At any level of football, the team that commits the fewest mistakes usually wins.
That was the case during the Oct. 7 Genesee Area Conference Red Division game between Goodrich and visiting LakeVille. The previously winless Falcons capitalized on four Martian turnovers on their way to a 41-13 win.
The loss dropped Goodrich’s record to 1-6 overall and 1-4 in GAC Red action.
‘Mistakes killed us,? Goodrich coach Tom Alward said. ‘They scored on every turnover, which is a credit to them. We just didn’t play very well. We keep providing opportunities for our opponents.?
The Falcons jumped to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter before the Martians scored with 6:14 left in the second quarter. Tyler Moncrieff scored on a nine-yard touchdown run, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Jessica Engler’s point-after conversion trimmed the LakeVille lead to 14-7.
However, the Falcons answered with another touchdown before the end of the second quarter to take a 21-7 lead at halftime. LakeVille never looked back.
Alward said the Falcons? touchdown before the end of the first half derailed a chance by Goodrich to tie the game.
‘We get a stop on defense and we were driving to tie the score,? he said. ‘Then we throw an interception and they ran it back, and then we blow a coverage on defense. What could have been a tie game ends up 21-7.?
Goodrich’s other score came on a one-yard touchdown run by Paul Burt toward the end of the third quarter. The Martians missed the point-after attempt.
The Martians were slated to take on Corunna in an Oct. 14 game at Goodrich. Corunna has a 3-4 record on the season after a 12-7 loss to Chesaning on Oct. 7.
‘They’ve been struggling a little bit,? Alward said of Corunna. ‘They’ve been playing a tough schedule, and they’re a good football team. They’ve played teams tough. Their season is going similar to ours.?
Goodrich then wraps up its season Friday, Oct. 21 when they travel to Yale for a 7 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs are currently 3-4 on the season after a 28-14 loss to Algonac Oct. 7.
The two schools have played each other the past two years, with Goodrich winning both times, 55-0 last season and 35-13 in 2003.
Alward said the Martians will continue to work on eliminating mistakes during the final two games of the season. He said despite the team’s record, the Martians have not wavered in their attitude.
‘The kids are positive and working hard, doing everything we ask of them,? he said. ‘We’re hoping we can get a couple wins to reward them for their efforts.?