Saginaw Swan Valley at Frankenmuth – – MHSAA Football District Final – – The Bleacher Denizen – – November 4, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s travels bring him to Frankenmuth, where the Eagles will host the Vikings from Swan Valley. (Some day, I really hope to do what is necessary to permit the powers that be to allow me to refer to my travels as an “odyssey.” Somehow, it would bring far more dignity to a blog that really needs it!!

While the journey from my home in Lansing to my hotel in Bay City was drama free, when your Bleacher Denizen arrived at his hotel, his laptop engaged in an episode of Quiet Quitting. Fortunately, my computer consultant, Ron Kramer from Michigan Network Consultant was able to work his long distance magic and negotiate a short term truce with the laptop so it will permit me to do this article.

I was able to get to Lansing in time to enjoy my Kern’s Bratwurst with sauerkraut that I always get when I go to Frankenmuth football games! YUMMMM to the max! (as always.)

Your Bleacher Denizen is doing his second Eagle game in three weeks. For those of you who missed it, here is the regular season finale vs. Flint Powers! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/10/22/flint-powers-catholic-at-frankenmuth-football-the-bleacher-denizen-october-21-2022-by-chuck-krafft/

Frankenmuth enters the game with a perfect 10-0 record while Swan Valley is at 7-3.
The Frankenmuth Band played the Eagle fight song and the National Anthem to get the game started. As their music is not available to be heard, we can listen to this instrumental cover of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from my You Tube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MxOus8t44

Of course, I want to give a shout out to my brother’s grandson, Matthew Kelley, who starts on Frankenmuth’s fine offensive line that also features Hunter Schmitzer, Aden Betz, Carter Weiss and Derrick Simmons as starters. These young men to a great job protecting the Eagle Quarterback, Aidan Hoard and opening lanes for the Eagle running backs.

Swan Valley’s Mason Horwath booted his opening kickoff through some stiff winds and it went to the end zone, so Frankenmuth started its opening drive on its own 20 yard line.

Payton Guilbeaux and Tucker Bedford covered on Frankenmuth’s first down incomplete pass. Aidan Hoard burst through the middle for a four yard second down gain; Kaidon Achtabowski made the tackle for the Vikings. On third down, Sam Barger took a pitch to the right for a ten yard gain before Payton Guilbeaux took him down to give his Eagles a first down.

Aidan Hoard plunged into the middle for a four yard first down gain. Cody Ueberroth stopped the Eagle second down run for a one yard gain. Kaidon Achtabowski stopped Frankenmuth’s third down run for a one yard loss. Payton Guilbeaux made a fair catch of Travis Brenner’s fourth down punt at the Swan Valley 33 yard line where the Vikings started their first series of the game.

Dalton Debeau and Derrick Simmons stopped the Viking first down run for no gain. Will Soulliere covered on Swan Valley’s incomplete second down pass. On third down, Dayne Reif and Logan Diener sacked the Viking Quarterback for a twelve yard loss. Drew Kaeckmeister punted on fourth down; the punt went out of bounds at the Frankenmuth 45 yard line where the Eagles began their next series.

Drew Kaeckmeister and Cal DeLisle teamed up to stop the Eagle first down run to the right for no gain. On second down, Hunter Bernthal, with help from a great block by Griffin Barker gained eighteen yards and earned a first down before Lucionno Finley forced him out of bounds.

Griffin Barker ran through the middle for an eight yard first down gain; Cody Ueberroth made the stop for the Vikings. Sam Barger took a pitch to the right and it looked like he may have scored a touchdown, but he stepped out of bounds five yard short of a touchdown.

On the next play, Griffin Barker bulled his way into the end zone for a five yard touchdown run. Owen Bierlein made the long snap, Travis Brenner held the ball and Will Soulliere booted it through the uprights for a successful extra point that gave Frankenmuth a 7-0 lead with 5:41 remaining in the first quarter.

Will Soulliere boomed his kickoff into the end zone, so Swan Valley started its next series on its own 20 yard line.

Jake Vander Haar and Nate McMillan stopped the Viking first down run for a one yard gain. Nate McMillan and Colin Main stopped the Swan Valley second down run for a four yard loss. On third down, Viking Quarterback Colton Klein passed to Drew Kaeckmeister, who made a great move to briefly get himself open and caught the precisely timed and placed pass for a twelve yard gain. This was one yard short of what the Vikings needed for a first down, so Drew Kaeckmeister punted on fourth down. The fierce wind sent his punt out of bounds on the Frankenmuth 49 yard line.

