The Goodrich varsity football team got a much-needed boost from a returning player.
The Martians got on the winning side of the ledger with a 31-22 win against Durand Friday, Sept. 9 in their Genesee Area Conference opener.
With the win, the Martians improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in league action.
A balanced offensive attack was the key for the Martians, who gained 170 yards rushing and 108 yards passing. Senior Eric Hughes, returning after missing the first two games because of injury, accounted for all the Martians? receiving yards on seven catches.
‘He made a huge difference,? Goodrich coach Tom Alward said of Hughes? return. ‘That gives us a lot more flexibility and makes us harder to defend.?
Junior Paul Burt, who led the Martians in rushing with 89 yards, kicked off the Martians? scoring with a 48-yard interception return in the first quarter. Senior running back Joe Leppek added a three-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter to put the Martians up 14-0.
After Durand scored a touchdown late in the first quarter, the Martians answered in the second, as senior Jessica Engler kicked a 22-yard field goal to put Goodrich ahead 17-6. Hughes then caught a 26-yard pass from junior quarterback Tyler Moncrieff to increase the Martians? lead to 24-6 entering the half.
The Railroaders scored a touchdown in the third quarter to cut the Goodrich lead to 24-14, but Hughes caught his second touchdown pass of the game, a seven-yard scoring strike from Moncrieff, to increase Goodrich’s lead to 31-14.
Alward said the Martians have done a good job of correcting the mistakes they made in their previous two games.
‘Our problem has been execution,? he said. ‘We still made some mistakes, but we did a much better job of limiting them, and that allowed us to take advantage of the opportunities that opened up for us. If we can continue to improve, we’ll be okay.?
The Martians were scheduled to take on GAC Red rival Montrose Sept. 16 at Goodrich. The Rams are currently 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league action after a 3-0 loss to Lake Fenton Sept. 9.
Goodrich’s next game, in fact, is against those same Blue Devils on Sept. 23, which is the Martians? Homecoming game.
Lake Fenton is currently 3-0 and 1-0 in the league after defeating Montrose. Last year, the Blue Devils were 4-5 overall and 1-4 in GAC Red action.
Goodrich has defeated Lake Fenton in their previous two meetings, winning 42-7 in 2004 and 21-14 in 2003. The Blue Devils defeated Goodrich 28-19 in 2002.