Bay City - Some fans enjoy it when there team breezes through contests.  They can sit back, relax and enjoy the game.  However, every now and then a nail-biter that comes down to the last minute and brings memories that will last a lifetime for those involved and those who have watched the game.  14 months ago I stood on the same field and witnessed the greatest comeback I had ever seen in person on the high school level.  Down 14 points and standing on their own goaline with under two minutes remaining, BCC pulled out a thriller vs. Lansing Everett.  On Friday night, the comeback wasn't quite that dramatic in terms of points but it sure meant a whole lot more.  Their were quite a few times in the contest where Central could have just hung their heads and packed it in.  With the way things started for the Wolves, it looked like it was going to be a long night.  Central trailed Midland High 14-0 at halftime but it could have been more.  The Chemics missed a field late in the 1st half that would have made it that much more difficult for Central to mount a comeback.  The Wolves came out with the same fire and execution in the 2nd half that Midland had possessed in the first. 

Faced with a 3 and 12 on Central's first possession of the 3rd quarter, QB Derek Dalzell dropped back only to find no one open.  Dalzell then took off and raced around the left corner, ripping off 16 yards and a crucial first down.  Moments later RB Luther Ware took it the rest of the way, taking the handoff, bouncing off a tackler and racing 45 yards right up the middle for Central's first score.  Central missed the Extra Point, but more importantly, they had made an opening statement in the 2nd half.  On the ensuing kickoff, Midland High committed the exact same miscue that Bay City Central had made after Midland scored first in the 1st half.  Midland High muffed the kickoff return and the Wolves recovered at the Chemic 33.  RB Trenton Robinson took the handoff on first down and ran 13 yards down to the 20.  2 plays later Robinson finished the job, carrying it 16 yards to paydirt.  Robinson added to that by taking in the 2 point conversion and tying the game at 14. 

Something that either team had failed to accomplish all night is for a team to answer the other's score.  Midland High changed that by putting together what they hoped would be a drive that put them ahead for good.  After some power running by the Chemics and A.J. Deolivera, Bay City Central stood their ground and forced a 3rd and 14 at their own 49.  The Chemics then pulled out the perfect call for a pursuing Wolves defense.  QB Andrew Maxwell dropped back as the rush came hot and heavy.  It was designed that way and the screen was under way.  With the defensive front up the field, Deolivera was free to roam for big yardage once he received the ball from Maxwell.  Deolivera hauled in the screen pass and rumbled 27 yards for a first down, to the Wolves 22.  After a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 35, Maxwell's number was called but for a draw.  He took the snap, waited and then ran up field, with surprising speed.  Once he was brought down, it was too late and 25 yards later, just inside of the 10 to set up first and goal.  Maxwell ran the same play for 7 more yards and then Deolivera took the next two carries, 2 and 1 more yard for the score, reclaiming the lead for the Chemics.  It was a tremendous drive filled with power running, great execution, also overcoming a  few 3rd and forevers along the way.

The Wolves and Chemics then traded punts.  On the Chemics next punt, Central got great field position at mid-field on a short kick.  It was amazing that Mychael King got the punt off at all, it was a high snap that King jumped up for and barely made the grab, saving a potential turnover deep in his own territory.  Things then started to get a little wacky with just about 10 minutes remaining in the game.  On 3rd and 7, with great field position but having trouble finding open spaces, Dalzell went to the air.  Dalzell rolled right and went deep.  Unfortunately for the Wolves, Chemic DB Kyle Maraskine had beautiful coverage and came up with the pick.  He returned it to the 26 but Central was flagged for a late hit after the play was dead, so the Chemics took over at their own 41.  Just two plays later, Midland High went to the air.  Maxwell tossed the ball to what looked like an open receiver.  Wolves DB Tre Cochran had other ideas.  He stepped in front of the potential Chemics receiver and claimed the ball back for the Wolves.  Central put together a drive on the backs of Luther Ware and Trenton Robinson carrying the ball for good chunks of yards at a time.  The turnover bug then struck again for the third straight possession.  On 2nd and 6 from the Chemic's 7 yard line, Luther Ware got the call.  He found some daylight up the middle but as he struggled for extra yardage, the ball popped loose.  Almost no one on the field knew the ball was loose except for two Chemic defenders who pounced on the ball at the 1 yard line.  The good news is that they stalled Central's drive and in the meantime took the ball for themselves.  The bad news is that they were at their own 1.  The bad news turned into a horror story as A.J. Deolivera was stopped cold by Chris Jacobs and a pack of Wolves in the endzone for a Central safety.  The lead was cut to 5 at 21-16 and the Wolves found some renewed hope. 

