22-0.  Defensive linemen Joey Minghine and Alex Ajlouny stopped the Colts again, along with Colten Frank’s two tackles in the backfield. 

     Strong defensive plays by Nolan Oullette, Moody, Alex Iafrate, McKee, Michalak and Kevin Morris kept the lead.  With only :39 left, the Colts scored their first touchdown and extra point, 22-7.  The Colts recovered the on-sides kick, but strong defense by Pelland, Ben Schmidt and Frank stepped in to end the quarter.

     The Stallions continued their attack in the fourth quarter making their way down field with runs by Pelland, Rankin and Barnes.  Michalak’s pass to Troyer  added 20 yards, setting up Rankin’s touchdown and Moody’s third kick, bringing the score to 30-7.  The Colts ran back Moody’s kickoff to put another 6 points on the board, and the Stallions special teams, led by Michalak and Morris, blocked the extra points attempt.  The Varsity Stallions defense held the Colts for the remainder of the game, with stops by Jack DeBrabander and sacks by Crawford and Troyer, securing a decisive 30-13 victory to take home the coveted Shoe Trophy for the first time.

by Maureen Schmidt