One goal down, one more to go for the Goodrich varsity football team.
The Martians ended a 31-year drought between league championships when they defeated host Byron 35-12 Oct. 17, clinching at least a share of the Genesee Area Conference Red Division championship. Goodrich, which is now 5-3 overall and 4-1 in league play, clinched their first league title since they shared the Suburban League title with Linden in 1972.
Goodrich took a four-game winning streak into their season finale Oct. 24 against Yale. After missing the state playoffs last year, the Martians can clinch their fourth playoff berth in five years with a win.
Once again, Kirk Elsworth provided a lot of the highlights for the Martians, scoring four touchdowns and rushing for 201 yards. The Martians rolled up 351 yards of total offense, including 325 on the ground.
Elsworth scored all his touchdowns in the first half as the Martians staked a 28-6 halftime lead. The junior running back scored on touchdown runs of 47, 60 and three yards, and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Matt Hill.
Hill capped off the Goodrich scoring in the third quarter on a six-yard touchdown run. He also converted five point-after attempts.
The Martians also stepped it up on defense against the Eagles, as Mark Bourassa (who led the team with 12 tackles), sophomore Dominic Rivera and junior Adam Compeau each nabbed an interception.
Seniors Adam McAuliffe and Jeff O’Mara each made 10 tackles for the Martians, while Elsworth and senior Barrett Johnson added nine apiece.