Onaway likely needs win in football finale to qualify for playoffs
The Onaway High School varsity football team, after winning its first four games of the season, could find itself on the outside of the playoff picture looking in if it fails to defeat visiting Pickford tonight (Friday) at Cardinal Field.
The Cardinals are 5-3 following last week’s 45-14 loss at Central Lake. A team with six wins automatically qualifies for the playoffs. A team with five wins can qualify through a fairly complicated playoff point system.
Pickford comes into Onaway with a 6-2 record, which means the Panthers already have qualified for the postseason. The game will serve as parent’s night and as part of the 2012 OHS homecoming festivities.
Everything pointed to a close game last week between the Cardinals and Trojans, but the Onaway offense failed to capitalize on its opportunities, and the OHS defense once again gave up too many yards on the ground.
Will Brockman did much of the heavy listing for Central Lake, carrying the ball 22 times for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Brockman added to those numbers with a pair of touchdown receptions.
Matt Tollini threw for 181 yards – 106 of them to Rich Hoff Jr. – but five Cardinal backs managed to gain only 73 yards on 24 carries on the ground – a little more than three yards per carry.
Chris Cleaver and Chae Whitsitt paced the Onaway defense with 11 tackles apiece. Justin Gedda had 10 tackles, Carlos Bautista and Noah Bacon had nine each, and Tommy Auger had eight.
Things started off well enough for Onaway. The defense forced the Trojans to punt on the opening possession, and the offense drove the ball to inside the Central Lake one-yard line.
A Cardinal touchdown, though, was negated by penalty. OHS was backed-up and attempted a field goal, which was wide right. The Trojans responded with a touchdown drive.
The OHS offense again gained yards, driving to the Central Lake eight-yard line, but penalties again doomed the drive and the Cardinals t
By halftime, the Red Birds were down 30-8, their lone TD coming on a 65-yard pass from Tollini to Hoff Jr. in the second quarter. Bautista ran in the conversion following that touchdown.
Onaway would add a touchdown in the fourth quarter, on a three-yard run by Bacon, but by then the game was well out of reach, setting up what appears to be a must-win against Pickford. Kickoff in that one is scheduled for 7 p.m.