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Chelsea wins, 41-34 in double OT, on road at Adrian

(Please enjoy this slideshow above from Burrill Strong. For more of his work, please click here.)

Just like in its opening game against Grand Rapids Northview, the outcome of Chelsea’s varsity football game last Friday came down to the final play of double overtime against league rival Adrian. This time the results were identical – an incredible defensive play by a Bulldog defender to end the game. Final score, Chelsea 41 Adrian 34.

The game did not start out well for the visiting Bulldogs. On the second play from scrimmage, an Adrian defender scooped up a Chelsea fumble and took it 14 yards for quick score and a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the game. Chelsea took the ensuing kickoff and drove down the field. Noah van Reesema kicked a 28-yard field goal to get Chelsea on the board.

Chelsea’s defense controlled the Maples for the balance of the first half forcing numerous punts.  Meanwhile the Bulldog offense mixed an efficient run game with well-timed passing to rack up 21 unanswered points.

Ty Nelson returned to action after an injury last week and scored on a 4-yard run late in the first quarter. Van Reesema added the point after. On its next possession, sophomore QB Jack Bush scored from a yard out and the point after was good making it 17-7. After a Maple 3 and out, Nelson was on the move again with a 65-yard TD run and Chelsea went into halftime leading 24-7.

The two teams traded punts to start the second half and another Adrian drive was stopped by a Cam Cooper interception, his 4th of the season. The Bulldogs made a costly turnover in their next possession as Adrian recovered a fumble on Chelsea’s 15-yard line. The Maples cashed in 4 plays later cutting the lead to 10. On the very next series, a Maple defender picked off a Bulldog pass and returned it 60 yards for the score. The extra point made it a 3-point lead for Chelsea. After holding Chelsea and forcing a punt, Adrian was marching again and 12 plays later scored to take its first lead of the game. However, the Bulldogs were able to smother the point after attempt keeping the margin at 3 with time for one final drive.

Chelsea marched down the field behind some hard-nosed running by Nelson. The drive stalled at the Maples 8 with seconds remaining when van Reesema nailed a 25-yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Adrian took the ball first and scored on its third play. The extra point was good. Chelsea had 4 downs to counter with a TD to keep the game tied. After losing 7 yards on its first play and another 5 yards after a false start penalty, QB Justice Staton scrambled out of the pocket and found van Reesema in the back of the end zone for the 22-yard scoring strike and the teams headed for a second overtime.

The Bulldogs started on offense this time and scored on its first play as senior Kenny McDowell raced around end on a 10-yard run and van Reesema split the uprights for the point after. Chelsea’s defense then dug in, twice stopping the Maples inside the 2-yard line. On 4th and goal junior defensive back Ryan Stasiak batted down a pass in the corner of the end zone to seal the victory.

Nelson finished the game with 32 carries for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bush and Staton combined to throw for 148 yards and a TD. The defense was led by leading tackler Mason Bailey, Grant Ortbring with 3 sacks and a pass break up, and Cooper with an interception.

Chelsea travels to Ypsilanti Lincoln this Friday for an SEC showdown for first place against the Rail Splitters. Game starts at 7 p.m.

 

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