TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Central needed a win Friday night, and the Trojans got it.
Central came in riding low on a three-game losing streak, but an 88-yard scoring drive to open the game provided a major shot in the arm for the Trojans as they went on to beat visiting Midland Dow, 21-7, at Thirlby Field.
“We had a great week of practice,” Central head coach Eric Schugars said, adding that the coaching staff made some tweaks to how the team operated during practices. “The bottom line is that the kids believe in what we’re doing. They trusted the coaches. They trusted the game plan.”
A near fumble on the opening kickoff almost cost the Trojans (2-3) an early turnover, but the officials ruled returner Scott Goodwin was down at the 12-yard line before he lost possession of the ball.
Central then marched 88 yards down the field, punctuated by a rumbling 11-yard rushing touchdown by Rutger Feeney. The successful extra point made it 7-0 four minutes into the game.
“We did exactly what we talked about. Let’s get out, get a lead and play good defense,” Schugars said. “The kids bought in, and we did that.”
Central’s defense held strong, forcing the Chargers (2-3) into a punt early in their drive. On the ensuing offensive possession, Trojan quarterback Isaac Turnwald looked to have a 23-yard touchdown on a QB keeper, but the score was called back on a holding penalty against Central.
The penalty didn’t do much to stop the Trojans as Feeney broke loose from several tackles on the next play for a 25-yard TD scramble, giving Central the 14-0 lead after the extra point.
“Our kids feed off emotion,” Schugars said. “It’s been a long time since we had that early lead. Our kids came through and made that happen. We’re a good football team. We just need to play like it and start the game like that.”
Dow drove down into the red zone, but Central’s defense stepped up and forced the Chargers into a field-goal attempt on a 4th-and-2. The snap was bad, and Connor Reb picked off the pass for the Trojans.
Central couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and punted it back to the Chargers, who got bailed out on a roughing-the-passer penalty that extended their drive. Dow eventually got on the board with a 7-yard touchdown with 4:35 left in the first half.
Dow had a chance to get more points in the final two minutes, but Ryker Craig picked off Dow quarterback Nate Schultz for a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead at the half.
“This was really huge,” Craig said, with his right hand taped up after tearing a ligament in his thumb. “This was a game that we needed to win and that we should win. There was no doubt in our minds that we would win this, and we don’t plan on losing the rest of the season.”
There wasn’t much offense in the second half and zero scoring, but some big plays on defense from Central — including a fumble recovery by Drew Zrimec and a sack by Kaelan Burkholder on a big fourth down — kept the Chargers off the board and wound the clock down.
“I’d’ve liked to have played a little cleaner second half,” Schugars said. “We were a little sluggish, but we had some injuries and some other things. We did what we had to do. Our defense played well, and our offense did enough.”
Turnwald finished with 46 passing yards on six completions to go along with 70 yards on the ground on 15 carries. Feeney finished with 90 yards on eight rushes and the two touchdowns. Goodwin led the receiving corps with 31 yards on three catches.
“We’ve had slow starts in our losses when our offense just sputtered. Tonight, we put points on the board when we needed to,” Schugars said. “That’s a testament to our players and our coaching staff.
Burkholder had six tackles, the clutch fourth-down sack and three tackles for a loss. Oliver Dobreff also had six tackles, as did Craig to go along with a tackle for a loss and the interception. Samuel Rice had three tackles and a sack.
The Trojans stay at home in Week Six to take on the Midland Chemics at Thirlby Field. Dow welcomes Traverse City West on Friday.
FOOTBALL
Midland 14
TC West 13
Traverse City West: West scored TD with 20 seconds left on pass from Owen Hendrix to Kolten Core, but 2PAT failed. Drew Esper kickoff return for a TD to open second half.
UP NEXT: The Titans (3-2) travel to Midland Dow on Friday.
Charlevoix 34
Benzie Central 14
Charlevoix: Brady Warchol 15 carries, 100 yards, 1-yard TD run, 53-yard TD run, 3-yard TD run; Logan Wadkins 49-yard punt return TD, 2 catches, 76 yards, 52-yard TD; Ian Moran 4-6 passing, 87 yards, TD, 10 tackles, 5 TFL; Landon Whisler 5 tackles, 2 TFL; Hunter Lemerand 2 TFL.
