PETERSBURG — The Sand Creek defense held Summerfield to 89 total yards, intercepted three passes, and recovered a fumble in a 44-7 Great Lakes Conference win on Oct. 9.

“I was extremely pleased with our defensive effort,” Sand Creek coach Derek Hewitt said of his team’s performance against Summerfield. “We challenged them to step up and play better than they have, and they did exactly that.”

Sand Creek improved to 4-3 and 3-2, while Summerfield fell to 2-5 and 0-5.

AJ Murdico rushed for 167 yards on 12 attempts against the Bulldogs, scoring three rushing touchdowns and returning his second interception of the season for a touchdown.

Murdico ran for a 35-yard touchdown, and his 2-point conversion gave Sand Creek an early lead with 9:47 on the clock. On the following possession, Grady Thompson forced a Summerfield fumble, and Caiden Glinski recovered it. Two plays later, Murdico scored on a 19-yard run, and Noah Walters’ 2-point conversion run extended the lead at 8:46. 

Murdico’s third score, a 26-yard run, widened it. Murdico’s 46-yard interception return for a touchdown, along with Walters’ 2-point run, gave the Aggies a commanding 30-0 lead.

“AJ is one of the hardest-working kids in the offseason, and his dedication is paying off,” Hewitt said of Murdico. “He has more opportunities in the last three games and has responded very well. He is a student of the game, and he gets a great break on balls defensively. We are not surprised by anything he does.”

Walters scored a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Grady Thompson added a 2-point run to give the Aggies a 38-0 halftime lead and start the running clock.

Walters closed out Sand Creek’s scoring with a 6-yard run in the third quarter as Sand Creek held a 44-0 lead before the Bulldogs scored a touchdown and point after touchdown with less than a minute left in the game.

“AJ and Noah’s success on offense has been due to nice blocking from the line,” Hewitt said of the Sand Creek offensive linemen. “We’re very proud that this team has stuck together and worked hard and is now seeing some of the benefits of those things.”

Offensively, Walters added 71 yards on 11 carries for Sand Creek, while Carter Bettcher had 32 yards on 3 attempts.

Walters led Sand Creek with a team-high 8 tackles and a tackle for loss. Murdico finished with two interceptions, while Bettcher picked off the other right before halftime.

Sand Creek travels to Erie Mason for a GLC matchup on Friday. 

Jonesville at Addison: The visiting Comets beat the Panthers 30-14 in their Cascades Conference South Division game on Friday.

Addison fell to 1-6 and 0-4, while Jonesville improved to 3-4 and 1-3.

Addison travels to Vandercook Lake in the Cascades Conference North-South crossover fifth-place game. The Panthers beat Vandercook Lake 36-27 in Week 4. 

Ypsilanti at Adrian: Junior Luke Bruggeman continued his outstanding season, rushing for 133 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns as the Maples defeated Ypsilanti in Southeastern Conference White Division action, 42-0.

Adrian improved to 6-1 and 4-1, while Ypsilanti fell to 2-3 and 3-4.

Wyatt Snyder, a senior wide receiver, caught three passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns for the Maples against the Grizzlies. 

After a scoreless first quarter, Bruggeman opened the second quarter with 7- and 4-yard touchdown runs. Snyder caught his first touchdown pass from Jaxon Dowling for 27 yards. Owen Salenbien hit the point-after TDs, and Adrian held a 21-0 halftime lead. 

Snyder caught his second score, a 12-yard TD pass from Dowling, and later, Bruggeman added a 1-yard run later in the quarter as Salenbien’s PATs gave Adrian a 35-0 lead after three quarters. 

Romus Wyche ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and added 44 yards on five carries, while Adrian’s Jacob Fraser ran for 42 yards on three attempts. Dowling added 38 yards on five carries and threw two touchdown passes for 84 yards on 6-of-7 attempts. Bruggeman caught two passes for 19 yards, and Prince Russell caught one for 9 yards. Salenbien converted on 7-of-7 PATs for the Maples.

Adrian travels to Jackson for an SEC White Division game on Friday. 

Dundee at Blissfield: The host Royals opened a 14-13 lead, but Dundee scored 21 straight points over the final three quarters to win 34-14 in Lenawee County Athletic Association action.

Blissfield fell to 2-5 and 1-5, while Dundee improved to 1-6 and 1-5.

Dundee struck with 6 seconds remaining in the first quarter and held a 6-0 lead after Blissfield blocked the extra point.

Ethan Samuels ran for a 7-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter, and Caleb Vore’s extra-point kick gave Blissfield a 7-6 lead. With 2:30 left, the Vikings answered and took a 13-7 lead, but Alton O’Brien intercepted a Dundee pass and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. Vore’s kick returned the lead to Blissfield with 58 seconds before halftime. But the Vikings answered quickly, scoring with 14 seconds left to take a 20-14 lead.

