Okemos at Waverly – – Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – September 17, 2021 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen is at Waverly where the 1-2 Warriors will face Okemos, which is 0-3 on the season. It’s always fun to do Waverly games; tonight, the voice heard over the P.A. will be the silver-tongued Vince Perkins who had a long career in the Waverly School system and still helps out with many of the sports!

The festivities opened as all the seniors in the Waverly Band were introduced. After they played the fight song, it was announced that Okemos had won the pre-game coin toss and elected to receive.

Waverly’s band played their fight song and did a nice job with the National Anthem. It was time for the game to begin. Waverly’s Noe Macias boomed his opening kickoff into the end zone, so Okemos opened their first drive on their own 20 yard line.

Logan Lee and Jaylin Johnson teamed up to stop the Okemos first down run for a one yard gain. Two false start penalties pushed Okemos back ten yards. Zavier Williams stopped the Okemos second down run for a three yard loss. Teal’c Robinson gained two yards on a third down run to the right before Evan Walker stopped him. Tyler Kliewer’s fourth down punt was fielded by Mar’Tavion Robinson at the Waverly 40 yard line; he returned the ball 43 yards to give his Warriors a first down on the Okemos 17 yard line.

A first down penalty negated a Waverly touchdown run around the right end and pushed the Warriors back ten yards. Joseph Pizzo passed to Mar’Tavion Robinson on the first down repeat for a fifteen yard gain; Miles Bell knocked him out of bounds. On second down, Joseph Pizzo connected with Dylon Durrett for a five yard touchdown. Waverly faked an extra point kick; James Tolbert ran the ball in for a successful two point conversion.

With 8:24 to play in the first quarter, Waverly had an 8-0 lead.

Noe Macias boomed another kickoff into the end zone, so Okemos started its next drive on its own 20 yard line. Daniel Hubbert, Jahleel Rollins and Jaylin Johnson teamed up to stop the Okemos first down run for no gain. The Okemos second down run resulted in a one yard loss. Pass interference was called on the third down play; Okemos got a first down on its own 34 yard line.

Teal’c Robinson went to the left for a four yard gain before Brendon Batchelor took him down. Jahleel Robbins stopped the Okemos second down run for a one yard gain. Zavier Williams stopped the third down run for a four yard loss. Tyler Kliewer’s fourth down punt was downed by his teammate on the Waverly 28 yard line. The Warriors started their next series there.

Jakobe Respress broke a tackle on his way to a twelve yard gain and a Warrior first down before he was tacklled by Griffin Keller.

Jahi Wood gained fourteen yards on a run around the right end. On the next play, Joseph Pizzo passed to James Tolbert for a twenty-three yard gain to give the Warriors a first down on the Okemos 23 yard line. Tyler Kliewer pushed him out of bounds to prevent a Waverly touchdown.

Waverly’s quarterback was sacked for a four yard first down loss. A holding penalty negated a Waverly touchdown pass on the next play. On the second down replay, Joseph Pizzo passed to James Tolbert for a forty-three yard touchdown. Dylon Durrett snapped the ball, James Tolbert held the ball and Noe Macias booted the ball through the goalposts to earn the extra point. With 2:24 remaining in the first quarter, Waverly had a 15-0 lead.

Noe Macias booted his kickoff into the end zone once again and Okemos started its next drive on its own 20 yard line.

Jahleel Rollins stopped the Okemos first down play for a two yard loss. Ty Miller and Brendon Batchelor teamed up to sack the Okemos quarterback for a ten yard second down loss. Ryan Davis’ third down run up the middle gained seven yards before Jeriah Rollins took him down.

The first quarter ended with Waverly holding a 15-0 lead. Okemos faced a fourth down with eighteen yards to go situation on its own 12 yard line.

Tyler Kleiwer opened the second quarter for Okemos with a punt that was fielded by Mar’Tavion Robinson on the 50 yard line and taken into the end zone for a touchdown. Dylon Durrett made the long snap, James Tolbert held the ball and Noe Macias booted it through the uprights for a successful extra point. With 11:44 to play in the first half, Waverly held a 22-0 lead.

Noe Macias kicked the ball off to Ryan Davis, who fielded the ball at the Okemos 10 yard line and gained 14 yards before Jahleel Rollins tackled him. Okemos began its series at its own 24 yard line.

