North Branch claims first district title
In a battle of two programs seeking their first district championship in program history, North Branch came away with a 47-28 win over Ortonville Brandon on Friday night.
The Broncos outscored the Blackhawks 26-7 in the second half to pick up the Division 4 district championship and put an end to Brandon’s season at 7-2.
“They are a dang good football team. They are a really, really good football team,” Brandon coach Brad Zube said of North Branch (9- 0). “We just had a few mistakes and had to battle from behind in the second half and hats off to North Branch, they are having a heck of a season.”
The key stretch of the game came late in the second quarter and early in the third.
Following a 70- yard touchdown pass from Brandon quarterback Micah Miller to receiver Dylan Dickens to tie the score at 21-21, the Blackhawks would get the ball back immediately when North Branch fumbled the ensuing kickoff.
Brandon would get inside the North Branch 10yard line in the closing seconds of the half, but threw an interception on fourthand-3 from the 9-yard line as opposed to kicking a potential go-ahead field goal.
“We figured we had a possession in our back pocket, so if we kicked there we would be okay, but if we got a touchdown and were able to score again to start the second half, then we are up two scores,” Zube said of the decision to go for the touchdown knowing his team was getting the ball to start the second half. “We thought about it and decided to just go for it with that possession to start the second half in mind.”
That possession would never come, as Brandon fumbled the kickoff to start
the third and North Branch would capitalize. The Broncos took a 28-21 lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Will Damaksa to tight end David Petitt.
North Branch wouldn’t trail again the rest of the way and extended its lead to 35-21 early in the fourth on a 28-yard touchdown run from Jacob Ranney on a fourth-and-1.
“Our offensive line is tough and we have four guys in the backfield that can all take it to the house,” North Branch coach Jeremy Ferman said. “We are a physical group and these guys get off the ball well. We put our hand in the ground and get after it.”
The Blackhawks would get within seven again at 35-28 following a 53-yard TD pass from Miller to Jawon Slater. They would then get the ball back with a chance to tie, but turned the ball over on downs.
North Branch shut the door from there, as Brandon Martin busted free for a 41-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-3. Martin would add another score on a 17-yard scamper in the closing minute.
“They are very good at what they do and we don’t see that scheme very often,” Zube said of the wingT offense North Branch ran. “It’s hard to match the speed of what they do and how well they execute.”
The first half saw a lot of fireworks, as both teams scored in the opening 61 seconds of play. After North Branch scored three plays into the game, Brandon would score on its first offensive play. Miller found Alex Griffiths for a 41-yard TD pass.
Miller would add another touchdown pass to
Slater, this one of 9-yards, late in the first quarter.
“I am so proud of these guys. We were still able to get in a nine-game season, win a league title and win some playoff games,” Zube said of his team. “We felt like we had a good opportunity to win ( Friday), but we got beat by a great football team. It doesn’t take away from the time and effort these kids put in. Very proud of them.”
North Branch has claimed its first district championship in program history. The Broncos will now host Birmingham Detroit Country Day in a Division 4 regional final next week.
“It’s been four years with these guys and they have been building a program here,” Ferman said of his team. “Tonight was our night, but that’s a good Brandon team we just beat. It feels good to get that district title. Our guys have really earned it.”