Fulton at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart – – Eight Man Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – October 3, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is making a trip to Mt. Pleasant to see the Irish from Sacred Heart playing a home football game for the first time! The Irish opponent will be the Pirates from Fulton. Fulton and Sacred Heart are each 2-1 in the league with a 4-1 overall record, so this game will influence the top of the league standings.

It was an interesting trip from Lansing, because there is road construction on US 127 around the M-57 crossing. Fortunately, I encountered this on last Friday’s trip to Breckenridge, so I was prepared and started early. I got to the field in plenty of time!

Sacred Heart plays its games at Mt. Pleasant High. This is a beautiful field; one of the finest high school football fields I know of and there are huge stands for spectators. I was really impressed by the fine field and the press box is really nice, too. This is the first time I have seen this stadium!

The announcer introduced all the Fulton seniors and all the Sacred Heart seniors before the game.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the aging lenses of a Bleacher Denizen who was not successful when he attempted to play football in the days of yore. Alas, his promising career as an offensive lineman was ruined when the football powers-that-be declared that he would not be allowed to use pepper spray on the field!

Parker Billings’ opening kickoff went to the Sacred Heart 30 yard line where Levi Lynch dove on the ball. Sacred Heart’s opening possession started here.

Trevor Brown stopped Sacred Heart’s first down run for a one yard gain. Trevor Brown also stopped the second down run; a penalty moved Sacred Heart back ten yards. On the second down replay, Parker Billings intercepted Sacred Heart’s pass. He got up to the Sacred Heart 9 yard line, but an illegal Fulton block moved the ball back to the 19 yard line where the Pirates started their first series.

Kaiden Oliver went to the left for an eight yard gain; Levi Lynch got the tackle for the Irish. On the next play, Wyatt King took the ball around the left end for an eleven yard touchdown run. Tanner Villalobos ran in the successful extra point. With 10:20 to play in the opening quarter, Fulton was off to an 8-0 lead.

Parker Billings kicked the ball off to the Sacred Heart 47 yard line where Nico Vazquez dove on the ball. Sacred Heart started its series there.

On the next play, Teegan Duffy burst through the middle and scampered all the way for a fifty-three yard touchdown. Connor Cunningham defended on Sacred Heart’s incomplete Point After Pass. With 10:09 to go in the first quarter, Sacred Heart trimmed the Fulton lead to 8-6.

Nate Siler’s kickoff was fielded by Tanner Villalobos at the Fulton 33 yard line and returned twenty-one yards to the Sacred Heart 47 yard line. Martin He pushed him out of bounds. The Pirates began their series on the Fulton 47 yard line.

A false start penalty moved the Pirates back five yards. On the first down repeat, Kaiden Oliver gained two yards before Teegan Duffy took him down. Tanner Villalobos dragged a few tacklers on his way to an eight yard second down gain; Luke Hacker and Nate Siler finally made the tackle for the Irish. Luke Hacker and Teegan Duffy teamed up to stop the Fulton third down run for a two yard loss. A fast start penalty moved the Pirates back another five yards. Kaiden Oliver’s fourth down punt went out of bounds at the Fulton 46 yard line; Sacred Heart started its next series there.

Parker Billings stopped the Irish first down run up the middle for no gain. Jason Boge gained five yards on second down before Tanner Villalobos pushed him out of bounds. Mark Karimi took the ball to the right for a four yard third down gain; Trevor Brown made the Pirate tackle. Jason Boge pushed his way through the middle on fourth down and gained twelve yards before Parker Billings stopped him. The Irish had a first down.

On the next play, a Fulton pass interference penalty in the end zone moved Sacred Heart up to the twelve yard line.

Teegan Duffy went over the right tackle for a seven yard gain before a swarm of Pirates ended his run. Teegan Duffy gained five yards on second down; he earned a first down and got the ball inches from the goal before the Pirate line stopped him.

On the next play, Jason Boge plowed his way to the final two inches the Irish needed for a touchdown. Brendan Ervin made the long snap, Jason Boge held the ball and Nate Siler booted the ball through the uprights for a successful extra point. With 3:42 remaining in quarter number one, Sacred Heart had a 13-8 lead.

Nate Siler kicked the ball off to the Fulton 12 yard line where Tanner Villalobos fielded it and made a nice gain before he was tackled by Joe Likavec and Martin He. However a penalty moved the Pirates back to the 14 yard line where they started their next series.

Kaiden Oliver went around the left end for a thirty-six yard gain to give Fulton a first down on the 50 yard line. Levi Lynch caught him from behind to prevent a Pirate touchdown.

Wyatt King bounced off a tackler and gained three yards on a first down run to the right. Levi Lynch and Jim McDonald made the tackle for the Irish. Kaiden Oliver dragged several Irish tacklers for an eight yard gain before Nate Siler led a host of Irish in stopping him. Fulton had a first down.