Zavier Williams stopped the Okemos first down run to the left for a two yard loss. Ryan Davis went into the middle for a two yard second down gain; Dylon Durrett made the stop for Waverly. Brendon Batchelor, Dylon Durrett and Braydan Butler stopped the Okemos third down play for a four yard loss. Tyler Kliewer’s fourth down punt went out of bounds at the Waverly 47 yard line; the Warriors started their next series there.

Evan Walker ran to the left and cut back to the middle for a twenty-yard gain.

Jahi Wood went to the middle and gained about twenty yards on the next play, but offsetting penalties forced the down to be replayed. Joseph Pizzo passed to Mar’Tavion Robinson for a thirty-seven yard touchdown on the next play. Noe Macias kicked the extra point to push the Waverly lead to 29-0 with 9:01 to play in the first half.

Noe Macias’ kickoff went to the 15 yard line where it was fielded by Braeden Vrane and returned about nine yards before Mar’Tavion Robinson took him down. Okemos started its next series on its own 24 yard line.

Evan Walker and Jahleel Rollins teamed up to stop the Okemos first down play for no gain. Colton Roach gained two yards on a second down run before he ran into Zavier Williams. A squadron of Warriors stopped the Okemos third down play for a one yard loss. Okemos’ fourth down punt went out of bounds at the Okemos 22 yard line where Waverly started its next series.

Jakobe Respress went to the right for a sixteen yard gain before he was tackled by Miles Bell. Waverly was now on the Okemos 6 yard line.

Waverly’s first down pass fell incomplete. On second down, Deonte Roberts took the ball to the left side where he was tackled by Matt Trevino after a one yard gain. Joseph Pizzo’s third down screen pass to Jakobe Respress resulted in a five yard touchdown. Noe Macias’ extra point gave the Warriors a 36-0 lead with 4:29 left on the first half clock.

Noe Macias’ kickoff went into the end zone and Okemos started its drive on its own 20 yard line.

A pass interference penalty on Waverly gave Okemos a first down on its own 35 yard line.

Trent Amundsen recovered a first down fumble for Okemos, but sixteen yards were lost on the play. Trent Amundsen’s second down pass to Ryan Davis gained fifteen yards before Jahleel Rollins tackled him. Evan Walker and Deonte Roberts covered on the Okemos incomplete third down pass. Tyler Kliewer’s fourth down punt went out on the Waverly 32 yard line.

A penalty on Okemos gave the Warriors a first down.

Jahi Wood went into the middle to gain eight first down yards; Griffin Keller made the tackle for Okemos. Waverly’s second down pass fell incomplete. Evan Walker’s third down run to the right earned fourteen yards to give Waverly a first down on the Okemos 31 yard line before he stepped out of bounds.

On the next play, Ty MIller went up the middle, cut to the left and gained eighteen yards before he stepped out of bounds. Ty MIller then passed to Ronnie Spencer for a thirdteen yard touchdown. After Noe Macias kicked the extra point, Waverly had a 43-0 lead with 57.5 seconds remaining in the first half.

Noe Macias kicked the ball to the Okemos 31 yard line; Hayden Herrera was there to tackle the receiver before he gained any yards; Okemos started its final series of the first half on its own 31 yard line.

Alejandro Urrea gained three yards on a first down run before Zavier Williams tackled him. On the final play of the half, Zavier Williams and Hayden Herrera teamed up to stop the Okemos run by Trent Amundsen for a short gain.

Waverly took a 43-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. If normal football traditions are upheld, Waverly will probably start the third quarter with a 43-0 lead.

Waverly’s marching band came out to perform at halftime. They are directed by David Gorbe and led by Senior Drum Major Tabitha Garza and Junior Drum Major Sophia Brockhaus. Marieke Anderson is the Drum Line Captain; Samara Abron and Wyatt Beasley are the Color Guard Captains. The Color Guard Choreography is by Rachael Woods and Meg Reid and the Drum Line instruction is by Scott Brooks.

The band opened with the them from Ghostbusters, which was directed by Tabitha Garza. Then they played a medley from Tim Burton’s productions composed by Danny Elfman. They played two songs from the “Nightmare Before Christmas” featuring the color guard as well as a saxophone solo by Cullen Hogan. Under the direction of Tabitha Garza, the band played “This is Halloween” and “The Oogie Boogie Song.”

