**ARTICLE BY JOSH LONGSTRETH**
Two teams rich in culture and yearly success squared off in week one of the 2023 football season. Both Freeland and Clare return talented rosters from playoff berths last season. The Falcons return multiple skill players, so much so that last year’s starting quarterback, Sam Talaga, would be seen at fullback this season. Junior quarterback Jake Metiva takes over at the helm to lead a talented offense. On the other side, the Pioneers return a now veteran group of players that expects to make a run for the Jack Pine conference this season. This one would be all of what was expected and more.
Freeland would jump on top early in this one as Clare would be forced to punt on their first possession. The snap was bobbled, and the Falcons would take full advantage to grab a safety making it, 2-0, to begin the game. This one couldn’t get off to a better start for visiting Freeland. On the next possession, Freeland would get their offense off and running by capping off a 10-play scoring drive to give themselves a 9-0 lead after a Jake Metiva touchdown. Clare looked like they might gain some momentum after a big play by Carter Smedley, but the Falcons would halt the drive after big defensive players on third and fourth down. It would stay at 9-0, Falcons, after one quarter of play.
The Pioneer defense would come up with a fumble recovery after Jake Punches pounced on the loose ball. The Clare offense would set up shop at the Freeland 19-yard line, and they would take full advantage. After just three plays, quarterback Jayden Arthur would find himself in the endzone from 6-yards away. The Camden Babcock PAT would make it a 9-7 game as the Pioneers had life. Freeland would bounce back in a hurry after a big kickoff return from Brayden Petre. Kaden Gerzseny would pay it off with a 1-yard run to put the Falcons up, 16-7. Clare would put together a drive that looked like it would result in points on their next possession before a touchdown would be called back. The ensuing play would result in a fumble and the Falcons had it back. But the Pioneers weren’t about to go away here. Ryan Louch would take a big punt return deep into Freeland territory and Clare had life. Arthur would find Westyn Bryant on a 1-yard touchdown pass as Clare would cut into the lead to make it a 14-16 game at the half.
Both defenses would really start to stiffen up to begin the second half. Petre would break off another long kickoff return but the Freeland drive would be all for not. Midway through the quarter the Pioneers would be faced with a big call. The Clare offense set up in what looked like they would go for it on a 4th and 4 in their own territory before Arthur would punt the ball away. On Freeland’s next drive they too would look like they would go for it on a 4th down call but a delay of game penalty would force them to punt the ball away. Late in the third Bryant would find himself in the endzone again, this time from 9-yards away. The Pioneers would grab their first lead of the game, 20-16.
Clare had their crowd into a frenzy after a Ritchie Montgomery pass rush would result in a Freeland turnover on downs. The Pioneers looked like they might take complete control of the game until speedster Ty Fournier would scoop and score from 35-yards out giving the Falcons a 22-20 lead. Clare would have some urgency on the next drive as the Pioneers used their passing game in a big way. Arthur would then find Smedley and the talented slot man would do the rest all the way from 41-yards out diving in the endzone to give the Pioneers a 26-22 advantage. Buckle up, we were far from over. After an offsides call on the Falcons offense, they would be forced with a 4th and 8. The ensuing play they would grab a big call of their own on a defensive pass interference to set their offense up at the 45-yard line. With just 1:47 left to play the Freeland offense would put themselves right back in a 2nd and 25 hole after two penalties. Fournier would then come up one of the biggest plays of the night to help his offense get inside the Pioneer 20-yard line. Clare would force a 3rd and 1 a few short plays later before Talaga would punch it in. The Pioneers would be left with 9 seconds but it just wouldn’t be enough. Freeland goes on to take an incredible start to the 2023 season, 29-26.
Jayden Arthur put himself together a solid night to finish with 178 passing yards and 2 passing touchdowns. He added one on the ground. Aiden Van Bonn finished with 57 yards on the ground. Westyn Bryant added 52 rushing yards, 1 rush touchdown, and a receiving touchdown. Ryan Louch caught 4 passes for 71 yards. Carter Smedley finished with 54 yards receiving and a receiving touchdown that put the Pioneers up late in the game. Jacob Halicek led the defense with 7 tackles.
Jake Metiva was solid in his first game at starting quarterback to finish with 152 yards passing for the Falcons. The Freeland offense was able to punch the ball in three times on the ground on the night. The return game of the Falcons set up their offense in big ways all night. Defensively, Freeland was able to turn the Pioneers over three times.
This will be a tough one for Clare to swallow as they had much of the momentum throughout the second half. But this is the team that has the look that they’ll be just fine. The Pioneers will look to get over this one in a hurry when they welcome in Pinconning next Thursday. The Spartans battled in their first game but fell to Tawas, 7-14.
This one was far from perfect as well for Freeland. For a team that has high expectations you can almost certainly guarantee that they’ll clean on some mistakes before next week. They will travel to Swan Valley next Thursday night to take on the Vikings. Swan Valley wasn’t welcomed kindly into the 2023 season as they fell to Cros-Lex, 7-37.
