Brandon’s football team received its first taste of home cooking Sept. 2 after a disappointing start to its 2004 season.
After taking an early lead Aug. 27 against Millington, the host Cardinals roared back and cruised to a 37-6 win against the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks took a 6-0 lead in the first half when senior quarterback Andrew Burch found junior Nick Toreli on a 35-yard touchdown pass. However, the Cardinals came back to tie the game at six entering the half.
Around the middle of the third quarter, things started to unravel for the Blackhawks. Brandon picked off a Millington pass, but was penalized for a late hit, which gave the ball back to the Cardinals. Millington then scored with about three minutes left in the third to take the lead.
On Brandon’s next possession, the Cardinals intercepted a Brandon pass on the Blackhawks? 25-yard line, and Millington never looked back.
‘It was a big swing which we weren’t able to recover from,? Brandon coach Ron Gill said. ‘When calls go against you and other things happen that you can’t control, you can’t dwell on them. You have to worry about the things you can control.?
Burch was 7-of-14 passing for the Blackhawks, while senior running back Derek Foyt carried the ball seven times for 54 yards.
In addition, Gill said the Blackhawks received solid performances from Matt Rife, Andrew Spry, Jordan Wingett, and Eric Cook.
The Blackhawks looked to right the ship as they hosted LakeVille Sept. 2. ‘It gives us a chance to rid ourselves of that awful taste in our mouth,? Gill said.
The Blackhawks? next game comes Sept. 10, when they open Flint Metro League play against Lapeer East, hosting the Eagles in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
The Eagles come off a solid 2003 campaign in which they went 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the Flint Metro, good for a second-place tie in the league.
Key returnees for the Eagles are quarterback Dustin Kapral, running back Jason Barker, split end Chris Francis, and offensive guard/defensive end Matt Zeeman.