Freeland at Frankenmuth – – Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – October 17, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Frankenmuth Eagles will host the Freeland Falcons in a game the will be important in the Tri-Valley Red Standings. Frankenmuth is in first place in the conference with a 5-0 record, while Freeland is tied with Swan Valley for second place at 4-2. Both teams have 6-1 overall records. Frankenmuth’s only loss has been to Division 4 power Goodrich on the road in its opener. Freeland’s only loss has been to Swan Valley.

When I got to the game, of course, I made sure to get a bratwurst with sauerkraut from Frankenmuth’s concession stand. It was a great bratwurst from Bernthal Packing and quite tasty!

When I got to my spot in the press box, I learned that there would be a lot of radio attention as both Michigan Sports Radio and 100.9 FM from Midland will be in the booth along with Hugh Bernreuter from M-Live and all the regular press box workers. I sat next to John Vicari, who did a wonderful job using his dulcet tones to call the game for his Freeland fans!

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally observent eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen whose football career never really got started. When I started showing progress as a field goal and extra point kick blocker, the football powers-that-be took the wind out of my sails when they prohibited my pogo stick from being on the field. Alas, one wonders what could have been.

Brady Lipka and Avery Simmons stopped the Freeland first down run for a one yard loss. The Eagle line foiled the second down run for no gain. Brady Hale broke up Freeland’s long, incomplete third down pass. Jacob Clawson punted for Freeland on fourth down. Cash Tedford returned the punt about five yards and Frankenmuth started its opening series on the Freeland 41 yard line.

Frankenmuth ran the ball to the left on first down and gained four yards. (Your Aging Bleacher Denizen apologizes for being slow on his notes in the noisy press box; he does not know who made this fine run.) On the next play, Brady Hale took a pitch to the left and gained 32 yards. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Freeland 5 yard line.

Riyu Deal went up the middle for a four yard first down gain. Frankenmuth appeared to score on the next play, but a holding penalty pushed the Eagles back to the Freeland 11 yard line. E.J. Bernthal went to the left for a two yard second down gain. Lleyton Hoard tossed the ball to Cash Tedford on the right side for a four yard third down gain. On fourth down, Lleyton Hoard dodged and darted through the Freeland defenders for a five yard touchdown run.

The extra point kick was no good. With 7:13 remaining in the opening quarter, Frankenmuth had a 6-0 lead.

AEden Teschendorf kicked the ball off to the Freeland one yard line where Zander Wheatley fielded it and gained eighteen yards before Brady Hale took him down. Freeland had a first down on its own 19 yard line.

Brock Rowden and Luke Purves pressured the Falcon quarterback into throwing an incomplete first down pass. Keenan Cooper took the ball to the left for a three yard second down gain. A timely hit by Luke Purves caused Freeland’s third down pass to fall incomplete.

Jacob Clawson punted for Freeland. Cash Tedford caught the ball near the 50 yard line and almost head a touchdown before Karson Worth and Connor Leahy stopped him near the goal line, but an illegal block in the back brought the ball back to the Freeland 39 yard line, where Frankenmuth started its next series.

Riyu Deal gained four yards on a first down run before Brigham Smith pulled him down. Brady Hale took a second down pitch to the left and gained four yards before Kellen East tackle him. Lleyton Hoard gained six yards on a third down run to the right before Kellen East got the stop, but Frankenmuth had a first down.

Riyu Deal gained two yards on a first down run. Lleyton Hoard threw a second down pass to Sean McGovern, who made a diving catch for a four yard gain. Tristan Comer stopped Frankenmuth’s third down run up the middle for a two yard gain. Frankenmuth needed two yards on fourth down, but Freeland’s Brody Geth tackled the runner after a one yard gain. Freeland took over the ball on downs on its own 17 yard line.

Keenan Cooper gained five yards on his first down run up the middle. Griffin Clontz got the tackle for Frankenmuth. Keenan Cooper also gained five yards on his second down run and his Falcons had a first down.

