Jack Pine Tribune

By Clint Kern

FARWELL – The Eagles had great kick off coverage all night as a reverse fooled nobody. Tim Anderson churned for eight yards off tackle. Sophomore gun slinger, Adam Stremlow rifled a bullet to Lars Murray to move the chains. Two plays later Coleman fumbled and Farwell recovered. Then FHS returned the gesture and coughed the ball up, Coleman recovered. Murray hauled in a 31 yard reception but the Comets drive stalled. 

Farwell took over on downs. Keegan Rohdy patiently set up a couple of blocks, darted through a crease and exploded down the sidelines for a 56 yard touchdown, 6-0 FHS.

Matt Warner responded with a solid 29 yard kick return for Coleman. Stremlow gunned a 10 yard pass to Zack Frazer for a first down. FHS’s Ryan Simmons reached to deflect a pass. On 3rd and 4, Anderson plowed ahead for three yards. On 4th and 1, Mike Rocha pumped his legs to gather two tough yards and a first down for his Comets.

Jacob Turner filled a hole and made a great open field tackle to stop a touchdown run. Then on the ensuing play, Turner tipped a pass away in the end-zone to turn the ball over to Farwell on downs.

Warner club-wrapped up Turner on 3rd down in space to force Farwell to punt the ball back to CHS.

Warner spun around and rumbled for about a 31 yard punt return. Then next play saw Murray make a ferociously devastating lead block to spring Tim Anderson for a 24 yard touchdown gallop. Stremlow threw to the back shoulder and high to where only his receiver could catch the ball. Frazer leapt, hung and ripped down the ball at it’s apex to convert the two pointer, granting Coleman the lead, 8-6.

Keegan Rohdy really didn’t like being behind to Coleman, he took the ensuing kick-off 84 yards to pay dirt. Farwell now held a 14-8 advantage after Turner threw a dart to Tony Sutton for the two pointer.

Rocha launched a 45 yard bomb to Chris Lovejoy. Anderson then gashed the Eagles for a 26 yard touchdown run. Frazer caught another two point conversion pass from Stremlow, this gave CHS a 24-14 lead early in the second quarter. 

Rohdy and Quincy Crawford led Farwell down the field and Rohdy cashed in on a 20 yard touchdown rush. Turner rolled 62 yards on the next series for FHS to make it 28-24 Eagles.

Coleman fumbled a hook and ladder attempt and Farwell recovered. Noah Wilson knifed in from four yards out to give FHS a 34-24 lead. Then Wilson intercepted a pass. Rohdy mashed for a 19 yard touchdown to make it a 41-24 ballgame at the half. 

On the first play from scrimmage of the 3rd stanza, Rohdy blew down the field for another long TD run. Coleman did a fantastic job of chipping away with an array of beautiful pass plays to strike quickly and get themselves to within a touchdown. Farwell had an incredible goal-line stand to preserve the amazingly thrilling shootout victory, 61-54.

Keegan Rohdy compiled 228 yards rushing on 18 carries. He had a kick return TD and three other rushing Tds. Jacob Turner had 14 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Turner also spearheaded the defense with seven tackles. Ryan Simmons was the defensive catalyst with eight tackles, he was everywhere. Seth Baginski stepped up for six tackles and he snatched one interception. Noah Wilson was an animal as he scored two touchdowns, had a sack, five tackles and a key interception.

“Each phase stepped up when we needed them to. Keegan Rohdy ran very hard and he kept our boys fired up. He’s really a great person, just a class act, Keegan is all about the team, I’m so proud of him. Kris Lamerand entered the game and took over the QB position while Jacob Turner was sidelined because of cramps. Kris marched us down the field and punched in a vital touchdow. Turner was tremendous on both sides of the ball. I’m also proud of the boys up front, they all took turns making big plays,” replied Farwell’s Coach  AJ Esterline.

Tim Anderon compiled 130 yards rushing and two Tds. Adam Stremlow was 16-32 for 237 yards, four Tds and one interception, when he did miss, he missed long where only his man could catch it. Zack Frazer grabbed five receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Chris Lovejoy caught four passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Lars Murray led the defense with 10 tackles. Blake Scott had five tackles and a sack.

“Finding out Hunter Gross, our stud two-way lineman, couldn’t play an hour before the bus left made for some interesting personnel changes. No excuses, I wish we could have the last six minutes of the 2nd quarter back to play over. We didn’t take care of the ball good enough and it put us in a deep hole, we still had a chance to tie the game up on the last possession,” said Coleman’s Coach Chad Klopf. “Adam Stremlow grew up in front of our eyes, he made some big-time throws. There were some questionable calls on the final series, but we just need to play better defense and tighten some things up, credit Farwell, they played tough.”