Owosso Runs Past Panthers in Finale
The Stockbridge football team could not overcome a strong Owosso running game as the Panthers fell to the Trojans 64-42 Friday October 25.
Owosso rushed for 486 yards and nine touchdowns without completing a pass.
The game was a see-saw affair for the better part of three quarters. Every time the Trojans would go on top, the Panthers had an answer.
Owosso took the early lead with a TD run but missed the extra point to make it 6-0.
Stockbridge answered with 21-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Nelson to Riley Kennedy and Micah Beauregard’s kick made it 7-6.
Another Trojan TD run made it 12-7, but Stockbridge again answered with a 58 yard TD pass from Nelson to Jeremy Pilch. He took the pass on an out rout and turned it up near the sideline and sprinted by everyone for the score.
Owosso again went on top with a TD run and two-point conversion to make it 20-14 and once again the Panthers answered when Nelson rolled to his right and hit Pilch with a 10-yard TD pass. Extra point was no good and it was tied at 20 after one quarter.
The second quarter was much the same as Owosso scored with another TD run and two-point conversion for a 28-20 lead.
Nelson connected with Pilch for the third time for a touchdown, this time from 4yds out and the two-point conversion the Noah Robidou tied it at 28.
The Trojans would get one more before the end of the half and with the two-point conversion made it 36-28.
Stockbridge opened the second half with another TD drive and Nelson connected with Pilch for the fourth time, this time from 18 yards out. Kennedy caught the two-point conversion to tie the game at 36.
The Panthers got a turnover when Zach Hann recovered a fumble. They struck quickly when Nelson hit Robidou with a 20 yard scoring pass. The two-point was no good and the Panthers led 42-36.
That would be the last points of the game.
Owosso would score twice before the end of the third to lead 50-42.
Stockbridge was forced to punt, but Dom Hamlett recovered a fumble on the last play of the third.
The Panthers drove to the Owosso 24, but turned it over on downs. The defense stopped Owosso on three plays forcing a 4th and four, but the Trojans ran for 20 yards on a fake punt for a first down. A few plays later they scored for a 57-42 lead. They then recovered an onside kick and scored once more for a 64-42 final.
Nelson had a huge game with 420 yards on 26-37 passing and six touchdowns.
Pilch caught eight passes for 193 yards and four touchdowns, while Kennedy caught eight passes for 105 yards and a score. Robidou caught four passes for 89 yards and a TD and Lewis three for 33 yards.
Ayers was in on ten tackles to lead the defense, while Lewis was in on eight. Beauregard, Hunter Thayer, and Dom Hamlett were in on six tackles each.