Keenan Cooper gained eight yards on his first down run before Christian Page and Brady Lipka tackled him. Keenan Cooper ran to the right on second down for a five yard gaine and a first down. Brady Lipka made the Eagle tackle.

On the final play of the first quarter, Keenan Cooper took the ball to the right for a one yard gain. Gavin Martin made the Eagle stop.

After one quarter, Frankenmuth had a 6-0 lead. Freeland had a second down on its own 41 yard line with nine yards needed for a first down.

Brady Hale defended for Frankenmuth on Freeland’s incomplete second down pass. A pass interference on third down gave the Falcons a first down on the Eagle 48 yard line.

Keenan Cooper went to the right for a two yard first down gain. Griffin Clontz made the stop for the Eagles. Keenan Cooper went to the left for a three yard second down gain. Brady Lipka got the Eagle tackle. Keenan Cooper went to the left and gained two yards on third down. Max Heyn ran a quarterback keeper to the left and gained the three yards needed for a first down before Brady Lipka halted him.

Freeland had a first down on the Frankenmuth 39 yard line. On the next play, Max Heyn threw a long pass to Wilson Huckeby, who made a great diving catch for a thirty-four yard gain to give his Falcons a first down on the Frankenmuth 5 yard line.

Max Heyn gained four yards on first down before Gavin Martin stopped him. On the next play, Max Heyn plowed into the end zone for a one yard touchdown. The extra point kick failed. With 8:30 remaining in the second quarter, the game was tied at 6-6.

Max Puvalowski kicked the ball off to the Frankenmuth 31 yard line, where Cash Tedford fielded the ball, but was quickly tackled by Will Dixon. Frankenmuth started its series on its own 38 yard line.

Cash Tedford took the ball to the right on first down and gained four yards before he ran into Tristan Comer and Ryan Watkins. Brigham Smith stopped the Eagle second down run for a two yard gain. On third down, Lleyton Hoard took the ball to the left and fained fifteen yards to give Frankenmuth a first down on the Freeland 41 yard line.

Riyu Deal took the ball up the middle on first down; he gained four yards before Tristan Comer and Braylon Prescott stopped him. Ryan Watkins, Brighman Smith and Tristan Comer teamed up to stop the second down run for a one yard gain. Blake Hendricks stopped the Eagle third down run for a one yard gain. Zander Wheatley defended on the Frankenmuth incomplete fourth down pass.

Freeland took over the ball on downs on its own 35 yard line.

A holding penalty on first down pushed Freeland back ten ayrds. On the next play, Max Heyn scampered down the right sideline for a forty-eight yard gain. Brady Hale made a fine tackle for Frankenmuth to prevent a touchdown. Freeland had a first down on Frankenmuth’s 27 yard line.

On the next play, Cash Tedford recovered a fumble to give Frankenmuth a first down on the Freeland 25 yard line.

Lleyton Hoard dragged some Freeland tacklers for a twenty yard first down gain; Brigham Smith finally pulled him down.

Wilson Huckeby stopped Frankenmuth’s first down run for no gain. Cash Tedford took a second down pitch to the right and dodged several tackles on his way to a seven yard gain before Tristan Comer tackled him. Brady Hale took the ball into the middle on third down and gained two yards before Mason Kozumplik and Braylon Prescott tackled him. Liam Rump and Jackson Puvalowski teamed up to stop the Eagle fourth down run for no gain.

Freeland took over the ball on downs on its own 46 yard line.

Freeland’s quarterback was chased out of the pocket on first down and Luke Purves tackled him for no gain. Max Heyn completed an eleven yard pass to Kellen East on the next play. Freeland had a first down in Frankenmuth territory on the 35 yard line.

Christian Paige got a hand on Freeland’s first down pass as he pressured the Falcon quarterback. The ball fell incomplete. Brady Hale made a great athletic leap to deflect Freeland’s second down pass as it fell incomplete. On third down, Max Heyn passed to Keenan Cooper for a twenty-nine yard gain to give the Falcons a first down on the Eagle six yard line.