Benzie Central: Rowan Zickert 9-19 passing, 105 yards, TD, 13 carries, 64 yards, TD, 9 tackles; Jayden Ewing 38-yard catch; Conner Wenkel 8-yard TD catch; Tyler Brooks 4 catches, 28 yards; Andrew Gray 3 catches 31 yards; Adam Coyne 8 tackles, 1 sack.
UP NEXT: The Rayders (3-2) host Elk Rapids on Friday. The Huskies (2-3) host Kingsley on Oct 5.
Frankfort 35
Harbor Springs 7
Frankfort: Carter Kerby 7-11 passing, 170 yards, TD, 105 rushing yards, 3 TDs; Ty Beeman fumble recovery for touchdown; Tristin Griffin 2 catches, 70 yards; Eli Lietaert 4 catches, 65 yards; Owen Mills 10 tackles; Jayden Carver 2 INTs.
UP NEXT: The Panthers (4-1) host Tawas on Friday. The Rams (0-5) travel to Oscoda on Friday.
Glen Lake 7
East Jordan 6
Glen Lake: Benji Allen 4-6 passing, 78 yards, 7-yard TD run, 5.5 tackles; Fletcher Middleton 16 carries, 110 yards, 5.5 tackles, 1 TFL; Boden Fisher 43-yard catch.
East Jordan: Korbyn Russell 10-17 passing, 139 yards, 73-yard TD pass.
UP NEXT: The Lakers (4-1) host Kalkaska on Friday. The Red Devils (3-2) travel to Mancelona on Friday.
Boyne City 40
Cheboygan 0
Boyne City: Drew Neer 10-15 passing, 201 yards, 3 TDs; Ryan Spate 1-2 passing, 53 yards, TD, 7 carries, 26 yards, TD; Owen Hewitt 16 carries, 94 yards, TD, 2 catches 44 yards, TD; Jaden Alger 5 catches 144 yards, 3 TDs; Hyker McKinney 7 tackles, 1 sace.
UP NEXT: The Ramblers (3-2) travel to Grayling on Friday.
Evart 63
Manton 24
Manton: McCoy Hicks 23 carries, 100 yards, TD, 5 catches 120 yards; Jaxon Salani 11 carries, 41 yards, TD 2 2PATs; Spencer Wold 5 tackles.
UP NEXT: The Rangers (1-4) travel to Pine River on Friday.
Petoskey 71
Alpena 6
UP NEXT: The Northmen (5-0) travel to Cadillac on Friday.
Cadillac 22
Gaylord 14
UP NEXT: The Vikings (3-2) host Petoskey on Friday. The Blue Devils (0-5) travel to Alpena on Friday.
McBain 54
Houghton Lake 12
UP NEXT: The Ramblers (4-0) host Lake City on Friday.
Beal City 52
Lake City 8
UP NEXT: The Trojans (1-4) travel to McBain on Friday.
Mancelona 30
Elk Rapids 20
UP NEXT: The Ironmen (3-2) host East Jordan on Friday. The Elks (1-4) travel to Charlevoix on Friday.
VOLLEYBALL
GT Academy 3
Baldwin 0
The Mustangs def. Baldwin 25-10, 25-19, 25-9.
Grand Traverse Academy: Savannah Smith 1 dig; Eden Hadfield 8 aces, 3 kills, 16 assists, 5 digs; Sadie Brown 2 aces, 4 kills, 7 digs; Kialie Wise 5 aces, 2 kills, 5 digs; Rylee Morrison 1 kill, 4 digs; Megan Pavwoski 7 aces, 11 kills, 5 blocks, 1 assist, 2 digs; Shania Paul 2 aces, 1 kill, 5 digs.
UP NEXT: The Mustangs (11-11-2) host Marion on Tuesday.
BOYS SOCCER
Buckley 4
TC Central JV 0
Traverse City Central JV: Nathan Stawski 3 goals, 1 assist; Grey Gorman 1 goal; Evan Blazok 1 assist; Dom Reardon 1 assist.
UP NEXT: The JV Trojans host West on Tuesday. The Bears (3-11-1) travel to Glen Lake on Monday.
TC St. Francis 1
Alma 1
UP NEXT: The Gladiators (11-4-2) travel to Elk Rapids on Tuesday
8-PLAYER FOOTBALL
Bellaire 64
Central Lake 6
UP NEXT: The Eagles (4-1) host Engadine on Oct 11. The Trojans (1-4) host Onekama on Friday.
Gaylord SM 64
Onaway 14
UP NEXT: The Snowbirds (4-1) travel to Mesick on Oct 12.