Tanner Villalobos tossed the ball to Parker Billings for a twenty-two yard gain. Luke Hacker made the tackle for the Irish. Fulton had a first down on the on the Sacred Heart 17 yard line.

Tanner Villalobos gained two first down yards up the middle before he ran into Teegan Duffy and Jim McDonald. Jim McDonald and Nate Siler teamed up to stop Fulton’s second down run to the right for no gain. Tanner Villalobos took the ball around the left end for a fifteen yard touchdown on the next play. Tanner Villalobos then went up the middle for a successful two point conversion to give the Pirates a 16-13 lead with 14.7 seconds to go in the quarter.

Parker Billings kicked the ball off to the fifty yard line where several Irish players scrambled for the ball; I believe James Struble finally secured the ball for the Irish and they began their series on the 50 yard line.

On the final play of the first quarter, Coltin Kus got into the Irish backfield and stopped their run for a six yard loss.

Fulton had a 16-13 lead. Sacred Heart had the ball; it was second down with sixteen yards to go on their own 44 yard line.

Jason Boge’s second down to the right gained five yards before Parker Billings tackled him. Peyton Reynolds chased Jason Boge out of the pocket on second down; he was able to gain six yards before a swarm of Pirates stopped him. On the next play, Jason Boge passed to Nico Vazquez, who ran down the right sideline for a forty-five yard touchdown. After Brendan Ervin made the long snap, Jason Boge held the ball and Nate Siler kicked the successful extra point, Sacred Heart had a 20-16 lead with 11:34 left in the second quarter.

Nate Siler’s kick went out of bounds, so Fulton started its next series on its own 35 yard line.

Nate Siler and Luke Hacker covered on the incomplete Pirate first down pass. On the next play, Tanner Villalobos went up the right side for a sixteen yard gain and a first down before Luke Hacker pushed him out of bounds.

Teegan Duffy, Jim McDonald and Joe Likavec teamed up to stop the Pirate first down run for no gain. Wyatt Browne stopped the Fulton second down run for a one yard gain. Kaiden Oliver dodged several tacklers on his way to an eleven yard third down gain; there was a fumble on the play, but Fulton recovered. The Pirates had a first down on the Irish 24 yard line.

On the next play, Tanner Villalobos went to the right and used a nice fake to free himself for a 24 yard touchdown run. Jim McDonald stopped Fulton’s Point After Run. With 9:13 left in the second quarter, Fulton took a 22-20 lead.

Parker Billings kicked the ball off to the Irish 15 yard line where Teegan Duffy fielded it and returned it about five yards before he was swamped by a boatload of Pirates. Sacred Heart had a first down on its own 20 yard line.

Peyton Reynolds stopped the Irish first down run for a one yard gain. On the next play, Jason Boge passed the ball to Luke Hacker, who outran the Pirate defense for a seventy-nine yard touchdown. Brendan Ervin snapped the ball, Jason Boge held the ball and Nate Siler kicked the successful extra point to give Sacred Heart a 27-22 lead with 8:14 remaining in the opening half.

Sacred Heart’s kickoff went out of bounds, so Fulton started its next series on its own 35 yard line.

Tanner Villalobos took the ball to the left for a fifty yard gain before Luke Hacker managed to catch him from behind to prevent a touchdown. Fulton had a first down on the Sacred Heart 15 yard line.

Jim McDonald and Martin He teamed up to sack the Fulton quarterback for an eight yard first down loss. On the next play, Tanner Villalobos went up the left sideline for a twenty-three yard touchdown run. Peyton Reynolds completed the Point After Pass to Tanner Villalobos to give the Pirates a 30-27 lead with 6:54 remaining in the first half.

Parker Billings kicked the ball off to the Irish 10 yard line where Teegan Duffy caught it and took the ball to the right for a fourteen yard gain before he was tackled.

Teegan Duffy went up the left tackle for a six yard gain before Bryson Sattler stopped him. Peyton Reynolds stopped the second down run into the middle for no gain. Bryson Sattler covered on the Irish incomplete third down pass. Nate Siler boomed a forty-eight yard fourth down punt; his teammate Levi Lynch downed the ball on Fulton’s 22 yard line. Fulton started its series there.

Tanner Villalobos faked a first down handoff and took the ball to the right for an eight yard gain before Nate Siler took him down. Martin He chased the Fulton quarterback out of the pocket and he was pushed out of bounds by a squadron of Irish for a four yard second down loss. On the next play, Kaiden Oliver completed a seventy-four yard touchdown pass to Bryson Sattler. Nate Siler made a tackle to stop Fulton’s extra point run. With 4:00 to play in the second quarter, Fulton’s lead was at 36-27.