Christian Paige stopped Freeland’s first down run for no gain. Avery Simmons stopped Freeland’s second down run to the right for a three yard loss. On the next play, Max Heyn tossed a pass to Zander Wheatly on the left side for a nine yard touchdown. Karson Worth held the ball and Jackson Puvalowski kicked the successful extra point to give Freeland a 13-6 lead with 23.3 seconds remaining in the opening half.

Jackson Puvalowski kicked the ball to Cash Tedford around the 25 yard line and he gained five yards.

On the final play of the first half, Lleyton Hoard ran through the middle and gained about ten yards before Brigham Smith stopped him.

At halftime, Freeland had a 13-6 lead.

The band did a few nice songs at halftime; I recognized “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five. They also introduced the senior band members to the audience.

Jackson Puvalowski kicked off the second half opening kickoff to around the Frankenmuth 20 yard line where Cash Tedford fielded it and brought it out to the Frankenmuth 41 yard line where he was tackled by Alex Schuette and Keenan Cooper. Frankenmuth started its second half opening series there.

Brady Hale took the ball into the middle for a five yard first down gain. Ryan Watkins made the tackle for the Falcons. Mason Kozumplik and Brigham Smith stopped the Eagle second down run for a one yard tain. Lleyton Hoard followed some nice blocking by the left side of the line for a twenty-one yard gain before Keenan Cooper forced him out of bounds. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Freeland 32 yard line.

Riyu Deal gained four yards on a first down run up the middle before Brody Geth pulled him down. Riyu Deal went to the middle and gained three yards before Tristan Comer pulled him down. Karson Worth got a hand on Frankenmuth’s third down pass and it fell incomplete. Karson Worth took a fourth down pitch for an eight yard gain to earn a first down for the Eagles. Karson Worth made the tackle for the Falcons.

Freeland stopped Frankenmuth’s first down run for no gain. A second down holding panelty pushed Frankenmuth back ten yards. On the next play, Lleyton Hoard completed a screen pass to Cash Tedford, who made a masterful run darting and dodging around Falcon tacklers for a twenty-eight yard touchdown.

Brock Rowden made the long snap, Reese Henry held the ball and Aeden Teschendorf kicked the successful extra point to tie the game at 13-13 with 8:01 left in quarter number three.

Aeden Teschendorf blasted his kickoff into the end zone and Freeland started its next series on its own 20 yard line.

An offside penalty gave Freeland five yards. Freeland suffered a broken play on the first down repeat; Christian Page and Brady Lipka teamed up to stop the run for a one yard loss. Camden Simmons stopped the Freeland third down run for a two yard loss. Jacob Clawson’s fourth down punt was downed by a Falcon teammae on the Eagle 24 yard line, where Frankenmuth started its next series.

Cash Tedford gained three yards on a run up right tackle before he was stopped by Tristan Comer. Lleyton Haord earned eight yards and a first down on his second down run before he was taken down by Wilson Huckeby.

Lleyton Hoard passed to Will McCubbin on the left side for a seven yard gain. Zander Wheatley made the Freeland tackle. Riyu Deal dove up the middle for a three yard second down gain to give his Eagles another first down.

Lleyton Hoard passed to Brady Hale on the right side; he gained five yards before Keenan Cooper forced him out of bounds. Lleyton Hoard went into the middle and gained four yards before Nic Haas stopped him. Frankenmuth looked like it scored a touchdown on third down, but a holding penalty pushed them back into their own territory on the 43 yard line. On the third down repaid, Lleyton Hoard gained three yards up the middle before Nic Haas tackled him.

Aeden Teschendorf punted for Frankenmuth on fourth down. Grant Bennett downed the ball on the Freeland 21 yard line where the Falcons started their next series.

Keenan Cooper went up the middle and gained three yards before he ran into Luke Purves. Keenan Cooper went back up the middle and earned seven yards as well as a first down before Luke Purves stopped him.

Keenan Cooper spun and twisted his way up the right side for a fourteen yard gain and another first down.

On the final play of the third quarter, Keenan Cooper went to the right and gained four yards before Carson Bouvy and Reese Henry stopped him.

