CHEBOYGAN – Cheboygan had an opportunity to make things difficult for Boyne City on Friday.
But from the very start, the Chiefs were plagued by penalties and mistakes. Meanwhile, the Ramblers made their fair share of big plays, took a double-digit lead early, and never looked back in a 30-14 win.
Here’s some takeaways from Friday’s clash in Cheboygan.
First half a difference maker
While the Chiefs (1-2, 0-1 Northern Michigan Football League Legends) started the game sluggish, the Ramblers (3-0, 1-0) made a statement early by marching down the field and opening the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Drew Neer to fellow senior Owen Hewitt for a 6-0 lead. After Boyne got a stop on Cheboygan’s next possession, sophomore Jamie Joseph broke loose for a 73-yard TD run, which put the Ramblers up 12-0 with 4:32 left in the first quarter.
Boyne City’s lead increased to 18-0 early in the second, when Hewitt scored from two yards out.
“We got some big plays early that kind of got the momentum going,” Boyne City coach Dave Suttle said. “We were trying to work on a few things. Cheboygan’s a good football team. They’re better, they’re tough, they’re physical, they’re big. That’s what we had to do, is start fast and stay healthy.”
Penalties, inconsistency a problem for Chiefs
Despite falling behind 30-0, Cheboygan refused to quit and finally got on the board when junior Killian Miller finished a drive with a four-yard TD that made it a 30-6 ballgame with 6:30 left.
Miller added a 13-yard score with just over a minute left, which helped trim the deficit to 30-12, but it was too little, too late for a Cheboygan team that hurt itself with several penalties and not enough consistency on both sides of the ball in the first half.
“You have to tip your hat to Boyne,” Cheboygan coach Bill Nesbitt said. “I think the second half we truly started to believe in each other. In the first half I think we were hoping, and in the second half we believed, and I think that was the difference. It’s more of a mindset there as well. I challenged them at halftime because I didn’t think we were fighting enough.
“They didn’t have that energy (in the first half), but they had it the entire second half.”
The Ramblers added to their lead in the second half with a 30-yard TD pass from Neer to Ben Stanek and a five-yard TD run from Hewitt.
Ramblers the real deal
Prior to Friday, Boyne City came in at No. 3 in Division 6 in the Michigan Sports Writers football rankings, and they certainly played like it – especially defensively – during an impressive half.
Being on the road in a challenging league matchup, the Ramblers passed with flying colors.
“When you can get wins and continue to get better, it’s always a great feeling,” Suttle said. “3-0 is fantastic.”
Cheboygan travels to Elk Rapids in Week 4, while Boyne City faces Kingsley.
Cheboygan Offensive Leaders: Killian Miller (46 yards rushing, two touchdowns), Nolan Schley (85 yards passing; 27 yards rushing), Mason Johnson (31 yards receiving).
Cheboygan Defensive Leaders: Daniel Harke (nine tackles), Eli Chase (eight tackles), Devin Fuller (seven tackles, sack), Troy Wichlacz (seven tackles), Nolan Schley (six tackles), Killian Miller (six tackles), Jerzi Mix (five tackles), David Chase (four tackles, two sacks, fumble recovery), Landon Gahn (four tackles, fumble recovery), Mason Johnson (interception, two tackles).
Boyne City Offensive Leaders: Drew Neer (134 yards passing, two touchdowns), Jamie Joseph (108 yards rushing, one touchdown), Owen Hewitt (38 yards rushing, two touchdowns; 24 yards receiving, one touchdown), Ben Stanek (78 yards receiving, one touchdown).
Boyne City Defensive Leaders: Hyker McKenney (10 tackles), Bruyn Hauger (five tackles), Ben Stanek (three tackles, fumble recovery), Brayden Joyce (interception).
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan football no match for No. 3-ranked Boyne City Ramblers in home defeat
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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