Sam Barger went to the left for a two yard gain before he was tackled by Joey Miller. Jacob Brocht got into the backfield on second down and forced the Eagles into a three yard loss. A false start penalty moved Frankenmuth back five yards. Tucker Bedford stopped Frankenmuth’s third down run to the left for a two yard gain. On fourth down, Travis Brenner punted. Jack Rich downed the punt on Swan Valley’s 12 yard line, where the Vikings started their next series.

A first down penalty moved Swan Valley back five yards. Colton Klein nearly completed a long pass to Logan Zahn, but he stepped out of bounds as he caught the all. On the next play, Travis Brenner intercepted a long pass. He returned the ball to the Viking 24 yard line where Payton Guilbeaux tackled him.

Aidan Hoard went into the middle for a two yard first down gain; Drew Kaeckmeister made the tackle for Swan Valley. Griffin Barker’s second down run into the middle gained three yards before he ran into Jacob Brocht. Aidan Hoard’s third down run through the middle was good for nine yards and an Eagle first down at the Swan Valley 10 yard line.

On the final play of the first quarter, Aidan Hoard plowed through a series of tackles for an eight yard gain before Lucionno Finley stopped him.

Frankenmuth had a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Eagles had the ball; it was second and goal from the Viking two yard line.

On the first play of the second quarter, Aidan Hoard took the ball over the right tackle for a two yard touchdown run. Owen Bierlein hiked the ball, Travis Brenner held the ball and Will Soulliere kicked the successful extra point. With 11:54 to play in the first half, the Frankenmuth lead was at 14-0.

Will Soulliere’s kickoff went into the end zone, so the Vikings started their series on their own 20 yard line.

Will Soulliere covered on the Viking long, incomplete first down pass. Colton Klein was chased out of the pocket on second down and lost two yards when Dayne Reif tackled him. Swan Valley’s third down run around the left end was stopped for a three yard gain by Colin Main’s tackle. Drew Kaeckmeister’s punt went out of bounds at the Frankenmuth 42 yard line; the Eagles began their next series at that point.

Aidan Hoard made a beautiful play as he faked a handoff, waited for his stellar offensive line to create a path and darted for a thirty-four yard gain that gave the Eagles a first down on the Viking 38 yard line.

Aidan Hoard’s first down run to the right gained four yards before Payton Guilbeaux tackled him. Hunter Bernthal gained sixteen yards on a run to the left to give Frankenmuth a first down on the Swan Valley 8 yard line. Lucionno Finley made the tackle for the Vikings.

Aidan Hoard gained three yards on a first down run and burst through the middle for a five yard touchdown run on the next play. After Will Soulliere’s successful extra point kick, Frankenmuth had a 21-0 lead with 8:13 to go in the second quarter.

Will Soulliere’s kickoff into a fierce wind was caught by Logan Zahn at the Viking 21 yard line. He gained nine yards before Hunter Bernthal tackled him. Swan Valley started its drive on its own 30 yard line.

Colton Klein passed to Payton Guilbeaux for a nine yard first down gain; Travis Brenner made the tackle for the Eagles. Colin Main and Nate McMillan stopped the Viking second down run for a two yard loss. Colton Klein was chased out of the pocket on third down, but he gained fourteen yards; however, a penalty brought the ball back to the Viking 42 yard line. It was still good enough for a first down.

Colton Klein got a pass through a really tight window for a twenty yard gain. Travis Brenner made the Eagle tackle. Swan Valley had a first down in Frankenmuth territory at the 38 yard line.

Derrick Simmons stopped the Viking first down run for a three yard loss. Dalton Debeau and Colin Main put fierce pressure on the Viking quarterback to force an incomplete pass; Jack Rich covered in the backfield for Frankenmuth on the play. Swan Valley attempted a double pass play on third down, but the pass fell incomplete. Drew Kaeckmeister’s fourth down punt was downed on Frankenmuth’s nine yard line; the Eagles began their next series there.

A false start penalty on Frankenmuth cost the Eagles five yards. Sam Barger went into the middle for a two yard gain on the first down replay; Cameron Rankin made the Viking tackle. Aidan Hoard went up the left tackle for a two yard second down gain; Cameron Rankin also made this tackle for Swan Valley. Frankenmuth’s third down pass fell incomplete. Travis Brenner’s fourth down punt (in a fierce wind) went out of bounds at the Swan Valley 46 yard line where the Vikings started their next series.

Colton Klein went into the middle for a four yard gain before he was tackled by Logan Diener and Jake Vander Haar. Travis Brenner’s timely hit caused the Viking second down pass to be dropped. On third down, Jake Vander Haar and Colin Main got into the Viking backfield and forced their quarterback to throw the ball away. On fourth down, Carter Weiss put great pressure on the quarterback to force a fourth down incomplete pass as Jack Rich covered on the play. Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on the 50 yard line.

