Gaylord tops Lake Fenton in dramatic fashion to open 2022 season
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LAKE FENTON — What an opening night of football.
The Gaylord Blue Devils football team has been waiting to prove this year’s version of the team is different, and the Lake Fenton Blue Devils provided a perfect opportunity to do that right away; the defending Flint Metro Conference Champions, it was Lake Fenton who got an opening night victory over Gaylord a season ago.
If the team had taken steps forward head coach DJ Szymoniak and company had been preaching it had, it would be evident against a team led by All-League players in Lucas Storm and Jack Conley.
Early on, it seemed like more of the same, as turnovers and miscues left Gaylord points on the board and allowed Lake Fenton to build a 14-0 lead into the third quarter.
But that was where the changes for Gaylord football really started to show.
After they fell behind two scores, the Blue Devils mounted their comeback, with the defense holding Lake Fenton scoreless the rest of the way while the offense came up with clutch plays in big moments.
Trailing 14-7 late in the game, a Caleb Aungst to Ty Bensinger 34-yard touchdown pass followed by Russell Hush’s two-point conversion gave Gaylord its first lead with less than a minute left to go, while Brady Pretzlaff’s late interception sealed the dramatic, 15-14 come-from-behind victory on opening night.
“The kids, all the hard work they put in during the offseason,” Szymoniak said after the game. “They come together and they do that.”
Opening half struggles allow Lake Fenton to pull ahead
While things went well for both Blue Devils at times in the first half, both teams also had some miscues characteristic of early-season football.
Gaylord’s first possession seemed to be destined for the end zone, but a fumble inside the five-yard-line gave Lake Fenton a critical stop deep in their own territory. However, on the ensuing possession, a strip-sack gave the ball right back to Gaylord.
It was Lake Fenton striking first, with quarterback Carsen Lewis leading the Blue Devils down the field before capping the drive off with a seven-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
Gaylord had a chance to respond before halftime, but despite moving the ball deep into Lake Fenton territory again, a field goal attempt off the upright left the Blue Devils scoreless through two quarters despite two trips to the red zone.
Mounting the comeback
After halftime, it seemed like more of the same was in store as Gaylord’s first drive ended in a punt while Lake Fenton’s first drive ended with another Lewis touchdown pass, giving the home Blue Devils a commanding 14-0 lead.
Something had to change, and someone had to spark the change. Gaylord can credit Russell Hush for that.
Their running back had a bunch of key plays, but none possibly more important than his 69-yard kickoff return to give Gaylord the ball at the 28-yard-line and, more importantly, new life. He helped the offense move those final 28 yards down the field as Gaylord got on the board via a Caleb Aungst quarterback sneak.
Trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, the defense stepped up in clutch positions, twice. After an initial stop, a quick fumble put the ball back in the hands of Lake Fenton in Gaylord territory with time winding down. Still, the defense stood tall, forcing another punt, but an unfortunate bounce let Lake Fenton down the ball at the one-yard-line.
With time not on their side, the Gaylord offense was forced to go 99 yards if they wanted any chance of winning.
That’s exactly what they did.
Aungst led masterful drive, completing passes of eight yards, three yards and 15 yards before the eventual 34-yard touchdown connection with Ty Bensinger that seemingly would tie the game.
However, the dramatics weren’t over; after initially sending out his kicker, head coach DJ Szymoniak took a timeout, and after a talk, the offense took the field to attempt a game-winning, two-point conversion.
Szymoniak revealed after the game the decision wasn’t made by him.
“Players called that one,” said Szymoniak. “We were going to kick it, but I saw the intensity in my captains’ eyes, and they said ‘Coach, we got this.'”
They made good on that promise, with Russell Hush forcing his way into the end zone to take a 15-14 lead with under a minute left.
Big time players make big time plays
The game wasn’t over, however, and a Lake Fenton kickoff return into Gaylord territory made a last-second field goal all that much more realistic. Still, they were going to have to find a way past a Gaylord defense that had stepped up huge in the second half.
After a first down put Lake Fenton even closer, Gaylord needed a leader to step up, and that’s exactly what they got as linebacker and 2024 prospect Brady Pretzlaff stepped in front of Carsen Lewis’s pass, grabbing the interception and sealing the comeback win for Gaylord.
“Brady is a special young man, and he’s been working for this for a long time,” Szymoniak said. “He has a lot more work to do, but I have no doubt he’s going to put it in.”
Stats
Caleb Aungst finished with six completions for 78 yards and a TD along with nine carries for 37 yards and another TD. Russell Hush led rushing attack, carrying the ball 17 times for 82 yards. Ty Bensinger had five catches for 60 yards and that critical, late TD while Hush added a catch for 18 yards.
Defensively, it was Brady Pretzlaff leading the way with 10.5 tackles and the game-clinching INT. Other key contributors included Bensinger (8.5 tackles), Riley Hush (3.5 tackles), Gus James (2.5 tackles) and Keaton Abraham (2.5 tackles).
The rushing game was won by Gaylord, putting up 125 yards to Lake Fenton’s 43 yards, but the home Blue Devils threw the ball more effectively, finishing with 20 receptions for 234 yards.
Gaylord starts the season 1-0 for the first time since 2019. Next up is the Blue Devils home opener against Kingsley on Thursday, September 1.
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