Alma at Frankenmuth – – Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – September 13, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, it’s my privilege to watch Frankenmuth, my Alma Mater, as the Eagles attempt to win their 500th football game in program history. The opponent will be the Panthers from Alma. Frankenmuth enters this contest with a 2-0 record while Alma is at 0-2.

I got to the time to have one of the concession stand’s bratwurst. They are made locally by the Bernthal’s and are wonderful.

Tonight is Parent’s Night, so the varsity football players and varsity cheerleaders all walked along the track accompanied by their parents and were introduced to the crowd. I also learned that some Michigan State University Football Coaches were here to watch Derrick Simmons, a consensus All-State lineman who will be joining the Spartan football team next year.

The band played the Eagle fight song and then the National Anthem as the Frankenmuth American Legion Color Guard raised the flag.

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the occasionally observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to accomplish much as a football player. He learned that football coaches frown on lineman who turn and retreat from the line of scrimmage while shouting “Danger, Danger, Run AWAY!!!” and his career really never got started after that.

Frankenmuth won the opening coin toss and elected to save their decision for the second half. Alma elected to receive the opening kickoff.

Blake Zehnder booted the opening kickoff to the Alma 16 yard line. Brennen Palmer fielded the kickoff and lateraled the ball to Gavin McConnell, who gained eight yards before he slipped. Alma began its first possession on its own 24 yard line.

Derrick Simmons and Jake Bennett burst into the Panther backfield to stop their run for a six yard loss. On second down, the Eagles forced Cooper Couch out of the pocket; he gained about a yard before Hagan Wascher made the stop. Cash Tedford covered on Alma’s incomplete third down pass. Cooper Couch’s fourth down punt of 43 yards was downed by his teammate Kias Martin at the Frankenmuth 38 yard line; the Eagles started their opening series from there.

Cooper Couch covered on Frankenmuth’s incomplete first down pass. Kobbi Ke went up the left tackle to earn ten second down yards as well as a first down. Cooper Couch made the tackle for Alma.

Kobbi Ke went through the line and gained 32 yards with Offensive Lineman Elijah Wenburg helping to lead the way. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Alma 20 yard line.

Kobbi Ke went to the left and gained eleven yards before he ran out of bounds.

On the next play, Aiden Labissoniere twisted and spun his way to an eight yard gain to put the ball on the one yard line. Kobbi Ke shoved his way through the middle for a one yard touchdown run.

Owen Bierlein made the long snap, Hagan Wascher held the ball and Blake Zehnder booted the Eagle extra point through the uprights. With 9:14 remaining in the opening quarter, Frankenmuth had a 7-0 lead.

The announcer saluted the Eagle starting offensive line for their work on this opening drive. Kudos to Elijah Wenburg, Zachary Miller, Owen Bierlein, Derrick Simmons, Ethan McNiel and Luke Purves!!

Blake Zehnder kicked the ball off to the fifteen yard line where Brennen Palmer fielded it and gained nine yards before he ran into Caleb Morgan. Alma had a first down on its own 24 yard line.

Pressure by Logan Diener forced Alma to throw an incomplete first down pass. A delay of game penalty moved Alma back ten yards. On the next play, Cooper Couch tossed a screen pass to Brennen Palmer, who cut across the field and gained fourteen yards before Hagan Wascher stopped him. Brady Lipka covered on Alma’s incomplete third down pass. A fumbled fourth down snap cost Alma four yards; Carson Bouvy made the tackle for Frankenmuth.

The Eagles had a first down on Alma’s 29 yard line. Kias Martin and R.J. Bielaga covered on Frankenmuth’s incomplete first down pass. Kobbi Ke made a rugged run up the right tackle and gained six tough yards on second down before Ethan Helinski took him down. Kobbi Ke’s run up the left tackle on third down gained eleven yards before Kias martin and Gavin McConnell teamed up to stop him.

Frankenmuth had a first down on the Alma 12 yard line.

Kobbi Ke went to the right for an eight yard gain; Mateo Castillo and R.J. Bielaga got the stop for Alma. On the next play, Kobbi Ke barreled through the line for a four yard touchdown. Owen Bierlein snapped the ball, Hagan Wascher held the ball and Blake Zehnder booted the extra point kick through the uprights to give Frankenmuth a 14-0 lead with 6:09 left in the first quarter.

Blake Zehnder kicked the ball to the Alma 15 yard line where Brennen Palmer snared it and returned it for sixteen yards before Lawson DeBeau halted him. Alma had a first down on its own 31 yard line.

