Holly clinches playoff spot with win over Lansing Waverly

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

HOLLY — Lansing Waverly has averaged over 300 yards rushing a game this season. Holly limited that ground assault to 30 attempts for 71 yards.

The result was the host Bronchos chalking up a 37-25 non-conference football victory Friday over Waverly, which clinched Holly’s second straight postseason berth and third in six seasons.

Holly, winners of six straight, can clinch the school’s first league championship since 1952 next Friday with a road win at Ortonville Brandon.

“Making the playoffs again this season was one of our goals at the beginning of the season,” said Holly coach Ryan Culloty. “We have turned it around since the beginning of the season when we started 0-2.”

Johnny Williams finished with 102 rushing on 10 attempts and was 7-for-11 for 101 yards passing with two touchdowns. But it was the Bronchos defensive play that kept the Warriors well under 100 rushing yards that made a difference.

“Waverly came in averaging close to 350 yards and we held them to around 70,” offered Culloty. “I thought that was a big difference. Our (defensive) line stepped up.

Holly led 7-0 after the first quarter and 17-0 midway through the second frame before Waverley scored a pair of touchdowns to close the gap to 17-13 at the half.

The Bronchos led 24-19 after the third quarter before scoring on two straight drives to open the fourth quarter and build a 37-19 lead. Waverly scored a late touchdown to close the final gap down to 12 points.

Patrick O’Connor had 14 attempts for 150 yards, including a 77-yard TD sprint, for Holly. Eric Papuga caught a 55-yard TD pass, Blake Ordiway drilled a 35-yard field goal, Williams scored on runs of 2 and 60 yards and Alex Hopkin caught a 5-yard toss from Williams for the Bronchos.

“We’ll celebrate this, then we’ll move on to prepare for Brandon for the Flint Metro League championship,” said Cullioty. “I think the guys know the importance of that game. It’s all on the line next Friday.”

Brandon is also 5-3 and must win to get into the playoffs.

Jordan Martin finished 15-for-24 for 322 yards and collected three TD passes against one interception to keep Waverly close. Lechon Marshall caught five passes for 192 yards and long touchdown catches of 50 and 90 yards for the Warriors.

Aaron Sims has 10 carries for 58 yards and caught a 14-yard TD strike from Martin and Delano Glosson scored on a 2-yard run for Waverly. Derrick Hartwell had five catches for 78 yards for the Warriors.

Holly outgained Waverly 393-348

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.

Tags: high school football, Holly Football, Lansing Waverly Football, prep football

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Holly, Prep Wraps