Bearcats’ defense contains Marlette

Jordan Terrasi MARLETTE – With two undefeated teams facing off last Friday, who had combined for nearly 200 points in their first two games of the season, the showdown between Ubly and Marlette looked like a potential shootout between two of the area’s best offenses.

Instead fans were treated to a first half shutout as the Bearcats blanked the Red Raiders 44-0 through two quarters, en route to a dominant 50-21 victory.

Heading into the game, Marlette had scored 109 points in wins over Kingston and Mayville, but in the first half against Ubly, the Bearcats defense held them in check, limiting them to just 33 yards of offense.

“We played really well,” Ubly coach Bill Sweeney said. “I was very excited about how our guys came out focused at the start.

“We played a really physical game,” he added.

Once concern early in the season was how the Bearcat’s defense would respond to a team that liked to throw the ball, as the entire secondary from last year graduated. Those questions were answered as the defensive backs held Marlette quarterback Justin Shaver in check, limiting him to just 49 yards when they were on the field.

Sweeney credits the hard work of both his coaches and players for that type of success. “(Defensive coach) Jim Becker and (assistant coach) Craig Jacobson, who works with our secondary, really do a great job with them,” Sweeney explained.

He added, “We’ve got kids who can play. They are pretty athletic back there, they cover the pass really well and they’ll grow as a unit (as the season progresses).”

Overall, Shaver was 7-of- 14 passing for 123 yards with 74 coming on a late fourth quarter TD strike to Donnie Thomas against the Bearcat’s second team. Despite giving up a couple of big plays (they also allowed a 62 yard TD run from Brandon King in the fourth), Sweeney was impressed with how the backups played. “I was actually pretty happy with the second unit,” he said. “They did a nice job (overall, but especially) moving the ball down the field (on offense).”

As for the Ubly offense, everyone got involved as the team racked up 530 yards of total offense, including 476 on the ground.

Leading the ground game was Bryan Nash, who despite his 5’9” and 165 pound frame, rushed for 127 yards on 13 carries, including three scores. Justin Cleary added 121 yards on 12 carries and reached paydirt twice, while Jordan Terrasi chipped in 85 yards on seven carries and one touchdown.

Ubly QB Adam Glaza contributed 95 yards of total offense, as he was 2-of-3 passing for 54 yards, while adding 41 on the ground. Fullback Keith Kramer added 33 yards on six carries, while Dakota Porzondek had the team’s lone second half score.

“I told the kids we have (at least) five capable runners… so we’ve got options back there for sure,” Sweeney said.

While the yards they rack up are impressive, Sweeney is more impressed by the fact that after three games, his team hasn’t committed any turnovers. “That is the key to our success, controlling the game and not turning the ball over,” he said.

He also knows without the strong play of the line, there wouldn’t be those huge lanes for the backs to run through. “It is an offensive line offense and those guys are back for the most part. We have one sophomore (Josh White) up playing left tackle and he is doing a great job for us and rest of them played 14 games last year,” explained Sweeney.

“So they are a pretty seasoned group that executes really well,” he added.

Friday’s win against Marlette was the team’s 17th straight regular season win. Next week, the Bearcat’s face rival Harbor Beach, who coincidentally is the last team to beat them in a regular season game on September 14, 2007 by a score of 39-12.

While some might think the players would be looking ahead to that week five matchup, Sweeney knows all his team will be focusing on is this week’s opponent, Mayville.