Parker Billings kicked the ball to the Irish 11 yard line where Teegan Duffy caught it and ran to the left for a twenty-three yard gain before Dustin Antes, Peyton Reynolds and Coltin Kus took him down. Sacred Heart started its next series on its own 34 yard line.

Peyton Reynolds and Jared Akin put a lot of pressure on Sacred Heart’s quarterback on first down and caused an incomplete pass. Jason Boge was forced out of the pocket on second down, but managed to gain six yards before he ran out of bounds. Pressure from Peyton Reynolds and Jared Akin on third down forced another incomplete Irish pass. Bryson Sattler got his hand on the Irish fourth down pass and it fell incomplete.

Fulton took over the ball on downs on the Irish 40 yard line.

Tanner Villalobos went to the right for a three yard first down gain; Martin He got the tackle for Sacred Heart. Tanner Villalobos earned seven yards and a first down on a second down run up the right tackle before Teegan Duffy and Joe Likavec tackled him.

Joe Endres stopped Fulton’s first down run for a one yard gain. Wyatt King took the ball into the middle and gained three second down yards before Martin He and Joe Endres tackled him. Tanner Villalobos’ third down pass to Connor Cunningham gained three yards; Fulton fumbled the ball, but recovered it. On fourth down, Martin He, Joe Likavec and Luke Hacker forced the Fulton runner out of bounds for a two yard loss. Sacred Heart took over the ball on downs on its own 30 yard line with 7.5 seconds remaining in the half.

On the final play of the first half, Teegan Duffy gained about three yards before Peyton Reynolds tackled him.

Fulton took a 36-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. If normal football protocols are followed, Fulton will continue to lead 36-27 at the start of the first half.

After a halftime break, I’m proud to announce that Fulton IS continuing to lead by a 36-27 score at the beginning of the second half!!

Nate Siler opened the second half by kicking the ball off to the Fulton 43 yard line where Kaiden Oliver dove on the ball to secure it for the Pirates. Fulton started its opening second half series there.

Tanner Villalobos gained two yards on a first down run to the left before Luke Hacker pushed him out of bounds. Luke Hacker, Teegan Duffy and Jim McDonald teamed up to stop the Pirate second down run for a two yard gain. Tanner Villalobos went to the left for a three yard third down gain; Teegan Duffy got the tackle for the Irish. On the next play, Tanner Villalobos charged through the line and cut down the right sideline for a fifty yard touchdown run. Peyton Reynolds ran the ball for the successful extra point. With 10:29 to play in the third quarter, Fulton extended its lead to 44-27.

Parker Billings kicked the ball off to the Sacred Heart 10 yard line where Teegan Duffy fielded it an gained eighteen yards. Sacred Heart had a first down on its own 28 yard line.

Trevor Brown, Connor Cunningham and Parker Billings teamed up to stop the Irish first down run for a on yard gain. Jason Boge went to the left for a four yard second down gain; Wyatt King and Jared Akin teamed up for the Pirate tackle. Coltin Kus and Peyton Reynolds teamed up to stop the Irish third down run for no gain. Nate Siler booted a forty-two yard fourth down punt that was downed by his teammate, Jim McDonald on Fulton’s 25 yard line.

Tanner Villalobos gained three yards on a first down run before he ran into Martin He and Teegan Duffy. Wyatt King went to the left for a five yard second down gain; Joe Likavec made the Irish tackle. An offsides penalty on Sacred Heart gave Fulton a first down.

Tanner Villalobos streaked down the right sideline for a twenty-seven yard gain. Luke Hacker made the tackle for Sacred Heart. Fulton had a first down on the Irish 35 yard line.

Kaiden Oliver went to the left for a nine yard first down gain before Teegan Duffy pulled him down. Kaiden Oliver went up the middle for nine second down yards and a first down before Martin He and Nate Siler tackled him.

Teegan Duffy, Nate Siler and Brendan Ervin teamed up to stop Fulton’s first down run for no gain. A second down pass interference penalty gave Fulton a first down on Sacred Heart’s 9 yard line.

On the next play, Tanner Villalobos ran to the right for a nine yard touchdown. Tanner Villalobos ran the ball in for Fulton’s successful extra point to give the Pirates a 52-27 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

The Fulton kickoff went out of bounds and Sacred Heart started its series on its own 35 yard line.

Bryson Sattler covered on the Irish incomplete first down pass. Trevor Brown covered on the incomplete second down pass; two penalties on the Irish moved the Irish back twenty yards. Jason Boge passed to Luke Hacker for an eleven yard gain on the left side; Wyatt King pushed him out of bounds. On fourth down, Jason Boge completed a thirty-nine yard pass to Nate Siler to give the Irish a first down on Fulton’s 35 yard line.