Frankenmuth’s line forced Alma Quarterback Cooper Couch out of the pocket, but he alertly ran the ball up the right sideline for a fifteen yard gain before Tanner Kroeger forced him out of bounds.

On the next play, Cooper Couch completed a pass to R.J. Bielaga for a twenty-four yard line to give the Panthers a first down on the Eagle 30 yard line. Reese Henry made the tackle for Frankenmuth.

Cooper Couch then completed a pass to Alex Reyes for an eleven yard gain. Reese Henry made the tackle on Frankenmuth.

With Alma having the ball on the Frankenmuth 19 yard line, Logan Diener stormed into the Alma backfield and stopped the Panther runner for a five yard loss. Cash Tedford covered on Alma’s incomplete second down pass. Cooper Couch completed a pass to Kias Martin for a four yard third down gain; Ethan Edwards got the stop for the Eagles. Hagan Wascher covered on Alma’s incomplete fourth down pass.

Frankenmuth took over the ball on downs on their own 20 yard line.

Kobbi Ke ran up the left sideline and gained thirty-one yards before R.J. Bielaga knocked him out of bounds. On the next play, Logan Diener went to the right and made a fine move to dodge a Panther tackler on his way to a forty-nine yard touchdown run.

Owen Bierlein made the long snap, Hagan Wascher held the ball and Blake Zehnder kicked Frankenmuth’s successful extra point to give the Eagles a 21-0 lead with 2:39 left in quarter number one.

Blake Zehnder’s kickoff was fielded by Brennen Palmer on the Alma 13 yard line and returned twelve yards. Caleb Morgan and Dominick Licavoli made the Eagle tackle. Alma had first down on its own 25 yard line.

Carson Bouvy and Logan Diener teamed up to sack the Panther quarterback for a nine yard first down lost. Cooper Couch completed a second down pass to Mateo Castillo, but Jake Bennett was able to stop the play for a four yard loss. Tanner Kroeger covered on Alma’s incomplete third down pass.

Cooper Couch made another fine punt on fourth down. His thirty-three yard punt was fielded by Hagan Wascher on the Panther 45 yard line. Kias Martin and Gavin McConnell teamed up to tackle him after a two yard return and Frankenmuth had a first down on the Alma 43 yard line.

Lleyton Hoard completed a first down pass to Hagan Wascher, who dodged and darted his way to a seventeen yard gain before Kias Martin and Cameron Ryckman took him down.

Lleyton Hoard went into the middle on a quarterback keeper and earned thirteen yards as well as a first down on the final play of the first quarter. Cooper Couch got the stop for Alma.

The first quarter ended with Frankenmuth holding a 21-0 lead. The Eagles had a first down with thirteen yards to go on the Alma 13 yard line.

On the first play of the second quarter, Dominick Licavoli took the ball to the right for a twelve yard touchdown run. Blake Zehnder booted the successful extra point and Frankenmuth had a 28-0 lead with 11:53 remaining in the second quarter.

Blake Zehnder kicked the ball off to the Alma 15 yard line. Alex Reyes grabbed the ball and carried it to the Frankenmuth 22 yard line for a 63 yard gain. Cash Tedford made a diving tackle from behind to prevent and Alma touchdown. Alma had a first down on the Frankenmuth 22 yard line.

With Jack Bennett chasing the Alma runner into them, Aidan Hubbard and Logan Diener tackled him for a two yard loss. Cooper Couch alertly grabbed a fumbled second down snap and turned it into about a five yard gain before Brady Lipka forced him out of bounds. There was a late hit penalty on the play, which gave Alma a first down on the Frankenmuth 8 yard line.

A pass interference call moved Alma up to the four yard line with no loss of down. Aidan Hubbard knocked down Alma’s pass on the first down repeat. Logan Diener and Brady Lipka teamed up to stop Alma’s second down run up the middle for a first down. Aidan Hubbard led a nest full of Eagles into the Alma backfield and the Panther’s lost six yards on their third down run. Alma attempted an eighteen yard field goal on fourth down, but Aidan Hubbard was able to block the kick. The ball went into the end zone and the Eagles were given the ball on their own 20 yard line.

Kobbi Ke made a brilliant run where he evaded several tackles on his way to a sixty-six yard gain. R.J. Bielaga made a tackle to prevent and Eagle touchdown.

