↓ SVL BECOMES PLEASANTVILLE

By: Matthew A. Anderson

The SVL showdown between the only 2 undefeated teams left between Midland High and Mt. Pleasant turned into the Jonny McCann show as the Oiler scored 4 TDs en-route to a 28-13 win over the Chemics. The Oilers now sit clearly in the driver's seat and control their own destiny in the Saginaw Valley title chase. While Mt. Pleasant made the plays to put themselves in a position to win, the Chemics had just about everything that could of went wrong, go wrong.

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Now there is no question. The Mt. Pleasant Oilers have arrived. In their 5th season of playing SVL football, the Oilers are now on their way to what could become one of the most successful regular seasons in school history. This is only the 2nd time in the past 3 decades that Mt. Pleasant has started off the season 5-0 and their first while a member of the Saginaw Valley League. The game against Midland High also marked their 5th straight meeting and ironically, they came into the game, tied 2-2 in the previous 4 games. Midland won the first and last meeting, setting up this year as a point of contention for bragging rights. However, much more than bragging rights laid on the line on Friday night. First place in the league and a clear(er) path to the title would be the reward for the victor. Now with the 28-13 and arguably their 3 toughest games behind them, Mt. Pleasant seems destined for big things. I'll get back to that, but now a recap of the game.

At first, it looked as if Midland High was going to take control, maintain it and then power themselves to victory. They had a big advantage in size upfront and with the SVL's leading rusher, Charlie Leffingwell, they had things in gear early. After a quick 3 and out to start the game by Mt. Pleasant, Midland High moved the ball in a hurry. In two plays, the Chemics had it 1st and goal from the 8. The first was a screen pass from QB Alex Rapanos to WR Matt Alcott and then a 26 yard run by Leffingwell. After three plays, the Chemics only managed to get it to the 5 and then had to settle for a 22 yard field goal attempt, which went wide right. It was a huge dodged bullet for Mt. Pleasant.

Mt. Pleasant pushed it down to the Midland High 31 on their next possession but it was stalled and then pushed backwards on a huge sack by Tyler O'Dell. Midland High went three and out on their next possession though. Then came the first big break of the game. The Oilers got the ball back and then went back to the running game but a pitch to Jonny McCann that was never fully put away, fell to the ground and the ball was recovered by Nathan Leonhardt. Midland was in business, 1st down at the Oiler 35. On 3rd and 24, Rapanos threw the ball up for grabs to Alcott and 2 defenders. Alcott won and picked up the first down and 39 yards to go with it. The Chemics had first and goal at the 10. 2 plays later, Leffingwell dove in from 2 yards out for the game's first score with 1:21 left in the first quarter. The extra point was missed however and the Chemics' lead stood at 6-0.

Mt. Pleasant answered in a hurry. RB Alex Horton picked up 47 yards on a draw play that got the ball down to the 3 yard line. 2 plays later and the on the first play of the 2nd quarter, McCann scored from 2 yards out in the 'Wildcat' formation. Dan Pittsley added the point after to give Mt. Pleasant a 7-6 lead, with 11:56 to go in the 2nd quarter.

A promising drive by Midland ended when Rapanos was hit from the backside by Tyler Duke, causing the ball to pop loose. Marshall Livingston recovered the football for Mt. Pleasant, setting the Oilers up with a first down at the Midland 47. The Oilers pushed the ball down to the 32 but could get no further. Midland High started moving again but yet another turnover not only stopped the drive but made Mt. Pleasant's next possession. Rapanos was trying to get the ball up the right sideline to Alex Albrecht who was open for a moment. What Rapanos didn't see was Cody Weisenburger coming over underneath the coverage to pluck the ball out of the air and race the other way with it. Weisenburger ran the ball back 47 yards to the Chemic 7. 2 Plays later, McCann added his 2nd score of the evening on just a normal power football run off guard. Pittsley added the extra point and with just under 5 minutes to play, the Oilers were now up 14-6.

Midland High once again, quickly drove the ball inside Mt. Pleasant territory but stalled again. This time, turning it over on downs at the Mt. Pleasant 32. With a halftime advantage, Mt. Pleasant wasn't about to do anything that could jeopardize their lead and ran out the clock on the first half.

