| 'Cats can't catch Milford |
|
Jeff Theisen September 2, 2009 Reprinted with permission of the Novi News It was opening day for football last Friday, and the old KVC rivalry between Milford and Novi had a little bit of everything. The Mavericks blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter and held off the Wildcats 18-16 at home. The game was played mostly in a driving rain, and a lightning bolt delayed the game a little more than a minute before halftime. Despite the weather, the old KVC foes put on an impressive effort in front of the drenched crowds. Novi won the offensive battle with 329 total yard to Milford's 155, but the scoreboard is the only stat that truly matters. “I was very impressed with the effort these young men demonstrated today,” said Novi coach Tab Kellepourey. “Even when we had a play go against us, they got up and they went to work on the next play. “I think that's really one of those strong qualities that if you possess it early in the season and you can turn things around ... this team is going to turn into a great team.” Milford held on Novi's opening drive and the Maverick offense steamrolled down the field. Quarterback Luke Johnson hit Bryam Miller with a 32-yard pass on third down to put the ball at the Novi 2. Miller ran it in on the next play for a 6-0 lead less than four minutes in. The extra point failed. Novi answered later in the first when a play action fake by QB Brandon Rydzewski allowed Brett Kuhn to get wide open for a 33-yard touchdown pass. The extra point went off the post, and the teams remained tied, if only for a moment. The Mavericks used a trick play to take the lead for good. On the kickoff, Nate Varilone fielded the kick before handing off to a streaking Brandon Bell toward the Milford sideline. He made one tackler miss and was gone while flying by the celebrating Mavericks. Again, the point after failed, and the Mavericks went up 12-6. Novi scored the lone points of the second quarter when kicker Scott Stanford just cleared the bar from 25 yards out, pulling within 12-9. With just 1:05 left in the first half, the teams decided to use the half-hour delay as halftime. After warming up, the teams played the remainder of the first half and started the third quarter shortly after. Milford struck first again in the second half, following a Jordan Killewald fumble recovery at the Novi 30. The drive got to fourth-and-goal from inside a foot out when Johnson snuck the ball in with 5:53. A second botched snap on the point after left Milford up 18-9 with 5:53 left in the third. “We put our defense down a few times on the short field with the fumbles, and they really had to respond,” said Kellepourey. “Coach (Jeff) Burnside had the defense ready to go.” The Wildcats cut the lead to 18-16 in the fourth with an 88-yard drive. Rydzewski had completions of 17 and 39 yards to go with a personal foul to help get the ball to the Milford 2. Mike Brant ran it in from there off the right side on second down. Stanford's extra point cut the lead to two. Milford failed to get a first down on its last two possessions, leaving Novi with one last possession with 1:58 left and the ball at the Wildcat 33. A 34-yard completion to Justin Hopton and a 16-yard run by Rydzewski gave Novi a first down at the Milford 20 with a little less than a minute remaining. An incomplete pass and a four-yard run left the clock running. Kellepourey chose to spike the ball so the field goal unit didn't have to rush out to beat the clock. The snap was down but the kick was low and the 34-yard attempt was blocked and covered in the end zone by Milford. “I stopped the clock with a lot of time left. We had a play left and probably should've used that play,” said Kellepourey. “If we get sacked or something, we're out of timeouts. “We rushed the kick a little bit I thought. It's inexperience on our behalf. It came down to the last 20 seconds of the game and we came up short with that one.” Novi shot itself in the foot several times with penalties, mostly for illegal procedure. The Wildcats were penalized 10 times for 66 yards. Milford drew four flags for 48 yards. Milford also won the turnover battle, four to three. “It was first-game stuff for us,” said Kellepourey. “It's early season with us and the mistakes are all correctable, fortunately for us. “We've got to hand onto the football and run our two-minute offenses and use the boundary better. We'll learn from these mistakes.” This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (248) 437-2011, ext. 228 Additional Facts On Tap The Wildcats are back on the field tonight at home against Walled Lake Central. The Vikings are 1-0 after thumping South Lyon 37-0 on the road to open the season. The Vikings went almost exclusively on the ground, passing just four times during the blowout victory. |