Trevor Brown covered on Sacred Heart’s long, but incomplete first down pass. Jason Boge tossed a second down screen pass to Teegan Duffy on the right side; he gained ten yards and earned a first down before he went out of bounds at the Fulton 25 yard line.

Jason Boge passed to Nico Vazquez for a thirteen yard gain; Bryson Sattler made the tackle for Fulton.

Jason Boge completed a first down pass to Mark Karimi for an eight yard first down gain; Trevor Brown got the tackle for Fulton. On second down, Fulton’s line forced the Irish Quarterback out of the pocket; the play resulted in a one yard loss. Jared Akin and Peyton Reynolds deflected Sacred Heart’s third down pass and it fell incomplete. A fourth down pass interference penalty moved the Irish up to the Pirate 4 yard line. Jason Boge went over the right tackle for a two yard gain and earned a first down before Fulton’s line stopped him.

On the next play, Jason Boge went over the left tackle for a two yard touchdown run. Bryson Sattler covered on the Irish incomplete Point After Pass. With 1:43 to play in the third quarter, the Irish closed the Fulton lead to 52-33.

Nate Siler kicked the ball to the Sacred Heart 49 yard line; Connor Cunningham dove on the ball for Fulton. The Pirates started their next series there.

Nate Siler stopped Fulton’s first down run for a one yard loss. Levi Lynch and Joe Endres teamed up to stop the Pirate second down run for no gain. On the next play, Tanner Villalobos went down the middle and to the left for a forty-nine yard touchdown run. Peyton Reynolds took the ball into the middle for a successful two point conversion run.

With 12.2 seconds remaining in quarter number three, Fulton had a 60-33 lead.

Fulton’s kickoff went out of bounds and Sacred Heart started its next series on its own 45 yard line.

Jason Boge was chased out of the pocket on first down, but managed to gain eleven yards and a first down before Wyatt King tackled him.

On the next play, which was the final play of the third quarter, there was a bad snap and Fulton recovered the ball on the Sacred Heart 40 yard line.

After three quarters, Fulton held a 60-33 lead; the Pirates had a first down on the Irish 40 yard line.

Tanner Villalobos gained eight yards on a first down run up the right tackle. Peyton Reynolds gained four yards and earned a first down on a second down run up the middle.

Kaiden Oliver gained five yards on a first down run up the right tackle before he ran into Martin He and Teegan Duffy. Kaiden Oliver ran up the middle for four more yards on second down; Luke Hacker and Joe Likavec made the tackle for the Irish. Peyton Reynolds gained five yards and earned another first down on a third down run. Caleb Strauch and Luke Hacker made the tackle for Sacred Heart.

Kaiden Oliver took the ball to the right for a five yard first down gain before he ran into James Endres. A second down illegal procedure penalty cost Fulton five yards. Kaiden Oliver took the ball to the right for a five yard gain before Caleb Strauch and Hank MacDonald tackled him. Luke Hacker stopped Fulton’s third down run to the left for a two yard loss. Fulton nearly scored a touchdown on fourth down, but the Irish recovered a fumble in their own end zone to thwart the Pirates. Kudos to the Irish players who caused and recovered the fumble; I was not able to see the players because it was on the opposite side of the field. Sacred Heart had a first down on its own 20 yard line.

Nate Siler gained five yards on a first down run up the middle before Jared Akin tackled him. Nate Siler passed to Nico Vazquez for a four yard second down gain; Bryson Sattler made the Fulton stop. Nate Siler burst up the left sideline for a twenty-six yard third down gain before Bryson Sattler pushed him out of bounds. Sacred Heart had a first down on the Fulton 45 yard line.

Nate Siler went to the right for a four yard first down gain before Trevor Brown and Parker Hungerford teamed up to stop him. Bryson Sattler broke up Sacred Heart’s second down pass. Bryson Sattler and Trevor Brown teamed up to stop the Irish third down run for no gain. On fourth down, Peyton Reynolds chased the Irish quarterback out of the pocket and Trevor Brown tackled him for a second down loss.

Fulton took over the ball on downs on its own 41 yard line.

Coltin Kus took the ball to the left for a ten yard gain and a first down. Luke Hacker pushed him out of bounds.

Levi Lynch stopped Fulton’s first down run for no gain. Hank MacDonald and Levi Lynch teamed up to stop Fulton’s second down run for no gain; a penalty pushed Fulton back to its own 47 yard line. Levi Lynch stopped Fulton’s run on the second down replay for no gain. Fulton was penalized for a false start penalty on third down. Fulton took a knee on the final play of the game.

Fulton won this game by the score of 60-33. I’d like to thank everyone from Sacred Heart for making my first home game on their field a fantastic experience!!!