Griffin Barker went over the right tackle for a twenty-one yard gain. Cal DeLisle made the Viking tackle.

Hunter Bernthal took a pitch to the right for an eighteen yard gain before Lucionno Finley forced him out of bounds. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Swan Valley 11 yard line.

Griffin Barker earned four yards on a first down run up the middle before Lucionno Finley tackled him. A false start penalty pushed Frankenmuth back five yards. Sam Barger went to the right for a four yard second down gain. Tyler DuRussel made the tackle for Swan Valley. On third down, Kaidon Achtabowski sacked the quarterback for an eleven yard loss.

On the final play of the second half, Owen Bierlein snapped the ball, Travis Brenner held the ball and Will Soulliere kicked a successful thirty-five yard field goal to give Frankenmuth a 24-0 lead.

Frankenmuth’s marching band entertained at halftime. Under the direction of Drum Majors Molly Pergram and Emily Techentien, the Eagles played “Get Back” by the Beatles and “Escape” (the Pina Colada song) by Rupert Holmes. They did a wonderful job both playing and marching on the songs. Frankenmuth’s senior band members suggested “Escape” and also helped design the precision marching drill.

As we are not able to hear the Eagle Band’s wonderful performance, let’s use some “Good Vibrations” from my You Tube Channel as our halftime music!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482fQh0Rdo

Will Soulliere sent his kickoff into the end zone, so Swan Valley started its opening series of the second half on its own 20 yard line.

Colton Klein went to the left for a fifteen yard gain before Will Soulliere and Dayne Reif forced him out of bounds; however, a penalty brought the ball back to the ten yard line. Colton Klein overcame that bit of adversity by completing a twenty-nine yard pass to Drew Kaeckmeister, who made a brilliant diving catch to give his Vikings a first down on their own 39 yard line.

Tyler Drain gained two yards on a first down run to the right; Nate McMillan got the tackle for the Eagles. Will Soulliere covered on the incomplete Viking second down pass. Colton Klein completed a fifteen yard pass to Drew Kaeckmeister to give Swan Valley a first down on the Frankenmuth 44 yard line.

Colton Klein completed a twenty yard pass to Sam Wickham to give the Vikings a first down on the Eagle 24 yard line.

A Frankenmuth offside penalty gave Swan Valley five yards. Swan Valley immediately gave back the five yards with an illegal procedure penalty. A Frankenmuth pass interference penalty gave Swan Valley a first down with one yard to go on the Eagle 15 yard line. Dalton Debeau stopped the Viking run on the next play for no gain. On second down, Payton Guilbeaux dove into the line to gain two yards and give his Vikings a first down on the Eagle 13 yard line. Colin Main made the tackle for Frankenmuth.

The Eagle line stopped the Viking first down run for no gain. Unfortunately, Viking Quarterback Colton Klein was injured on the play and had to leave the game. A penalty on Swan Valley pushed the Vikings Jack 14 yards. Payton Guilbeaux took over as quarterback for Swan Valley.

Travis Brenner covered on Swan Valley’s second down incomplete pass into the end zone. Brendan Scharrer pressured the quarterback as Riley Hubbard covered on the third down incomplete pass. Travis Brenner and Jack Rich covered as the Viking fourth down pass fell incomplete. Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on its own 28 yard line.

Kaidon Achtabowski stopped the Eagle first down run up the middle for a one yard gain. Aidan Hoard passed to Riley Hubbard for an eleven yard gain and a first down; Drew Kaeckmeister made the tackle for Swan Valley.

Griffin Barker pounded his way into the middle and had a great second effort for an eight yard gain. Drew Kaeckmeister made the tackle for Swan Valley. On the next play, Aidan Hoard passed to Travis Brenner, who gained eight yards before Cal DeLisle forced him out of bounds. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Swan Valley 44 yard line.

Tyler DuRussel stopped Frankenmuth’s first down play for a one yard loss. Hunter Bernthal made a great run for an apparent forty-five yard touchdown, but a flag on the play brought the ball back to the Viking 49 yard line. On the next play, Frankenmuth completed a long pass, but the receiver fumbled the ball and one of Swan Valley’s defensive backs recovered the ball and returned it out to the Viking 24 yard line. (My apologies to the Viking defender who made the excellent play; no one in the press box saw who made it so I can’t credit this to anyone.)

