Houghton running back Brayden Goudge (8) tries to turn the corner on the Kingsford defense during a game Friday night at Alumni Field in Houghton. (Kent Kraft/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The first quarter of football at home for the Houghton Gremlins this season was a tense back-and-forth between their team and the Kingsford Flivvers, but as the second quarter got underway, the Flivvers found forward momentum and never looked back. The end score was in favor of the Flivvers, 29-6.

The Gremlins received the opening kickoff and started the drive with a 15-yard run from Brayden Goudge. Their next two runs from Cael DeVoge and Goudge were for small gains, until Goudge once again broke through the Flivvers defense for a 12-yard gain. DeVoge was then tackled in the backfield, the Gremlins had a delay of game penalty, Goudge was stopped at the line, and quarterback Brody Donnelly tossed up an incomplete pass which were three back-to-back plays that killed their momentum and they were forced to punt.

Taking over on offense from their own 16, the Flivvers showed their game plan with two breakout runs from quarterback Jack Kreigl, one for thirteen yards and a second for fourteen yards. Ian Spencer had a run for two yards, followed by another breakout from Kreigl who went for twenty-eight yards. Jack Olson moved the ball forward eleven more yards for the Flivvers on his run before being matched by another run from Kreigl. Unfortunately for the Flivvers, Kreigl fumbled the ball on his last run, turning the ball over to the Gremlins.

Starting on their own 5 yard line, the Gremlins tried to make some space with running back Goudge taking the ball forward for gains of three, four, and two yards, leaving a short distance to go on fourth down. Houghton lined up to try to get the first down, but a false start penalty meant the punt squad went out onto the field.

After a short punt and a personal foul penalty on the Flivvers, their offense started from their own 40 yard line. Two runs from Kreigl gave the Flivvers a first down, then a false start penalty moved them back five yards. Kreigl threw up a pass on first down and connected for eight yards. Another run from Kreigl was followed by two long runs from Spencer which moved the Flivvers all the way to the Houghton 10 yard line as the first quarter came to a close.

The Houghton defense stepped up to stuff Kreigl at the line on his next run and then keep the next pass to Briar Braden to a no gain as well. On third down, Kreigl managed to run for seven yards, eluding a few Houghton defenders along the way. A fourth down and three from the three yard line was too tempting to pass up for the Flivvers, and Kreigl managed to dash into the endzone for the first score of the game. The Flivvers connected on their extra point, making the game 7-0.

Houghton could get nothing going on their next drive, only moving the ball four yards on three runs between Donnelly and Goudge. On the punt, Goudge sent a line drive down the field that took several favorable bounces, going more than sixty yards and pinning the Flivvers back on their own two yard line.

The first run from Kreigl went for six yards. His next went for 92 as he scampered down the field, nearly untouched, for another Flivvers touchdown. After the extra point, the score was 14-0.

Another three-and-out ensued for Houghton who was forced to punt on a fourth and seven. Starting from their own 32, the Flivvers moved the ball quickly again with Kreigl who broke a few tackles and ran for 21 yards. Sid Olson was given the ball on the next play, but was unable to get past the line of scrimmage on his run. The next play saw Kreigl pass to Olson for a gain of four yards. Kreigl snagged a first down on his next run, but the Gremlins defense made a huge play, sacking Kreigl for a nine yard loss. Two more runs by Kreigl came up short of a first down, and the Flivvers were facing a fourth down and two. With little time left in the half, the Flivvers offense went for it, and Kreigl managed to gain nine yards to give them a first down. Time remained for one more play, and Kreigl went back to pass. Goudge, on defense for the Gremlins, put pressure on Kreigl who threw up a pass towards the end zone. Another Gremlin was ready for it, jumping up and batting the ball to the ground.

The teams went into halftime with the Flivvers still up 14-0. While the score was one-sided, the action was tense and the Gremlins seemed to still be in the game.

As the second half started, the Flivvers worked on putting the game away. A lengthy first drive that took nearly half of the third quarter saw runs from Kreigl, Spencer, and Olson, all for positive gain. This drive was capped off by a 16-yard run by Spencer, a personal foul on the Gremlins that pushed the Flivvers fifteen yards further, and a touchdown run of twenty-four yards from Spencer.

On the extra point, the Gremlins were offsides and the Flivvers used their new field position to try and convert a two-point attempt. Kreigl ran the ball in, giving the Flivvers a 22-0 lead.

After Houghton fielded the kickoff and sent their offense out, Goudge ran for three yards before being brought down and staying down with an injury. He was soon up and running off the field. In his absence in the next few plays, Donnelly had a short gain run and two incomplete passes, leading to the Gremlins punting once more.

An earlier holding penalty had put the Gremlins deep inside their own territory and after a short punt, the Flivvers started their drive on the Houghton 37 yard line. Spencer ran for four yards, Olson ran for thirteen, and Braden ran for seventeen yards and a three yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Flivvers were up 29-0.

Houghton had a decent return on the next kickoff, starting at their 41 yard line, but could not seem to get anything going on offense. Another punt bounced well for the Gremlins as they pinned the Flivvers on their own 11 yard line to start their drive.

Olson had a two yard run, then Blake Tomasoski ran for nine yards before fumbling the ball. The Houghton defense recovered, giving their offense their first chance to start in Flivver territory.

An incomplete pass from Donnelly drew a pass interference call on the Flivvers, pushing the ball all the way to the Flivvers’ ten yard line. Donnelly almost gave up the field position, losing seven yards after recovering the fumbled the hike. Goudge, back in the game, fumbled after running for ten yards, but Houghton again recovered the ball. Donnelly then ran for six yards, setting up a fourth down only two yards away from the goal line. Breaking through the Flivvers line, Donnelly took the ball in for the touchdown, giving Houghton a brief spark.

They failed in a two-point conversion, and then were unable to make an onside kick work. While the Flivvers had a turnover on downs after four plays, the Houghton offense was unable to pick their momentum back up and did not manage to score again on their final offensive drive, running out the time a few yards from the end zone.

Up next

The Gremlins hope to break their two-game losing streak when the Hancock Bulldogs cross the bridge and the Flivvers return home to face the visiting Gladstone Braves with both games on Friday, Sept. 12.