In a game that was not decided until the final seconds, and one that featured two lead changes in the 4th quarter, the Junior Blue Dukes Gray team defeated the previously unbeaten Franklin Sabers on the Franklin home field Oct. 15. Many Gray players had a hand in this thrilling (if occasionally stomach churning) victory.
Coach Joe Wieland used running back Macklin Kortebein as the hammer to pound away at the Sabers defense. Frequently running behind the O-line power trio of Andrew James, Tony Schulz and Jacob Selby, Kortebein gashed the Sabers regularly for chain-moving chunks of yardage.
For their part, Franklin's talented QB, a nifty runner as well as strong passer, kept the Bay defense on its toes.
The game, played in a fairly strong and tricky wind, was scoreless until the 2nd quarter, when a long run put Franklin deep in Bay territory. Two pass completions later, the Sabers QB hit a receiver in the middle of the field, and he ran into the end zone. Franklin kicked the two-point conversion. 8-0, Sabers.
Kortebein returned the ensuing kickoff to the 45. He ripped off a series of strong runs, interspersed with a Jake Fisher pass to Carter Heston, to put Bay at the 15-yard line. Kortebein then took a handoff, ran up the middle, cut left and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion kick was blocked. Franklin 8, Bay 6.
With little time left in the half, and Franklin due to receive the second-half kickoff, the Sabers might have sat on the ball. Instead, they opted to try to score, and Bay punished them for it.
The Franklin QB dropped back to pass, but was forced out of the pocket by pressure from Mark Mendoza. When the QB scrambled, Tony Schulz grabbed him and began to pull him to the ground. Will Alt slammed into the QB and forced a fumble, which bounced toward Nick Higgins. Higgins scooped it up at the Bay 45 and sprinted down the left sideline for a touchdown. Kortebein ran for a one-point conversion. Bay 13-8.
Franklin took the second-half kickoff and marched steadily down the field, mixing runs and passes, until it had a 1st and goal at the Bay. But the Bay defense held, turning the ball over on downs. Bay drove to nearly midfield, but was forced to punt. Two long runs and a pass put Franklin at the Bay 13. Bay seemed to have stopped the Sabers on a 4th down incomplete, but both a pass interference and personal foul penalty were assessed against Bay, giving Franklin new life just outside the goal line. The Franklin QB scored on a short run, and Franklin kicked the two-pointer. Franklin 16, Bay 13.
With scant minutes left, a deep kickoff pinned Bay at its own 12, and it looked bleak for Bay fans. But Kortebein hit Heston with a long halfback pass to the 41, digging Bay out of the hole. Another Kortebein halfback pass got Bay to the Franklin 40, but a fumble turned the ball over to Franklin. With less than two minutes, the game seemed over.
But a holding penalty put Franklin in a 1st and 20 situation. The Bay defense allowed nothing, and Coach Wieland used his 3 timeouts to preserve precious seconds. Franklin's punt gave Bay the ball at the Sabers 45.
On a draw play, Kortebein ran to the Franklin 29, and the Sabers were hit with a personal foul penalty for hitting Macklin out of bounds. With 1st and 10 at the 15, Fisher dropped back and lofted a pass to the streaking Nick Higgins in the end zone. With four defenders surrounding him, Higgins jumped up, arching backwards, and caught the game-winning TD pass. A point-after run was unsuccessful. Bay 19, Franklin 16.
Franklin tried to drive for a score with a variety of passes, including a halfback throw of their own, but the scrambling QB's 4th down pass was intercepted by Chris Siebert to seal the victory.
