***Article by Josh Longstreth
It was another dominant performance from Gladwin last week as they knocked off Pinconning. That has been the case for a Flying G’s program that has done that to many over the past three seasons. It’s now a program that you know what you’re going to get each week. Tonight, however, Gladwin would be on the other side of things for the first time in 20-games.
Gladwin would have an opportunity to get things rolling on their ‘Homecoming Night’ by getting the ball first in this one. The G’s would put a drive together before stalling and giving Notre Dame Prep their first offensive drive of the night. They would pay that off in a big way to grab the momentum early. Standout quarterback, Jacob Tuttle, would cap off the drive midway through the quarter to give the Irish a 7-0 lead. They would hold on to that lead heading into the second quarter.
You don’t back down for anyone when you’re a defending State Champion. The Gladwin offense would put together a big drive of their own midway through the quarter. A heavy dose of Jhace Massey would help Gladwin find the endzone. This would make it a 7-7 game.
A sack from sophomore, Preston Willert, looked to stall the Irish drive on the ensuing possession but it wouldn’t matter. Tuttle would throw deep to youngster, Billy Collins. Collins would pull in a highlight reel catch as the Irish grabbed the momentum right back to make it a 14-7 game. Gladwin looked like they might strike right back when sophomore signal caller, Colton Pfenninger, just missed slot-man Donald Corlew III. They would be forced to punt, giving the ball back to the dangerous Irish offense. They would pay it off again as speedster, Zach Mylenek, turned the corner and that’s ‘all she wrote’. The 4.4-40 track star would put his team up 21-7 late in the half. Gladwin would try and put some points on the board with 1:53 left but a costly interception by Brody Sink would give it right back to the Irish. The offense would get the ball in Joey DeCasas hands and he would do the rest. Notre Dame Prep rolls into the half with a 28-7 lead over Gladwin.
There’s not many nights where Gladwin can’t find their way. The speed of the Irish offense would show a little more with some missed tackles from the Flying G’s. Notre Dame Prep would come right out in the third quarter and add to the lea to make it 35-7. Shortly after, Tuttle would lead another drive to up the lead to 42-7. They would finish off with a score late in the quarter to hold a 49-7 advantage. Corlew would find some space as Gladwin got on the board again to cut the lead to 14-49.
It was the Irish again to start the scoring in the final quarter as Zach Mylenek found his way into the endzone again to make it a 56-14 game. Gladwin would muster the last score of the night on a Corlew III 4-yard touchdown. It just wouldn’t be enough on this night. Gladwin falls in a shocker, 21-56.
Notre Dame Prep came out with some big time urgency in this one. Something that they have shown all year as they remain undefeated. Not many teams have been able to contain the speed of the Irish and that showed again tonight against one of the best defenses they have faced. They’ll move to face a very good Dearborn Divine Child next week. The Irish have the look of a team that could make a deep playoff run this season.
This is new for Gladwin. They have built themselves into a program that is now widely known in the state of Michigan. But it’s a Gladwin team that just didn’t have it tonight. They found a way to get themselves right back in the game but costly mistakes had them reeling at the half. They will fall for the first time on the year as they now sit at 6-1. Heavy-weight football programs move on in a hurry and it’s a group of players and coaches that wouldn’t expect anything less. They finish JPC play against Beaverton next week as they look to get back on track. Expect Gladwin to fix things as they have the signs of a team that can still make a run come playoff time.
