Let me say for anyone who heard me on the Pre-Game Tailgate Show on 102.1, I'm a little shocked by this score. I thought the Bearcats were primed to take this one, but the Pirates came motivated and ready to play.
Harbor Beach jumped to a 13-0 lead quickly and I remarked to Coach Korbel that the offense looked more explosive than I've seen all season. He remarked that the player's were pumped up and really wanted this one... and it showed.
It seemed like every time the team was in trouble they took it to a whole other level. A pick late in the second quarter, which led to a go ahead score or plugging up the lanes when Ubly tried to run the ball.
Here are some of my impressions, please feel free to agree or disagree with me:
It looked like Ubly's offense got conservative again. I know the saying is that in the Thumb, games are won btween the tackles, but a lot of Ubly's success recently has been when they went outside and ran more sweep type plays. For the most part, they stayed within the tackles again and I think it stymied the offense.
Sorenson was the mobile QB. I've only seen Tom Sorenson run a few times this year before yesterday's game and never the way he did against Ubly. Coach Schelke said it was something they were working on with him for awhile (sounds like USA's Brandon Bitzer and the spread), but it wasn't a trick they were keeping up their sleeves for Ubyl, it was just something they really haven't had the opporutnity to utilize as much.
Kaufman on the other hand, was held in check accept for a few big plays. HB's d-line and linebackers got good penetration and were able to stop him for a loss on a bunch of plays. They also forced a couple of hurries for Kaufman, who I don't think completed a pass all night.
Holding's Ubly pass game in check was a huge accomplishment for HB since they were without Eric Wilson, a tough defender in the secondary, who injured his hamstring against W-P. In another injury update, Brion Gornowich was not cleared to play as his break wasn't healed enough at this point.
The mohawks. Some of Ubly's players got mohawks for team unity, including Kaufman, who had the best one as it was a m-hawk but also curly, what I would call a mo-fro.
They didn't stay. Here is topic burning it up on other blogs, so I'll mention it. Uby didn't staty to watch HB get their trophy. There is no rule that says they have to, but it is a tradition and good sportsmanship to do so. In over five years of covering high school sports, I've only see this happen a handful of times when a title is being decided between a pir of area teams. I'm a little suprised and disspaointed that Ubly didn't stay... I'll leave it at that. Feel free to share your thoughts on that one and anything else I've commented on.
8 years ago
