(Chelsea Update would like to thank Burrill Strong for the photos in this gallery. More of his work can be found here. )
We In!
That was the saying last Friday night after Chelsea dismantled their rivals to the east, Dexter, 38-12. The win pushed Chelsea’s record to 6-2 and qualified them for the football playoffs with one game left on the schedule.
The Bulldogs used a ball control offense to dictate the tempo of the game. After their first drive stalled at the Dread 10, Noah van Reesema nailed a 24-yard field goal to start the scoring. Four minutes later Ty Nelson capped a long scoring drive with a 3-yard TD putting the Bulldogs up 10-0.
Dexter was able to get on the score board on a 20-yard interception return for score, but the extra point was smothered keeping the score at 10-6.
The Bulldogs took the kickoff and drove down field scoring on a 9-yard pass from Justice Staton to van Reesema who also added the point after. The Dreads made the game interested scoring on a 74-yard pass play but Chelsea answered again a minute later when Nelson burst through the line and scored from 33 yards out. The half ended with Chelsea up 24-12.
The Bulldogs opened the second half on offense and again controlled the line of scrimmage, and the opening drive ended with Nelson scoring his third TD of the night on a 36-yard run.
Meanwhile, the Chelsea defense lead by seniors Mason Bailey, Grant Ortbring, Tim Johnson, Kolton Savery, Brian Evans and Jacob Dobberstien forced numerous Dexter punts and held Dexter to 81 yards rushing. Senior Alonso Taylor and junior Ryan Stasiak each had interceptions.
Chelsea finished the scoring in the 4th quarter. After a 53-yard punt by Ortbring pinned Dexter inside it’s own 5, the defense again forced a 3 and out. Chelsea then put together a 6-play scoring drive capped off when Staton hit van Reesema for a 22-yard scoring strike. Van Reesema’s point after made the final score 38-12.
On offense Chelsea racked up over 400 yards. A total of 8 Bulldogs had rushing yards lead by Nelson with 147, Trey Sietz with 65 and senior Daniel Klink with 26. Staton was 10-14 passing for 132 yards and 2 TD’s.
Chelsea players exited the jubilant post game locker room wearing t-shirts with the simple phrase “We In”. The Bulldogs will host Haslett for senior night next Friday at home with kick off at 7 p.m.
The team will find out their first round playoff opponent on Sunday, Oct. 26 during the MHSAA High School Play Off Show on Fox Detroit.
