Kirk Elsworth made the most of his 10 carries Sept. 2 against visiting Atherton.
The Goodrich senior running back tallied 290 yards on those carries, scoring five touchdowns ? all in the first half ? as the Martians routed the Wolverines 49-0, improving to 2-0 on the season.
Goodrich coach Tom Alward said Elsworth’s ability, combined with the play of the Martians? offensive line, contributed to Elsworth’s big day.
‘We blocked very well for him and gave him some very nice holes,? Alward said. ‘He’s just very special and has great vision.?
The Martians started out the game in solid field position, as Elsworth returned the opening kickoff to the Goodrich 40. Elsworth capped the Martians? opening drive with a 23-yard touchdown run with 10:05 left in the first to put the Martians up 7-0.
About five minutes later, Elsworth added his second touchdown of the game, this time from 22 yards, as the Martians took a 14-0 lead.
With 1:53 left in the first, the Martians got the ball back on their own 10-yard line. Elsworth then broke free for an apparent 90-yard touchdown run, but the score was called back when the Martians were called for a blocking below the waist penalty. The 15-yard infraction was assessed from the spot of the foul, putting the ball at the Atherton 36.
Not to be deterred, Elsworth then scored a 36-yard touchdown run on the next play, giving Goodrich a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
About halfway into the second quarter, the Martians struck again. Senior quarterback Keith Brotherton connected with junior wide receiver Eric Hughes on a 27-yard pass, putting the ball at the Atherton 27.
Elsworth then scored his fourth touchdown with 6:43 left in the second, this time from 20 yards out, giving Goodrich a 28-0 lead. He then capped his day with a 63-yard touchdown run with 4:21 left in the second as Goodrich went up 35-0.
Atherton’s biggest threat of the game came late in the second, as the Wolverines? John Scott ran 41 yards to the Goodrich 20 before being tackled by the Martians? Andy Bohlen (one of his 15 tackles on the day).
However, the Wolverines could not convert on fourth down from the Goodrich 15 with 2:50 left in the half, and the Martians went to the locker room firmly in command of the game.
In the third quarter, Adam Compeau scored on a 12-yard touchdown run with 2:12 left in the period to put the Martians up 42-0.
On the ensuing possession, Goodrich’s Mark Bourassa intercepted an Atherton pass and returned it to the Wolverines? 5-yard line. That set up a one-yard touchdown run by the Martians? Joe Leppek with nine seconds left in the third, capping off the Goodrich scoring.
The Martians? offensive exploits have complemented a defense that has not allowed a point in its two games this year.
‘We’ve been very aggressive and tackling pretty well,? Alward said. ‘As long as we do that, it will be hard for other teams to score on us. We certainly haven’t been without mistakes. Hopefully, we’ll improve and be even harder to score on.?
After traveling to Hamady for a Sept. 10 showdown, the Martians return home Sept. 17 for their Homecoming game against Byron at 7 p.m. The Eagles are looking to bounce back from a subpar 2003 season, in which they went 3-6 overall and 0-5 in the Genesee Area Conference Red Division.
As of press time, the Eagles are 1-1 on the season after defeating Genesee 20-6 on Sept. 2. Byron is led by running backs Brandon Marks and Dylan Weisbarth.