However, on the next play, Logan Diener ran the ball to the right for a fourteen yard touchdown. After Owen Bierlein snapped the ball and Hagan Wascher held it, Blake Zehnder kicked the successful extra point to give his Eagles a 35-0 lead with 7:54 remaining in the opening half.

Blake Zehnder’s kickoff was fielded by Alex Reyes on the Panther 10 yard line. He returned the ball fourteen yards before running into Aidan Hubbard and Timothy Greenwood. Alma had a first down on its own 24 yard line.

On the next play, Jake Bennett and Logan Diener made a blistering tackle to force a fumble. Aidan Hubbard grabbed the ball and took the ball in for an Eagle touchdown. Blake Zehnder kicked another good extra point and Frankenmuth had a 42-0 lead with 7:35 left in the first half.

Blake Zehnder kicked the ball off to the Alma 9 yard line where Alex Reyes snagged it and returned it 24 yards up the left side before Cash Tedford tackled him. Alma had a first down on its own 33 yard line.

Cooper Couch completed a jump pass to Owen Seeley for a five yard first down gain. Tanner Kroeger made the Frankenmuth tackle. Cash Tedford covered on Alma’s incomplete second down pass. A false start penalty moved the Panthers back five yards. On third down, Hagan Wascher intercepted Alma’s pass on the Frankenmuth 41 yard line; his knee hit the ground as he intercepted the ball and there was no runback.

Frankenmuth had a first down on its own 41 yard line.

Kobbi Ke ran the ball to the left side for a six yard first down gain before Brennan Palmer tackled him. On the next play, Lleyton Hoard got around the left end and stormed to a thirty-one yard gain before Gavin McConnell tackled him to prevent a touchdown. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Alma 22 yard line.

Kobbi Ke ran the ball to the left for an apparent twenty-two yard touchdown, but a holding penalty voided the play; after the penalty was assessed, Frankenmuth ended up with a first down on the Alma 20 yard line. Lleyton Hoard passed the ball to Dominick Licavoli for a ten yard gain to give the Eagles a first down on the Panther 10 yard line. Mateo Castillo made the tackle for Alma.

Kias Martin stopped Frankenmuth’s first down run into the middle for a one yard gain. Griffin Clontz took the ball to the left for a four yard second down gain. Owen Seeley got the stop for the Panthers. Griffin Clontz gained three more yards on a third down run before he ran into Caylibe Thompson. On fourth down, Griffin Clontz went up the right tackle for a two yard touchdown run.

Frankenmuth’s extra point kick was unsuccessful. Frankenmuth had a 48-0 lead with 2:48 remaining.

Blake Zehnder kicked the ball off to the Panther 25 yard line where R.J. Bielaga caught it and returned it ten yards before Ethan Edwards tackled him. Alma had a first down on its own 35 yard line.

A false start penalty on first down cost the Panthers five yards. A nest of Eagles invaded the Panther backfield; Derrick Simmons led the way to forcing a seven yard loss. Derrick Simmons and Carson Bouvy teamed up to stop the Panther second down run for a five yard loss. Tanner Kroeger and Jake Bennett covered on Alma’s incomplete third down pass. Cooper Couch punted for Alma on fourth down. Hagan Wascher called for a fair catch on Frankenmuth’s 32 yard line.

That was the final play of the second quarter. Frankenmuth had a 48-0 halftime lead.

Frankenmuth’s Band, led by Junior Drum Major Logan Mills and Senior Drum Major Emma Maki came out to perform their “Totally 80s Marching Show” at halftime.

The did an excellent job with Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. They moved on to “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News and finished up with a spirited rendition of “Love Shack” by the B-52s. (That’s one of my favorite songs; I’m a professional musician who has done a lot of jobs; I’ve never gotten to play that. Sniff.)

Great job by the Eagle band!! The Announcer thanked Band Director Chelsea Vander Graaff, Mr. Vander Graaff (who handled the announcing during halftime) as well as Kevin Cooper, Tyler Dulinski and Allison Phelps from the Marching Band Staff. Also recognized were the Frankenmuth High School Music Booster, the Frankenmuth High Administration, the Frankenmuth Fire Department and the Frankenmuth Community!

Cooper Couch kicked off for Alma to open the second half. The kick took an unfortunate bounce and went out of bounds on Frankenmuth’s 7 yard line. Frankenmuth was awarded the ball on their own 35 yard line and started its next series there.