Dundee added scores in the third and fourth quarters for the 20-point win.

Samuels led Blissfield with 76 yards on 17 attempts. Carter Love managed 48 yards on 9 carries. Eli Echols added 46 yards on 9 attempts. Preston Iffland carried once for 12 yards.

Ashton Ausmus led the Royals with 13 tackles, while Echols added 11 tackles and two tackles for loss. Landon Siefert and O’Brien each had 9 tackles. Siefert also had a pass breakup and a tackle for loss. Love had 8 tackles, and Jack Vanetten and Preston Iffland had 5, while Brendan Berry recorded 4. 

Blissfield travels to Hillsdale in LCAA action on Friday. 

Ida at Clinton: The Redwolves beat league-leading Ida 30-22 and created a four-way tie heading into the final weekend of Lenawee County Athletic Association action.

Clinton improved to 6-1 and 5-1, while Ida fell to 6-1 and 5-1. Hudson and Madison each won, creating a four-way tie at the top of the league standings.

Dacari Garrison caught two Gradyn Whelan touchdown passes, a 44-yard reception to start Clinton’s scoring in the opening quarter, and a 66-yard reception that won the game. Bronson Whelan caught a 2-point conversion pass from Gradyn Whelan after Garrison’s first touchdown, and Gradyn Whelan scored on a 2-point run after Garrison’s second score.

Braxton Randolph ran for a 7-yard touchdown, and Gradyn Whelan’s 2-point run gave Clinton a 16-0 lead. Later, Randolph’s second TD of the quarter, an 11-yard run, extended the Redwolves’ lead to 22. 

But the Bluestreaks responded, scoring 22 straight points from the end of the second quarter to the fourth quarter and tying the game before Garrison’s game-winning reception.

Dacari Garrison caught a team-high 5 passes for 127 yards, while Jake Halchishak caught two for 16 yards, and Gradyn Whelan went 7-of-11 for 143 yards. 

Gradyn Whelan had a team-best 60 yards on 9 carries, while Randolph added 56 yards on 12 attempts for Clinton. Dacari Garrison also had 30 yards on 3 attempts, and Halchishak and Isaac Keibler each had two carries for 21 and 8 yards, respectively.

Randolph led the Redwolves with 19 tackles and a quarterback sack, while Bronson Whelan added 14 tackles. Daejaun Garrison added 6 tackles. Aiden Simpson recorded 5½ tackles. Dacari Garrison had 4 tackles, and Owen Wright had 3½ tackles. Jacob Pope and Bronson Whelan each had a tackle for a loss, and Halchishak also recorded a quarterback sack. 

Clinton hosts Madison in LCAA action on Friday. 

Hudson at Hillsdale: Sophomore Royce Beal was perfect, completing 7-of-7 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers mauled Hillsdale, 47-0, in LCAA action.

Hudson improved to 6-1 and 5-1, while Hillsdale fell to 1-6 and 1-5

Beal connected with Bode Kimble twice, while Dru Sell caught the other TD pass as Hudson opened a 41-0 halftime lead.

Beal connected with Bode Kimble for a 28-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter, while Sell turned a reception into a catch-and-run 41-yard score. Owen Loop added a 1-yard TD run, and Beal’s second of three PATs in the frame gave Hudson a 20-point lead. 

Loop’s second touchdown, a 10-yard run, opened a 27-0 lead after Beal’s PAT. Beckett Campbell added a 13-yard TD run and, on Beal’s PAT, increased the lead to 34-0. Bode Kimble’s second touchdown reception, a 15-yard score, started the running clock, and Beal’s PAT gave Hudson its 41-0 halftime lead. 

Bode Kimble caught four passes for a team-high 72 yards.

Grayson Godfrey took the ball and scored the game’s final touchdown, a 2-yard TD score. The conversion failed, but Hudson completed the shutout league win. 

Campbell managed a team-high 87 yards on 13 attempts, while Loop added 52 yards on seven carries. Wyatt Kimble carried once for 37 yards, and Sell managed 35 yards on three attempts. Bronson Butts rushed for 30 yards on one carry. Rylee Williams rushed for nine yards on two carries. Braden Jedele caught two passes for 31 yards.

Loop had 4 tackles, while Campbell added 2 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery for Hudson. Jedele intercepted a pass, and William Kast recorded a tackle for loss. Butts also recovered a loose football on an onside kick. 

Hudson hosts Ida in a key LCAA game on Friday.

Lenawee Christian at Camden-Frontier: The visiting Cougars erupted for 36 points, with Drew Kirkendall scoring three first-quarter touchdowns, and LCS posted a 43-6 non-league win over Camden-Frontier. 

