(Chelsea Update would like to thank Burrill Strong for the photo gallery in this story.)
The 2015 Chelsea Bulldog varsity football season is off to a good start with a decisive 27-14 victory over the visiting Wildcats of Grand Rapids Northview.
Jack Bush started at quarterback for the Bulldogs, and alternated with Justice Staton behind center. Bush is the son of Head Coach Brad Bush, who launched his 20th season as a Bulldog.
Despite two Bulldog defensive encroachment calls on Northview’s first two possessions, the Bulldog defense stood strong, stopping the opposition on two consecutive fourth-down tries.
After a rocky first quarter in which neither team could get any offense going, the Bulldogs finally broke out with a long completion from Staton to Noah van Reesema to get Chelsea into scoring position, but at the opening of the second quarter, a van Reesema field goal attempt was blocked.
Chelsea broke the scoreless tie at the 10:08 mark of the second quarter with a 10-yard pass from Jack Bush to Jacob Scheese for the first touchdown of the game. This capped a strong Bulldog drive that began on their own 27, and was highlighted by a 43-yard pass completion from Bush to wide receiver Bailey Edwards. Edwards was also on the receiving end of a nine-yard completion on fourth and six to keep the drive alive.
Just over five minutes later, with 4:48 to go in the first half, Northview answered with a touchdown of their own, on a 56-yard pass from quarterback Damian Olson to wide receiver Justin Meier.
On the ensuing kickoff, however, Chelsea’s Jacob Grob blasted past the Wildcats for an 88-yard return for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 14-7 after the extra point by van Reesema.
Chelsea’s defense started off the second half by forcing Northview to punt after their first set of downs, and then it was Bulldog running back Trey Seitz’s turn to shine. On second down and four from the Northview 42, Seitz broke through the Wildcat defense for a 15-yard run down to the Wildcat 22, and after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Grand Rapids, Seitz took the ball again for a 10-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs couldn’t convert the extra point, and led 20-7.
The Wildcats answered with an impressive drive of their own on the following possession, and made the score 20-14 with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run by Zach Pangborn, and an extra point by Jaret Carpenter.
The Bulldogs, however, put together their first penalty free drive, and with 33 seconds left in the third quarter, Bush threw to van Reesema for a 37 yard touchdown completion to cap a 70 yard scoring drive, and making the score 27-14 after the extra point by Graham Kuras.
The Wildcats responded by marching the ball down to the Bulldog 20, but on fourth and eight, the Bulldog defense got the job done again, and took over the ball on downs.
Chelsea then committed the only turnover of the game, with a fumble recovered by Wildcat Dustin Prill at their own 47, but on fourth and 10 with less than a minute to go in the game, strong safety Jacob Rhodes tipped a Wildcat pass, and for the fourth time in the game, the Bulldog defense stopped the Wildcats on downs.
On the ensuing play, Bulldog quarterback Jack Bush took a knee, and the game was over. Final score Chelsea 27 Grand Rapids Northview 14.
Chelsea Head Coach Brad Bush won’t be happy with his team being penalized 11 times for 96 yards, but the Bulldogs are 1-0, and running back Trey Seitz rushed for 101 yards. Chelsea’s defense was on the field for over 34 minutes, and the offense for only 13:34, but it’s the final score that counts.
Next up is another game at home against Ecorse Community High School next Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.