Sophia Brockhaus then led the band in the performance of “The Phantom of the Opera.” The halftime show finished with a song chosen by the seniors from the show they did their Freshman year, “Totally Rad 80’s”. Sophia Brockhaus led the band in a performance of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

The Waverly band always plays great music and combines it with spirited and creative marching. I always enjoy seeing them perform!

Trend Amundsen opened the second half by kicking the ball to Ronnie Spencer, who fielded the ball at the 4 yard line and went for a short gain before Larry Ansari shoved him out of bounds. A penalty on Waverly gave the Warriors the ball on their own 5 yard line, where they started their next series.

A penalty on Okemos gave Waverly a first down on their own 20 yard line.

Jaylin Johnson gained four yards on a first down run to the left. Teal’c Robinson made the tackle for Okemos. Jahi Wood gained twenty-two yards on a run to the right; Miles Bell made the tackle. Waverly had a first down on the Okemos 28 yard line.

Waverly’s first down and second down passes fell incomplete. Zachary Baker stopped the Waverly third down screen pass for a two yard loss. On fourth down, Noe Macias attempted a forty-seven yard field goal, but Larry King III blocked the kick. Okemos took over the ball on downs on its own 35 yard line.

Elijah Christiansen stopped the Okemos first down run for no gain. Waverly’s defenders got into the backfield and stopped the second down run for a two yard loss. Hayden Herrera stopped the third down run for an eight yard loss. Tyler Kliewer’s fourth down punt went out of bounds at the Okemos 35 yard line where Waverly started its next possession.

A penalty negated the Waverly first down play. On the first down repeat, Ty Miller faked a pass and went to the right for a twelve yard gain.

Zachary Barker stopped the Waverly first down run for a two yard loss. A second down penalty on Okemos gave Waverly five yards. Jaylin Johnson took the ball to the right for a twenty-two yard touchdown. Waverly’s extra point attempt failed.

With 9.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Waverly lead was at 49-0.

On the final play of the third quarter, Rayna Doxie kicked the ball off; Trent Amundsen fielded the kickoff for Okemos and made a short game before Ronnie Spencer tackled him. A penalty pushed Okemos back to the 12 yard line.

The third quarter ended; Waverly had a 49-0 lead and Okemos had a first down on its own 12 yard line.

On first down, Teal’c Robinson dove on a fumble to prevent an Okemos turnover. Okemos lost nine yards on the play. Teal’c Robinson’s second down run earned three yards. Elijah Christiansen harassed the Okemos quarterback into throwing an incomplete third down pass. Tyler Kliewer’s fourth down put went out of bounds at the Okemos 45 yard line. After a penalty was assessed to Waverly, the Warriors started their series on their own 42 yard line.

Jahi Wood’s first down run up the middle gained four yards before Carlos Trevino took him down. On second down, Ty Miller passed to Evan Walker on the right; he reversed his direction and went up the left side for a thirty-nine yard gain. Waverly had a first down on the Okemos 15 yard line.

Larry King III stopped the Waverly first down play for a one yard loss. On the next play, Jahi Wood went to the left for a sixteen yard touchdown. Noe Macias kicked the extra point and Waverly had a 56-0 lead with 6:25 left on the clock.

A penalty after the touchdown play forced Waverly to kick off from its own 25 yard line. Rayna Doxie kicked the ball to the Okemos twelve yard line; Jahleel Rollins tackled the Okemos returner after a short gain; Okemos started its series on its own 33 yard line.

Waverly’s Dominic Owens pressured the Okemos quarterback into throwing an incomplete first down pass. Teal’c Robinson’s second down run up the middle gained three yards before Jaydon Noda and Lorenz Todd tackled him. Justice Bass and Javion Husband teamed up to force Okemos into a four yard third down loss. Tyler Kleiwer’s fourth down punt went out of bounds at the Okemos 40 yard line.

On the final play of the game, Ronnie Spencer recovered a bad snap and found daylight up the left side as he scored a 40 yard touchdown. As the game was over, no extra point was attempted.

Waverly won the game 62-0 to even its record at 2-2.