Caylibe Thompson stopped Frankenmuth’s first down run for a one yard loss. Kobbi Ke took the ball up the middle and gained seven second down yards before Cameron Ryckman halted his progress. Dominick Licavoli took a third down pitch to the right for a seen yard gain before Owen Seeley tackled him.

Dominick Licavoli ran to the right for an eight yard first down gain before he was halted by Cameron Ryckman. Kobbi Ke ran to the left for an eight yard gain and another first down; Gavin McConnell got the stop for the Panthers.

Kobbi Ke pounded his way up the middle to a twenty-one yard gain before Brennen Cooper stopped him to give Frankenmuth a first down on the Alma 17 yard line.

Lleyton Hoard went through the middle for an eight yard first down gain; R.J. Bielaga made the tackle for the Panthers. Gavin McConnell stopped Frankenmuth’s second down pitch to the left for a three yard loss. Trenten Crandall and R.J. Bielaga stopped Frankenmuth’s third down run for a one yard gain. There were off setting penalties on the play. Frankenmuth threw an incomplete pass on fourth down and Alma had a first down on its own 11 yard line.

Frankenmuth’s Aiden Labissoniere and Griffin Clontz pressured Alma’s quarterback into throwing an incomplete first down pass. Alex Reyes broke a few tackles and ran to the left for an eleven yard second down gain which resulted in a first down. Griffin Clontz made the Eagle tackle.

Cooper Couch gained two yards on a first down run before Charlie Sanders tackled him. Aiden Labissoniere and Donovan Hatch applied quite a bit of pressure to the Alma quarterback on second down and Lawson DeBeau knocked the pass harmlessly down to earth. Dominick Licavoli covered on Alma’s incomplete third down pass. Alma faked a fourth down punt, but their pass fell incomplete.

Frankenmuth had a first down on the Alma 24 yard line.

On the final play of the third quarter, Reese Henry ran the ball to the left for a twelve yard gain before Kias Martin tackled him.

The third quarter ended with Frankenmuth holding a 48-0 lead. Frankenmuth had a first down on the Alma 12 yard line.

Dominick Licavoli took the ball into the middle for a seven yard first down gain before Ethan Helinski took him down. Caylibe Thompson got into the Eagle backfield and stopped their run for a three yard second down loss. Frankenmuth’s pitch play to the right was good for a short gain, but a holding penalty moved the ball back ten yards. Gavin McConnell covered for Alma on Frankenmuth’s incomplete third down pass. Frankenmuth’s fourth down attempt for a twenty-five yard field goal missed.

Alma was given a first down on Frankenmuth’s 20 yard line. A fast start penalty moved the Panthers back five yards. Cooper Couch tossed a screen pass to Mateo Castillo for a two yard gain on the first down repeat. Reese Henry made the Eagle tackle. Aeden Teschendorf made a timely hit to force Alma to drop its second down pass. Cooper Couch escaped Frankenmuth’s pass rush on third down and scrambled to a twenty-four yard gain. Dominick Licavoli made the Eagle tackle.

Alma had a first down on its own 41 yard line.

Collin Hecht covered on Alma’s incomplete first down pass. Brock Rowden, Timothy Greenwood and Charlie Sanders teamed up to sack the Panther quarterback for a three yard second down loss. Cooper Couch completed a fifteen yard pass to Owen Seeley on the left side for another Panther first down. Ethan McNiel made the tackle for the Eagles.

Zachary Miller sacked the Alma Quarterback for a five yard first down loss. On the next play, Cooper Couch completed a fifty-two yard touchdown pass to Owen Seeley. Mateo Castillo made the long snap, R.J. Bielaga held the ball and Cooper Couch kicked Alma’s successful extra point.

With 2:55 left in the game, Alma trimmed the Frankenmuth lead to 48-7.

Penn Seeley kicked off for Alma. Cash Tedford fielded his kick on Frankenmuth’s 26 yard line and returned it forty-four yards before Buddy Leonard caught him from behind to prevent a touchdown.

On first down, Reese Henry took the ball to the middle for a four yard gain. Brennen Palmer made the tackle for Alma. Frankenmuth knelt on the final two plays of the game.

Frankenmuth won its 500th game in High School history by the score of 48-7.

At the end of the game, Frankenmuth’s announcer saluted the Eagles on a 69 year successful run. (Over 69 years, they have averaged over 7 wins per season going back to many seasons where they played only eight games.) One interesting piece of trivia was that 1416 players have played varsity football for the Eagles over the years.

Congratulations to the Eagles!!!