By Devlin Francis ’15 | Staff Writer

Winning their fourth straight game this season, the South Varsity Football team defeated L’Anse Creuse 36-7 on Friday Oct. 18.

With the win, the team also got a share of the MAC Blue Division Title, with L’Anse Creuse North, Head Coach Tim Brandon said.

“I’m very proud of the kids,” said Brandon. “We wheeled off the four in a row that we needed and now we’re MAC Blue Champs.”South showed hardly any signs of weakness with the offense scoring 29 points. The defense was also very strong, scoring 7, and holding L’Anse Creuse scoreless until they scored a touchdown with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

“The kids really executed plays on both sides of the ball well,” said Brandon. “Offensively, we knew we had an advantage on the inside, so we just tried to keep them off balance by using run and pass combinations, and mixing it up.”

Richie Kish ’14 threw three touchdown passes, one to Jordan Spratt ’14, one to Pat Jackman ’14 and one to Brian Blanzy ’15. Sam Hunter ‘15 also rushed for a touchdown on what turned out to be a very unusual play.

Hunter started at the 15 yard line, before being chased back to the 30 yard line by multiple defenders. From there he turned around and ran straight for the endzone, plunging in for a touchdown.

“We were all grinning after that,” said Brandon. “Sammy’s a great runner, and you don’t see something like that usual, so it was interesting and fun to watch.”

South dominated defensively for almost the entire game. Captain Bennett Jackson ’14 picked off a L’Anse Creuse throw to stop a drive in the last minute of the first half, while the unit also score a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the endzone.

“Overall the defense played well, and I’m happy with outcome,” said Defensive Coordinator Chad Hepner. “We have a few small things to work on, but all around they played well.”

L’Anse Creuse eventually scored with just over five minutes left in the game, as a result of South lacking in concentration and focus, Captain Tristan Russano ’14 said.

“We started getting a little lazy, a little too cocky towards the end, and we can’t allow that,” said Russano. “We need a greater effort going forward.”

The defense doesn’t have much to change, going forward, Hepner said.

“We just need to focus on fundamentals and the basics to improve defensively this week,” said Hepner. “For us, it’s never mattered on elaborate schemes or that, it’s just going out and playing, staying flexible to stop opponents, regardless of who they are.”

South will take on Lakeview next on Friday Oct. 25, in the final game of their season, Brandon said.

This game will be a defining moment that makes or breaks the season, Brandon said.

With a win, South makes the playoffs. With a loss, they don’t, Brandon said.”The kids have worked very hard for this,” said Brandon. “They stuck together, worked hard, and never gave up, and I’m so proud of them for that.”

After staring off 1-3, South has been 4-0 in the last four weeks, making them feel very good about the possibility of playoffs, Brandon said.

“I have a lot of confidence and faith in the kids,” said Brandon. “I know how much this means to them, and how strong their will this succeed is.”

Brandon believes South can beat Lakeview, but will have to fight a tough battle, he said.

“This is a team that I believe we are better than, but also a team that will be extremely motivated,” said Brandon. “We just have to go out there, and outplay them for 48 minutes of football.”

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