Lenawee Christian improved to 3-4, while Camden-Frontier fell to 1-6.

Kirkendall caught a 38-yard pass and a 70-yard pass from JT Reatherford and returned a punt 55 yards for a score. Reatherford threw a 2-point conversion pass to Judah Marine after each of Kirkendall’s touchdown receptions. Sam Feick kicked the first of three extra point kicks after Kirkendall’s punt return. Reatherford hit Huntyr Magrum for a 12-yard touchdown, and Feick made the PAT; later, Judah Penney ran for a 48-yard touchdown and initiated the running clock as LCS took a 36-point lead.

Judah Penney rushed for his second touchdown, a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and Feick’s PAT gave the Cougars a commanding 43-point lead. 

The RedHawks scored a third-quarter touchdown as LCS posted a 37-point win.

Penney rushed for a team-best 95 yards on 7 attempts, while Mason Cherfan added 40 yards on 7 carries. Josiah Atkinson rushed for 17 yards on 2 carries. Elijah Paschal had 15 yards on 6 carries, while Elias Penney gained 7 yards on 4 attempts for the Cougars.

Reatherford went 4-of-4 for 130 yards, as Kirkendall caught three passes for 118 yards.

Defensively, Wesley Fansler led Lenawee Christian with a team-best 10½ tackles and a sack of the quarterback. Mason Cherfan managed 4½ tackles. Reatherford, who intercepted two passes for 14 yards, and Judah Penney each had 4 tackles.

Lenawee Christian travels to Concord for a Southern Central Athletic Association White Division game on Friday.

Onsted at Madison: The Trojans got another strong effort from one of their seniors as Gio Briggs scored three touchdowns, and Madison blanked Onsted in LCAA action, 45-0. 

Madison improved to 6-1 and 5-1, while Onsted dropped to 1-6 and 1-5.

Briggs rushed for a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and Nathan Mullins hit Madison’s first of seven PATs. Briggs followed up his first score with a punt return for a touchdown. Mullins hit a 35-yard field goal, and De’Lante Garrison caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from Derrell Tillman as Madison opened a 24-point lead. 

 Briggs scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, and Tillman scored on a 45-yard touchdown run, giving Madison a 38-point halftime lead. Chase Horwath caught a 3-yard pass from capped the scoring for the Trojans with a 3-yard reception from 

Derrell Tillman rushed for a team-best 64 yards on 6 attempts, while Briggs added 29 yards on 6 carries. Carlos Velasquez managed 22 yards on 2 carries, while Maseo Walker and De’Lante Garrison each gained 5 yards on 2 carries. 

Tillman went 5-of-7 for 152 yards, while Player 12 completed 4-of-6 passes for 24 yards, and Keegan Barber went 1-of-2 for 22 yards. Javin Stegg caught 2 passes for 50 yards, and Evan Stover caught 2 for 34 yards. Elliott Beagle caught 1 for 25 yards, and Mullins caught 1 for 19 yards. Destyn Garcia caught a 7-yard pass. 

Krys Ramirez led Madison with 5 tackles and a fumble recovery. Caiden Randall, Aiden Traxler, and Isaiah Tiede each recorded 4 tackles, while Briggs and Josue Yepez each had 3½ tackles for the Trojans.

Connor Kish rushed for a game-high 126 yards on 19 attempts, while Parker Paquin added 44 yards on 10 carries. Cade Symington managed 9 yards on 4 attempts for Onsted.

Madison travels to Clinton, while Onsted goes to Dundee in LCAA action on Friday.

Taylor at Tecumseh: After an opening drive punt, Taylor scored touchdowns on five of its next six drives on its way to a 34-8 non-league win over Tecumseh. 

Tecumseh fell to 4-3, while Taylor improved to 2-5. 

After the visiting Griffins opened a 13-0 lead, Lucas Hartman took a handoff from Chance Gormley and scored a touchdown on a 6-yard run. Cruz Torres caught a 2-point conversion pass from Gormley as Tecumseh pulled within five points, 13-8.

But Taylor scored 21 straight points and put the game out of reach as turnovers and turnovers on downs hindered Tecumseh’s effort against the Griffins.

Hartman led Tecumseh with 146 yards on 26 carries, while Gormley added 36 yards on 14 attempts. Gormley also went 9-of-18 passing for 149 yards, as Brayden Baur caught two passes for 80 yards. Sam Abbott caught three passes for 35 yards, and Jordan Wisniewski caught three for 33 yards. 

Cooper Lewis led Tecumseh with 12 tackles. Sam Abbott recorded 9. Cameron Loudermilk had 8 tackles. Torres added 6, while Kyle Cooke and Noah Clarke each had 5.

Tecumseh travels to Ypsilanti to face the Grizzlies in SEC White Division action on Friday. 

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