Heading into their scheduled Oct. 20 season finale at Swartz Creek, the Brandon varsity football team hopes to end a subpar season on a winning note.
The Blackhawks? most recent game came against visiting Lapeer East in Brandon’s home finale Friday, Oct. 13. The Eagles scored two first-half touchdowns on their way to a 35-7 win against the Blackhawks.
With the win, Lapeer East improved to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in Flint Metro League action, while the Blackhawks fell to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in the league.
Brandon’s lone score of the game came in the third quarter when Andrew Hyde scored on a 98-yard touchdown run.
Coach Ron Gill said a key turnover on a play which would have resulted in a first-and-goal situation, hampered the Blackhawks, as well as the rainy weather, which had an effect on the quarterback-center exchange.
‘That certainly put us in a hole,? he said.
Sophomore Quin McNally played the entire game at quarterback for the Blackhawks, as senior Josh Tolan, who had been rotating with McNally, was injured in the Blackhawks? previous game against Fenton.
‘It’s a real unfortunate situation,? he said. ‘He’s worked so hard. He was hurt earlier in the year, so he’s had a string of bad luck.?
Swartz Creek, in its first year back in the Flint Metro League after a stretch in the Big Nine Conference, is currently 3-5 on the season and 3-4 in the Flint Metro League, including a 35-7 loss to playoff-bound Oxford in an Oct. 13 game.
‘They’re a very good team,? Gill said. ‘They’re well balanced as far as running and throwing. We’ll have to protect ourselves against turnovers. Defensively, our challenge will be stopping the run. Quin will have to play a good game as well, along with our offensive line.?
Despite the fact the Blackhawks? season will end after the Swartz Creek contest, Gill said the team’s coaches and players continue to work hard in practice.
‘It’s hard on the coaches and players,? he said. ‘They’ve worked extremely hard. I’m proud to be associated with them. They have a good spirit about them, even when times are tough. We’re continuing to work hard and do our very best.?