With just 1:38 remaining and the Wolves finding little running room, Central used their 2nd timeout.  Hopes and dreams were dwindling inside of Engel Stadium.  After the brief conference, the Wolves came out in a package that went with 5 receivers, including Trenton Robinson lined up in the right slot.  Robinson was sent on a fly pattern.  His job was to run up the seam as fast as he could and just get open.  Dalzell took the snap, dropped back and heaved it up in the air a few yards ahead of Robinson.  Robinson with his defender beat, ran under the tremendous throw, hauled it in and ran into the endzone for what would turn out to be the game winner.  45 yards and 6 points later, the score stood at 22-21 in favor of the Wolves. 

Down just a point, and over a minute remaining, the Chemic chances were far from burned out.  A determined Midland High ball club went to the air immediately with Maxwell throwing darts to roaming Chemic receivers.  Maxwell hit End Blake Benner for two big gains and first downs, setting up the Chemics at the Wolves 41.  Maxwell then ran the draw for 6 yards, setting up 2nd and a long four.  It would be the last positive play of the Chemics' season.  On 2nd down, the pass was dropped.  On 3rd down, Maxwell's pass sailed over his intended target's head.  Then came 4th down at the Central 35.  Maxwell dropped back and locked on to his receiver Andy Angus.  The pass was right into the numbers.  As the ball reached Angus's body, so did defensive back Keonte' Bell.  Bell made a tremendous play by making contact on Angus, jarring the ball loose.  The loose ball fell to the ground along with the season for Midland. 

It was a back and fourth game that saw emotions run high on both sides throughout the game.  The luck was on the Wolves side on this night.  Things couldn't have gone much worse for Central in the first half.  A fired up Midland ball club took advantage of Central miscues, a powerful running game, mixed in with some great passes out to a 14-0 lead.  A.J. Deolivera had two of his three rushing TDs in the first half.  Maxwell was also on the money early and often in the first half.  He hit End Brad McManus for two absolutely beautiful pitch and catches on two separate drives.  Deolivera was tough to bring down in the first half.  The line was getting great push, which led to their first touchdown with just over 10 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter.  On the ensuing kickoff Bay City Central fumbled the ball and the Chemics recovered in great shape at the Central 28.  2 plays later and after a 13 yard holding penalty.  Maxwell went to the air, this time to Kyle Maraskine, for 30 yards, down to the Wolves 9.  Deolivera got the call 4 consecutive times, including a the scoring run, coming on 4th and goal from the one.  Porter was two for two on extra points.

With 6:25 to go in the half, Chemic DB Matt Lane intercepted a Dalzell pass, setting up Midland High at Central's 31.  The drive would turn out to be a stand that may have saved Bay City Central's season.  On 3rd and 22 from the Wolves 42, Maxwell found WR Andy Angus on a fade route for 26 yards.  At that point, the Wolves could have just packed it in and thought about how they would spend their free afternoons next week.  The Wolves only allowed 7 more yards on the drive.  More importantly, Midland's attempt to put another 3 on the board before halftime sailed wide right.  At the time it didn't seem critical, but when looking upon the final score now, it turned out to be a stand to remember for Central.

The game will bring memories good and bad for many years to come.  Both teams came to play, just at different points in the game.  Central had overcome plenty of miscues and penalties, including a penalty late in the 2nd quarter that called a 80 yard Trenton Robinson TD back.  In the end it was a little bit of luck and Central's opportunistic offense that won the evening.  Bay City Central will now await the winner of Saturday's Muskegon @ Lowell winner.  No matter who wins that contest the Wolves will travel to the west side of the state as huge underdogs, something I am sure that they will be happy to take advantage of.  In order to advance further, the Wolves are going to have to limit their penalties and play mistake free football.  They have the talent and potential, it's just a matter of putting it all together next weekend, something that is a challenge for each and every high school.  That's really what make H.S. football so exciting, the unknowns and the X factors. 

Midland High's season come to and end but not after a complete turnaround.  At one point in the season, the Chemics had critics that even doubted if they would make the post-season or not.  Midland put together a late season run and upset an undefeated Heritage team in the first round to put another achievement on their '06 list of accomplishments.  In my sixth game watching Maxwell play, this was by far the best level I have seen him at.   He had zip on the ball and performed great on the draw plays.  The Chemics as usual have a lot to look forward to next season, especially with Maxwell's return along with a healthy Joel Parsons in the backfield. 

Muskegon vs. Lowell will take place at 1 P.M. tomorrow.