After three quarters, the game was tied at 13-13. Freeland had a second down and six yards to do on their own 48 yard line.

Max Heyn completed a second down pass to Wilson Huckaby, but Camden Simmons tackled him for no gain. Reese Henry and Will McCubbin covered on the Falcon long, incomplete down pass.

Jacob Clawson punted on fourth down. Cash Tedford fielded the ball on the Eagle 17 yard line and gained twenty-six yards to give Frankenmuth a first down on its own 44 yard line.

Mason Kozumplik stopped Frankenmuth’s first down run for a one yard loss. Lleyton Hoard tossed a pass to Cash Tedford over the middle for a twenty-two yard gain to give the Eagles a first down on the Falcon 35 yard line.

A holding penalty on first down negated most of a Frankenmuth long gain by E.J. Bernthal; the Eagles only earned three yards after the penalty was assessed. On the first down replay, Brigham Smith and Ryan Watkins stopped the Eagle run for a one yard loss. Lleyton Hoard took the ball to the left for a five yard second down gain; Wilson Huckeby made the Freeland tackle. Lleyton Hoard went up the right tackle for a three yard first down gain; Nic Haas got the stop for Freeland. On fourth down, Lleyton Hoard passed to Will McCubbin, who leaped and fought off three Freeland defenders to catch the ball for a seventeen yard gain.

Frankenmuth had a first down on the Freeland 15 yard line.

Riyu Deal took the ball to the left and gained three yards on first down before Keenan Cooper pulled him down. Kellen East and Brody Geth stopped the Eagle second down run for a one yard loss. On the next play, Cash Tedford took the ball to the right side and outraced everyone to the end zone for a thirteen yard touchdown. Reese Henry held the ball and Aeden Teschendorf kicked the successful extra point to give Frankenmuth a 20-13 lead with 5:58 left on the clock.

Aeden Teschendorf booted his kickoff to the end zone and Freeland started its drive on their own 20 yard line.

Keenan Cooper took the first down pitch to the left and gained six yards before Brady Hale and Will McCubbin took him down. Keenan Cooper took a second down pitch for a four yard gain before Avery Simmons tackled him. The Falcons had a first down.

Christian Paige and Brock Rowden pressured the Freeland quarterback into throwing an incomplete first down pass. Keenan Cooper took the ball to the right on second down and gained six yards before Camden Simmons and Brady Lipka tackled him. Freeland was forced into an intentional grounding penalty on third down. Will McCubbin nearly intercepted the fourth down pass as he knocked it down.

Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on the Freeland 21 yard line.

Nic Haas stopped Frankenmuth’s first down run to the left for a two yard gain. Cash Tedford gained eight yards and earned a first down on a second down run up the left tackle. The Eagles were on the Falcon 11 yard line.

Brady Hale took a first down pitch to the left and gained three yards before Brody Geth stopped him. Brady Hale gained three yards to the left on second down before Zander Wheatley forced him out of bounds. Cash Tedford went to the right for a three yard gain before the Falcon defense halted him. On fourth down, Lleyton Hoard willed himself for the one yard Frankenmuth needed for a first down at the Freeland 1 yard line.

On the next play, Lleyton Hoard took the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. Brock Rowden snapped the ball, Reese Henry held the ball and Aeden Teschendorf kicked the successful extra point to give his Eagles a 27-13 lead with just 1:12 remaining in the game.

Aeden Teschendorf kickd the ball off to the Freeland 5 yard line where Karson Worth fielded and gained fourteen yards before Dominick Licavoli tackled him.

Freeland’s first down pass fell incomplete. Brock Rowden and Luke Purves pressured the Falcon quarterback into throwing an incomplete second down pass. Brock Rowden nearly sacked the Falcon quarterback and caused an incomplete third down pass. Grant Bennett nearly intercepted the Falcon fourth down pass, which fell incomplete.

Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on the Freeland 19 yard line.

The Eagles took a knee on the final two plays of the game.

Frankenmuth completed its fourteenth successive undefeated conference schedule and won the game by the final score of 27-13.