Football: Chemics trounce Lumberjacks 42-7, advance to take on Warriors

by Cory Butzin

The Big Ten connection was in full effect Friday at Midland Community Stadium as Spartan commit Andrew Maxwell and Northwestern-bound Drew Moulton combined for three touchdowns to lead Midland to a 42-7 win over visiting Arthur Hill in the first round of the Division 2 football playoffs.

“Our kids were jacked up, they were excited,” said Midland coach Eric Methner. “We had a good week of practice, and I think our kids are pretty focused. We brought up some of the junior varsity kids so they can experience this. They came up and gelled well and our seniors showed a lot of leadership.”

That senior leadership saw the Chemics put up 28 first half points to take a three touchdown lead into the half.

Moulton led Midland with 133 yards and two touchdowns on five catches, along with a touchdown pass, and an interception on defense, while Maxwell finished with 179 yards passing on 7-for-11 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Michael Albrecht added 82 yards and three scores for the Chemics.

“It’s only the first round,” Moulton said. “If we want to get back to where we were last year, we’ve got to get to the fifth round. It’s one of five, but it’s nice to win this one convincingly and get to the next round.”

Midland took a good first step towards that goal against Lumberjacks.

After Moulton returned an Arthur Hill punt 37 yards midway through the first, the Chemics got on the board at 6:10 when Saginaw Valley touchdown leader Michael Albrecht punched it in from two yards out to give Midland the early 7-0 lead following Connor Gagnon’s PAT.

The Chemics carried that lead into a second quarter that was all Midland as Maxwell hooked up with Moulton on a 39 yard score three minutes in to make it 14-0.

Arthur Hill fought back after a long pass from Mike Schaaf to Omari Humes brought the Lumberjacks deep into Chemic territory. A four-yard score by Raymond Bills put Arthur Hill on the board.

But it also seemed to anger Midland as the Chemics marched right back down the field.

Maxwell found Gagnon on a 44 yard strike to bring them into scoring position. That’s when the Chemics got into the spirit of Halloween and tricked the Lumberjacks’ defense to treat the roaring hometown crowd as Moulton took a reverse from Charlie Leffingwell and found Maxwell in the corner of the end zone for an 11-yard score to make it 21-7.

“I’m just having fun out there,” Moulton said. “Last year was hard missing everything (with a knee injury), but coming out here I just tried to do the best I could.”

That seemed to be enough with 55 seconds left as Maxwell found Moulton on a crossing route that Moulton took 58 yards for the score. Gagnon’s extra point made it 28-7 going into the half.

“(Our offense) made some plays,” Methner said. “(Arthur Hill) came out determined to stop the run and they decided to play man on our wideouts, and we were able to capitalize on a couple plays.”

Albrecht added a 31 yard touchdown run and another from one yard out in the third quarter as Midland cruised to the win and a rematch with the Saginaw Valley Champion Warriors.

“I think (Western) did a pretty good job of staying under the radar this year,” Methner said. “I’ve known since the beginning that they’re going to be an excellent football team and they are. They played terrific defense, and they’re very well coached. It’s going to be another classic. It’s going to be a war over there, and it’s going to be fun.”

The Warriors improved to 9-1 after avenging their only loss in dispatching Traverse City Central 26-13. In the sixth week of the season, Western traveled to Midland Community Stadium and scored 21-unanswered points in the second half to top the Chemics 28-21.

“I don’t think we executed very well when we played them the first time,” Moulton said. “They were the better team that day, but the rematch will be exciting. Everyone’s been waiting for it. I’m excited for it, our whole team is excited, and I think they’re the same way.”

The Warriors will play host in the rematch as the two teams will meet on the gridiron at Western High Friday, November 7. Game time is 7 p.m.

For more photos from Friday’s game click on “Photo Slideshow” in the top right corner of this article.

Photos by Cory Butzin & Jason Wolverton