| Novi's 400th game: Penalties, run game hurt Wildcats in 20-6 loss to Walled Lake Central |
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Chris Jackett September 10, 2009 Reprinted with Permission of the Novi News The Novi Wildcats dropped to 0-2 after a disappointing 20-6 loss to Walled Lake Central (2-0). Unable to contain the Vikings’ running game or counter their defensive adjustments, Novi is left on the outside, still looking for their first win of the season going into Week 3. Novi came out of the gate with energy Thursday night, geared up for their home opener, which served as the school’s 400th varsity game since 1965 and Tab Kellepourey’s 100th as Wildcats head coach since taking the reigns in 2000. The team’s energy took a hit immediately as the Wildcats were penalized five yards for illegal procedure before they could complete their first play. One play later, Novi was penalized for a substitution infraction. A big gain from RB Mike Brant followed, as the junior took a 39-yard run up the right side to the Vikings’ 48-yard line. Later that drive, on fourth and eight, senior QB Brandon Rydzewski completed an 18-yard pass to senior WR Justin Hopton on the left side of the end zone. The touchdown was called back however, as Hopton was called for pass interference as he pushed away from his Viking defender. Without the score, the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs after spending nearly six minutes on a 48-yard, 12-play drive. “It was a very good call by the officials. That penalty was costly in terms of that. The penalties are the mistakes that can be corrected, that need to be corrected,” Kellepourey said. “We have to improve the areas we have control over, which are mistakes and penalties.” The next three offensive series of the games were defensive showcases, as WLC’s first two drives and Novi’s second drive all ended quickly. Novi junior DL Daniel Burris had two big stops from during the Vikings’ second drive. “Our defense did a great job in preparation and had Walled Lake Central shut down. Their offensive staff did a great job later on,” Kellepourey said, noting the Vikings defense also played impressively. Novi kicked off the second quarter with a drive powered by runs from junior RB Dominic Sabo and shotgun plays by Rydzewski, including a 13-yard pass to senior RB Brett Kuhn on third down that got Novi to WLC’s 24-yard line. Following another penalty for illegal procedure on second down, Rydzewski had a pass picked off by Vikings’ DB Connor Rzeznik, who returned it 10 yards to WLC’s 25-yard line. The interception provided the Vikings with instant momentum, as they spent the next 4:56 making a 75-yard drive downfield for a touchdown on their first trip past the half line. On a third-down conversion, Viking RB BJ Buckner broke away on a 28-yard run up the center to Novi’s 14-yard line before Wildcat senior DB Jeremy Mims caught up and dragged Buckner to the ground. The damage was already done, as Central was close enough to rush up the right for yardage on the next three plays before Vikings’ QB Joe Diamond made a hook run to the left and rushed into the end zone on first and goal from Novi’s one-yard line. WLC’s two-point conversion pass failed, but the Vikings took a 6-0 lead with 2:25 remaining in the half. “When we threw the interception, I felt we were in great position to put up points. That really set Walled Lake Central in motion,” Kellepourey said. The next 145 seconds were the most action-packed of the game. After Rydzewski drew a 15-yard horse-collar penalty on the Vikings while nearly being sacked 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage, the Wildcats combined a 13-yard run by Rydzewski and a 28-yard heave from Rydzewski to Hopton in the back right corner of the end zone to tie the game at six. Viking DB Ramon Alexander, who rushed in from the left side, blocked junior Scott Standford’s kick after the touchdown. “On our first touchdown, I was really impressed with Brandon Rydzewski. He came back from a horse collar that nicked up his shoulder,” Kellepourey said, noting Rydzewski sat out the second half to rest his shoulder. The Vikings got the ball back at their 47-yard line with 54 seconds remaining after a short bounce-kick attempt was recovered. Diamond completed six- and 10-yard passes to RB Chris Kozaria before tossing a 17-yard bullet to RB Samuel Pearlstein at Novi’s 20-yard line. Pearlstein turned around two Novi defenders and ran up the right side for the 37-yard touchdown play, giving WLC a 13-6 halftime lead 5.5 seconds before the break. With the Wildcats down seven points, the band played Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” as both teams lined up to start second half. Because WLC kicked off to begin, received the kick to begin the half despite scoring in the final six seconds. Novi kicked it deep past the end zone, setting the Vikings up at the 20-yard line. Central’s Diamond came out of the break on fire, burning Novi on the ground for 14, 55 and, finally, a nine-yard gain for a touchdown just six plays and 2:20 into the quarter, putting the Vikings ahead 20-6 after the kick was good. From there, the Wildcats never really got back into it, spending just 4:09 and 3:49 on offense in each of the last two quarters as Diamond continued to run around Novi’s defense, killing off the clock in the process. On their final drive with 10:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, Novi saw senior QB Tim Hartland connect on consecutive 13- and 19-yard passes to senior RB Jim Pitcher and senior WR Jim Gurney, respectively. Kuhn’s right leg cramped up on the next play at WLC’s 35-yard line, but he was able to limp off the field after spending several minutes on the ground. He did not return to the game. Junior RB Andre Taylor rushed up the left side for a 10-yard gain and Hartland connected with Gurney for 14 yards, inching the Wildcats closer to the end zone. On fourth and three to go on WLC’s 13, Hartland rushed right for a two-yard loss, ending Novi’s day on offense with 6:37 remaining. The Vikings ran out the clock with 11 consecutive running plays, garnering 38 yards before taking a knee twice to wrap up the game. “There will be changes made. (We’re) not going to go 0-2 and not make changes. Better isn’t good enough,” Kellepourey said. “We need to shut our opponents down as well. We have to improve the areas we have control over, which are mistakes and penalties.” The Wildcats earned 261 total yards on offense behind a well-divided offensive squad. Novi ran 25 offensive plays in the first quarter, but just 26 for the final three quarters combined. Junior RB Mike Brant led the Wildcats with 50 rushing yards, while Rydzewski gained 32 on foot and 63 of 6-for-10 passing, including one touchdown and one interception. Hartland gained 49 yards on 4-for-7 passing. Gurney and Hopton caught for 45 and 46 yards, respectively, while Hopton hauled in the lone Novi touchdown and Gurney completed a single 10-yard pass in a quarterback role. The Vikings’ Diamond led WLC with 112 yards on the ground and 76 yards in the air on 7-for-9 passing. Diamond accounted for 188 of WLC’s 286 total offensive yards, with Pearlstein collecting 49 all-purpose yards in avenging a 33-7 loss to Novi last season. Novi will look to get its first victory of the season on the road next week against a young South Lyon East team looking to avenge a 55-6 Week 2 loss at Hartland. The Wildcats travel down 10 Mile Road for a 7 p.m. Sept. 11 kickoff against the Cougars (0-2). Novi needs to go at least 6-1 to close out the season at 6-3 or 7-2 if the Wildcats hope to make the playoffs this season. “Hartland has a really good team. South Lyon East really has been improved from last season. All their juniors are now seniors with experience,” Kellepourey said. “Unfortunately for South Lyon East is they are really about 1,000 kids to our 1,900 kids. They can compete, but it’ll take some greatness to do so.” Novi’s next home game is the Tastefest blackout game 7 p.m. Sept. 18 against Plymouth Salem. Patrons are encouraged to wear black clothing to the game. Chris Jackett is a freelance writer and former Novi News staff writer. |
