A stout defense, combined with Derek Foyt’s running, proved to be the formula for a Brandon victory Oct. 1.
Foyt ran for 151 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Blackhawks shut out host Holly 14-0 to earn their first Flint Metro League win of the season.
With the win, Brandon’s record improved to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in league action.
Brandon coach Ron Gill said the Blackhawk defense did an excellent job against Holly’s Wing-T offense, which scored 42 points in defeating Linden the previous week.
‘We had a good defensive game plan going in, and the kids did a good job of executing that plan,? he said. ‘They were very disciplined in reading their keys. If you are disciplined, you will know exactly where the ball is going.?
Senior Matt Rife anchored the Brandon defense with 12 tackles.
The Blackhawks scored the game’s first points in the second quarter, as Foyt scored on a four-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion pass from Andrew Burch to Ryan Smith put the Blackhawks up 8-0.
Foyt put the icing on the cake with a 76-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Gill said Foyt’s athletic ability, combined with his desire to improve, has made him a top-notch player for the Blackhawks this season.
‘He’s a special player,? Gill said. ‘There’s not a better athlete on either side of the ball when he steps on the field. We try to get the ball in his hands a number of times. He just continues to get better each week.?
The Blackhawks played their last home game of the season Oct. 8 against Lapeer West (2-4 overall, 2-1 league). In addition to the challenge of going up against a league foe, Gill said the game will be a little more emotional for the Brandon seniors, since it is their last home game of their careers.
‘They’re a tremendous program,? Gill said of Lapeer West. ‘It will be a dogfight. They’re playing better than their record indicates. We’ll have to play tremendous defense and control the ball on offense. It’s a big game for us.?
Brandon’s next game is Oct. 15, when they host Fenton. The Tigers are 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the league after a 40-0 loss to Linden Oct. 1.