The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Late TD stuns Chelsea
Bulldogs unable to capitalize on turnovers, fall to Novi
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: September 1, 2005
Chelsea football dropped its season opener to Novi 14-7 last Saturday night, in the final game of the inaugural Big Day Prep Showdown at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium. Approximately 8,000 fans filled the stadium's seats.
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"It's disappointing," said Chelsea coach Brad Bush. "We had opportunities to win this game."
The Bulldogs (0-1) had a 35-yard touchdown run by junior halfback Adam Connell -- on the second play of its first possession of the season -- called back because of a holding penalty.
Chelsea was unable to take advantage of four first-half Wildcat turnovers, picking off three passes and recovering one fumble.
The Bulldogs threw an interception at the Novi 1-yard line and later, in the final seconds of the contest, dropped a potential game-tying touchdown pass.
It was that kind of night for Chelsea. For the Wildcats, though, it was the kind of night they will remember for a long time.
With the score tied at 7-7, Novi (1-0) regained possession of the football at the Bulldog 43-yard line with 24 seconds left in the game.
On the Wildcats' first play from scrimmage, quarterback Steve Hart found receiver Adam Chandler streaking across the middle of the field for a 43-yard touchdown reception. Pat Sijan's extra point split the uprights for the night's final margin.
"What a great high school football game," said Novi coach Tab Kellepourey. "Our kids kept fighting. Chandler made a great play.
"But give Chelsea credit, that's a great program."
Chandler was all over the field, lining up at quarterback, wingback and receiver during the game. He finished with 70 yards rushing on 14 carries and had four catches for 76 yards.
On the game-winning touchdown, Bush said his defense was ready.
"It didn't surprise us," he said. "Novi just made a good play."
To begin the contest, Chelsea senior linebacker Robbie Moffett (5-foot-10, 195) tackled Wildcat running back David Carnegie on the game's opening drive, forcing a fumble. Moffett recovered the ball at the Novi 49-yard line, with 7:52 left in the first quarter.
Two plays later, Connell sprinted around left end on a reverse untouched for a 35-yard touchdown, or so it seemed. The play was called back because of a holding call. With the penalty, the drive and any momentum Chelsea had was stalled. Three plays later, the Bulldogs punted.
After a Novi punt, Chelsea started its second possession of the night at its own 45-yard line. On a fourth and 14, the Bulldogs' attempted a 46-yard field goal. Chelsea senior Cam Hawkins' boot sailed wide right, keeping the game scoreless.
To begin the second quarter, Bulldog senior linebacker Derek Brown (6-0, 220) intercepted a tipped pass by Hart, giving Chelsea the ball at its own 39-yard line with 9:47 remaining in the first half.
The Novi defense stiffened, forcing a Bulldog three and out punt.
On the Wildcats' ensuing possession, Chelsea sophomore defensive back Jeff Adams intercepted a pass near the Bulldog goal line, returning it to the 18-yard line.
Again, the Wildcats defense rose to the occasion, forcing another three-and-out punt by Chelsea, quelling the momentum the Bulldogs had built.
After a series of punts by both clubs, Novi took over at Chelsea's 39-yard line in scoring position with 1:32 left in the half.
On the drive's first play, however, Bulldog junior defensive back Dan Rhodes intercepted Chelsea's third pass of the game, ending the first half with the score deadlocked at 0-0.
To start the third quarter, Connell energized the Bulldog crowd and Chelsea team, returning the kickoff to the Wildcat 41-yard line.
The Bulldogs quickly moved the ball downfield. With momentum, again, on its side, it appeared imminent Chelsea would score, breaking the tie. However, with the ball inside the Novi 10-yard line, Wildcat defensive back Brandon Carnegie stepped in front of a Bulldog receiver, intercepting the pass and returning it to the 7-yard line.
With the Novi crowd now on its feet and the Wildcat sideline screaming at the top of their collective lungs, Novi began an epic 18-play, 93-yard drive, culminating in Brandon Carnegie's 20-yard scamper around left end for a touchdown. With Sijan's extra point, the Wildcats broke the stalemate, taking a 7-0 lead with 2:09 left in the third quarter.
Chelsea answered on its next possession as Hawkins found senior halfback Drew Wint on a post pattern for a 38-yard touchdown strike. The extra point by Hawkins was successful, tying the contest at 7-7 with 10:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The 10-play, 76-yard drive consumed 3:28 off the clock.
With play heating up, the Bulldogs, especially defensively, raised the intensity up a notch on the next series.
Novi took over at its own 36-yard line.
Chelsea senior defensive tackle Paul Ernst (6-2, 230) batted down a pass on the possession's second play from scrimmage, bringing a roar from the crowd. Four plays later, with the Wildcats driving, Bulldog junior defensive end Todd Elliot (6-3, 195) and Brown made a Chelsea sandwich out of Hart, dropping him for a sack and forcing a Novi punt.
After punts by the Bulldogs and the Wildcats, Chelsea regained the ball at its own 8-yard line with 1:28 left on the clock.
The Bulldogs were forced to punt with 30 seconds remaining. Rhodes, under enormous pressure by Novi rushers, blasted a kick down to the Chelsea 43-yard line.
The Wildcats took over with 24 ticks left in the game. Overtime appeared to loom on the horizon. Hart, however, hooked up with Chandler on a 43-yard TD pass for the night's final tally.
A desperation pass by Hawkins on the game's final play was intercepted by Novi's Eric Zhao, ending the contest. With Zhao's interception, the Wildcat players rushed the field in celebration.
"Our guys played hard," Bush said. "We'll regroup and get better."
Senior running back Zack Gregory paced the Bulldogs on the ground, finishing with 51 yards on 18 carries.
Hawkins ended up 8-of-25 passing for 113 yards with two interceptions.
Wint led the receiving corps with five catches for 72 yards. Junior Nate Schwarze added three receptions for 41 yards.
For Novi, Hart finished 17-of-25 passing for 187 yards with three interceptions.
Brandon Carnegie had seven receptions for 79 yards to lead the Wildcats.
As a team, Chelsea had 168 yards of total offense, while Novi had 353 total yards.
The Wildcats held the ball for 31:16, while the Bulldogs had possession for 16:44.
Defensively, senior safety Adam Gerstler, Brown and Moffett led Chelsea with six tackles each. Senior defensive tackle Austin Rodgers (6-2, 230), senior linebacker Lucas Daniels (6-3, 210) and Rhodes each recorded five tackles.
Junior linebacker Chris Hopkins, Daniels and Brown each had one sack for Chelsea.
Linebacker Tom Spisich, defensive tackle Derek McClelland and defensive end Tyler Hoover paced Novi with four stops each.
The Bulldogs next host Temperance Bedford 7 p.m. tomorrow. The Mules (1-0) defeated Holland (Ohio) Springfield 19-12 in their season opener last week.
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