T-G-U upsets Mott-Regent
Towner-Granville-Upham and Mott-Regent were two teams with explosive offenses, so it came as a surprise they entered the final quarter of their 9-man second round playoff football game with just 14 points between them.
It indeed was a defensive battle, and the Titans, not known for playing in low-scoring games, felt right at home.
The Titans forced five Mott-Regent turnovers and held the top-ranked team in the state to just one score in T-G-U’s 20-6 upset win in Mott on Oct. 24.
“It definitely ranks right up there (in big wins I’ve had),’ said T-G-U coach Scott Thorson. “Our defense really was the story of the game. They were pretty sharp.”
The Titans entered the game having given up an average of 22 points per game, but used its speed to get into position to tackle in the open field and prevented the Wildfire from getting big plays.
T-G-U received a big boost from the return of senior Ian Keller in the lineup after being sidelined the past four game with a collarbone injury. His speed in the secondary was noticeable. “He made a lot of key plays and tackles for us,’ Thorson said.
One of Keller’s key plays came late in the a scoreless first half when he would intercept a pass and return it to the Mott-Regent 15-yard line with just over one minute remaining in the second quarter. Running back Trevin Hall would plunge into the end zone from three yards out and a successful two-point conversion gave T-G-U a 8-0 lead.
However, momentum quickly shifted back to the Wildfire. Quarterback Luke Honeyman would connect on a 45-yard scoring pass to Chad Mosbrucker on the final play of the half. The two-point conversion failed, and the Titans led 8-6.
“Our players realized (at halftime) just how important the play of the defense was going to be in the second half,’ Thorson said.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Titans would strike for another score, faking a dive option and going to the air. “We had run that dive option all game and we spotted a chance to go to a play action and catch them off guard,’ Thorson said.
So instead of running, Tyler Thorson pulled back and hit Brad Bethke uncovered in the secondary for an 85-yard touchdown with just over eight minutes to play.
Later, a Honeyman pass was picked off by Thorson. He then found Bethke again on a play action pass to move the ball into M-R territory. Thorson would finish 4 for 6 for 130 yards. Eventually, the Titans would find the end zone again on Keller’s 29-yard scamper with five minutes to play.
Mott-Regent didn’t have an answer, and saw its undefeated season end.
T-G-U, (6-2) meanwhile, advanced to its 9-man quarterfinal game since 2003. There, the Titans will face Central McLean in Turtle Lake this afternoon, Oct. 31.
Mott-Regent would have liked its chances if it could hold T-G-U’s offense to just 122 yards rushing. The Wildfire did that, but didn’t account for T-G-U’s defense to play such a whale of a game.
Thorson said his team is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and a lot has to do with the play of the defense.
“We know it’s another big challenge, but we’re going to go and play as well as we can,’ he said.
T-G-U upsets Mott-Regent
Towner-Granville-Upham and Mott-Regent were two teams with explosive offenses, so it came as a surprise they entered the final quarter of their 9-man second round playoff football game with just 14 points between them.
It indeed was a defensive battle, and the Titans, not known for playing in low-scoring games, felt right at home.
The Titans forced five Mott-Regent turnovers and held the top-ranked team in the state to just one score in T-G-U’s 20-6 upset win in Mott on Oct. 24.
“It definitely ranks right up there (in big wins I’ve had),’ said T-G-U coach Scott Thorson. “Our defense really was the story of the game. They were pretty sharp.”
The Titans entered the game having given up an average of 22 points per game, but used its speed to get into position to tackle in the open field and prevented the Wildfire from getting big plays.
T-G-U received a big boost from the return of senior Ian Keller in the lineup after being sidelined the past four game with a collarbone injury. His speed in the secondary was noticeable. “He made a lot of key plays and tackles for us,’ Thorson said.
One of Keller’s key plays came late in the a scoreless first half when he would intercept a pass and return it to the Mott-Regent 15-yard line with just over one minute remaining in the second quarter. Running back Trevin Hall would plunge into the end zone from three yards out and a successful two-point conversion gave T-G-U a 8-0 lead.
However, momentum quickly shifted back to the Wildfire. Quarterback Luke Honeyman would connect on a 45-yard scoring pass to Chad Mosbrucker on the final play of the half. The two-point conversion failed, and the Titans led 8-6.
“Our players realized (at halftime) just how important the play of the defense was going to be in the second half,’ Thorson said.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Titans would strike for another score, faking a dive option and going to the air. “We had run that dive option all game and we spotted a chance to go to a play action and catch them off guard,’ Thorson said.
So instead of running, Tyler Thorson pulled back and hit Brad Bethke uncovered in the secondary for an 85-yard touchdown with just over eight minutes to play.
Later, a Honeyman pass was picked off by Thorson. He then found Bethke again on a play action pass to move the ball into M-R territory. Thorson would finish 4 for 6 for 130 yards. Eventually, the Titans would find the end zone again on Keller’s 29-yard scamper with five minutes to play.
Mott-Regent didn’t have an answer, and saw its undefeated season end.
T-G-U, (6-2) meanwhile, advanced to its 9-man quarterfinal game since 2003. There, the Titans will face Central McLean in Turtle Lake this afternoon, Oct. 31.
Mott-Regent would have liked its chances if it could hold T-G-U’s offense to just 122 yards rushing. The Wildfire did that, but didn’t account for T-G-U’s defense to play such a whale of a game.
Thorson said his team is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and a lot has to do with the play of the defense.
“We know it’s another big challenge, but we’re going to go and play as well as we can,’ he said.