After a 70 yard kickoff return by Leffingwell to start the 2nd half on offense, the Chemics barely got off their first play before turning it over again, this time on the Rapanos to Leffingwell exchange. Tyler Lemke recovered the football for his Oilers at the Mt. Pleasant 29. 2 plays later and less than 1:#0 into the 2nd half, McCann ripped off his 3rd score of the evening, this time from 53 yards out, bringing down the house and giving the home crowd something to go nuts about. With 10:32 remaining in the quarter, it was 21-6 Oilers.

Midland High was able to move the ball down to the Mt. Pleasant 35 on their next drive but that's where the drive stalled but not after the Chemics almost lost the ball again. 1st on a fumble that they got back and then on a sure interception that was dropped. Instead they punted the ball away, setting Mt. Pleasant up with the ball at their own 14. With the endzone close behind, Mt. Pleasant quickly pushed the ball up on first down, with McCann busting off a 19 yard run. Mt. Pleasant was able to drive the ball into Midland territory but saw their own drive stall and punted away.

With 3:58 remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Chemics started at their own 8 yard line. Again, the Chemics drove the ball into Oiler territory, this time to the Mt. Pleasant 33, facing a 4th and 3, just seconds into the final quarter. Rapanos dropped back to pass and could not find anyone open. While he tried to buy time on the run, he was brought down for a 7 yard sack by McCann and more importantly, turned it over on downs. 2 plays later, the QB Josh Rathje hit Tyler Duke, who had found an open spot in the zone behind most of the defense and in front of the deep coverage. The quick moving play picked up 36 yards down to the Midland 24. With 9:18 to go in the game, McCann added his fourth score of the game, taking the handoff, leaping over a defender at the line of scrimmage and then making a few more miss before racing un-touched to the endzone for 6 on the 24 yard touchdown. The score and point after put Mt. Pleasant up 28-6. With time running out for Midland High, it was going to take a minor miracle to pull this one out.

The Chemics were down but certainly not out. After fielding a short kick and starting at the Chemic 41, Leffingwell took the first down hand-off, burst through the line and then in and out of defenders for an immediate answer and 59 yard score. Matt Fraser added the point after and just like that, the lead was cut down to 28-13 just 15 seconds after the Oilers scored, with 9:03 now left in the game. Midland High forced a punt on defense and got the ball back. They then proceeded to move the ball down to the Mt. Pleasant 40. That's as close as they would get the rest of the way. A penalty and a sack stalled the drive and on 4th down, the snap from shotgun went past Rapanos, effectively ending the drive, a turnover on downs, losing 22 yards in the process. Midland High would get the ball back once more but could not score.

After a turnover on downs, Mt. Pleasant had to snap it just once on offense and take a knee. The Oilers ran the final play from victory formation and celebrated as the time ran down on their 28-13 win, a win that propelled them to the top of the SVL standings. Whomever won the game on Friday night was going to be the heavy favorite the rest of the way to take home the Valley crown. Mt. Pleasant now takes with them the conference lead and the pressure that goes with it to finish the job over the final 3 week of the SVL season and final 4 of the regular season. They musn't get too ahead of themselves however. 1 slip and they will be back down with several other teams just waiting to get back into a share for the top spot. Heritage, Bay City Western and now Midland High sit just a game back of Mt. Pleasant. One thing is clear however. If Mt. Pleasant can play near their potential, as they did tonight, they will most likely be wearing the title belt in three weeks.

It may have been a nightmare of a game for Midland High but it was also a learning experience for many of the new starters on the team. They are still only a few games into the post-Maxwell era. What I saw from Rapanos today at QB showed me that he is going to be a special QB in this league. He's got all the tools, just lacks the experience that can only come with playing an entire season. Matt Alcott sat out most of the 2nd half with a possible injury that didn't appear to be something that should keep him out for a long period of time. Alcott is argubly one of the most athletic players in the entire area, the loss of his services in the 2nd half hurt the young QB quite a bit. Leffingwell rushed for an eye popping 255 yards and 2 scores but they just couldn't overcome the mistakes and Jonny McCann on the other side who was all over the place. McCann finished with 4 scores, 172 yards rushing, a sack and a fumble recovery.

Midland High will look to bounce back next week against an up and coming Flint Northern club while Mt. Pleasant takes on Flint Southwestern.

To view the Extended Photo Gallery Archive from the Big Game, follow this link - Legends Photo Archives