Tyler Drain powered through the line for a thirty-eight yard gain before Jack Rich stopped him to give the Vikings a first down on the Eagle 38 yard line.

Colin Main stopped the Viking first down run around the left end for a two yard loss. Nate McMillan stopped the Viking second down run for a one yard gain. Jack Rich covered on Swan Valley’s long, incomplete third down pass. Swan Valley was assessed a fifteen yard penalty on the play. After an illegal procedure penalty cost the Vikings five more yards, Drew Kaeckmeister’s fourth down punt was downed by Issac Beougher on the Frankenmuth 13 yard line.

Aidan Hoard gave Frankenmuth a bit of breathing room with a fourteen yard run; Lucionno Finley and Cal DeLisle made the tackle for Swan Valley.

Sam Barger gained five yards on a first down run to the right before Tyler DuRussel and Kaidon Achtabowski tackled him. Aidan Hoard gained three yards on a second down run up the middle; Jacob Brocht got the tackle for the Vikings. Hunter Bernthal went to the left for four yards and a first down; Drew Kaeckmeister made the stop for Swan Valley.

On the final play of the third quarter, Griffin Barker went up the middle and carried several tacklers for a twenty-nine yard gain.

At the end of the third quarter, Frankenmuth held a 24-0 lead and had the ball with a first down on the Swan Valley thirty-two yard line.

Aidan Hoard went into the middle for a four yard first down gain before he ran into Cameron Rankin. On second down, Sam Barger’s six yard gain was barely short of a first down; Cal DeLisle made the Viking tackle. An offside penalty cost Swan Valley five yards and gave Frankenmuth a first down.

Griffin Barker’s first down run up the middle earned two yards for the Eagles; Kaidon Achtabowski made the tackle for the Vikings. A false start penalty cost Frankenmuth five yards. On the next play, Payton Guilbeaux intercepted the ball at the Viking 12 yard line and returned the ball forty-five yards before Aidan Hoard tackled him to give Swan Valley a first down at the Frankenmuth 43 yard line.

A first down penalty cost Swan Valley five yards. On the first down repeat, Swan Valley gained six yards on a run before Travis Brenner made the tackle. Jake Vander Haar stopped the Viking second down run to the right for no gain. Jack Rich covered on Swan Valley’s long, but incomplete third down pass down the sideline. On fourth down, Colin Main applied great pressure to the Viking Quarterback as Travis Brenner broke up the fourth down pass. Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on its own 42 yard line.

Aidan Hoard went up the right tackle for a four yard first down gain; Andrew Grover made the Viking stop. Aidan Hoard went to the right for a five yard second down gain; Cameron Rankin got the stop for the Vikings. Griffin Barker earned the one yard Frankenmuth needed for a first down on third down; Andrew Grover got the Swan Valley tackle.

On the next play, Zak Andrews took a pitch to the left for a forty-eight yard touchdown run. Will Soulliere’s successful extra point lead boosted the Eagle lead to 31-0 with 6:12 left on the clock.

Will Soulliere’s kickoff was fielded by Tyler Drain on the 19 yard line; he gained six yards before Nicklaus Hoesman tackled him. Swan Valley started its series on its own 25 yard line.

Tyler Drain took the ball to the left for a five yard gain before Travis Brenner halted his progress. Tyler Drain gained ten yards and earned a first down on a second down pitch to the right. Brendan Scharrer made the tackle for Frankenmuth

Tyler Drain gained three yards on a first down run to the right. Barrett Rowden and Travis Brenner made the tackle for Frankenmuth. Swan Valley did a lateral and then tried to pass the ball up the field on second down. Will Soulliere covered for Frankenmuth on the incomplete pass. Nicklaus Hoesman stopped Swan Valley’s third down run for no gain. On fourth down, Payton Guilbeaux completed a pass to Logan Zahn, who outfought two Eagle defenders to catch the ball for a fourteen yard gain. Riley Hubbard and Will Soulliere made the tackle for Frankenmuth.

Swan Valley had a first down on the Frankenmuth 43 yard line.

A first down penalty cost Swan Valley five yards. Nicklaus Hoesman and Logan Diener teamed up to stop the Viking first down replay run to the right for a one yard gain. Tyler Drain went to the right for a five yard second down gain. Dalton Debeau made the Eagle tackle. Jack Rich covered on the Viking incomplete third down pass. Dalton Debeau and Thomas Conzelmann teamed up to stop the Viking fourth down run to the right for no gain.

Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on its own 42 yard line.

There was barely over a minute left in the game. Frankenmuth took a knee on each of the next three plays as the final seconds expired.

Frankenmuth won 31-0 to advance to next week’s regional game!!