MACOMB, Mich — Macomb Lutheran North’s offense has seen its share of struggles the past few weeks. But on Friday night, the offense emerged in a big way against Madison Heights Bishop Foley.
The Mustangs offense rolled throughout the entire game during a 50-14 victory. It is this powerful offense that Lutheran North, who still have playoff hopes, will look to feature with two games remaining in the regular season.
The Mustangs celebrate after a 50-14 win over Bishop Foley (Photo by MIPrepZone Staff)The fireworks started when junior quarterback Charles Kruse kept the football for a 44-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs (3-4; 2-3 CHSL Intersectional) an early 7-0 lead.
Sophomore Joel Vandermeer kept the pressure on for Lutheran North when he intercepted a Venture pass on the ensuing drive. Daric Craig and Josh Palmer also recorded interceptions for the Mustangs on Friday night. It was Craig’s third straight game with an interception.
Just a few minutes later, the run game was back at it for Lutheran North. Senior Jack Pyle used his quickness to sneak in for a three-yard rushing score for a 13-0 lead after a missed extra point.
While the Mustang offense was clicking, the defense also got on the board in the second quarter. Sophomore Paxton Meyer blocked a punt off the foot of Evan Finegan. The ball rolled into the end zone securing a Lutheran North safety and a 15-0 lead with about 11 minutes left in the first half.
On the next drive, Kruse wasted little time finding the end zone on another quarterback keeper as he scampered for a 43-yard touchdown run to give Lutheran North a 22-0 lead over the Ventures (1-6; 0-6 CHSL Intersectional).
After yet another defensive stop, Lutheran North had Daric Craig and Mitchell Visbara back to return the punt. Visbara took the ball for a 74-yard return to the end zone, giving the Mustangs a 29-0 lead in the middle of the second quarter.
Visbara leads the Mustangs with 756 all-purpose yards this season and five touchdowns. Second is Craig with two touchdowns on 662 total yards.
The biggest play from the arm of Kruse was a 50-yard pass to Vandermeer, which set up a nine-yard rushing touchdown from Pyle for a 36-0 lead. Andrew Lech, who replaced senior Michael Barno in the second quarter because of a minor injury to his kicking leg, finished 5-for-5 on point after touchdowns.
"I believe I had a career day out there against (Bishop) Foley. Hopefully I will get more opportunities, or maybe steal Barno's kicking job," an excited Lech said.
Pyle led the Mustang defense with nine tackles - five solo and five for loss - with a half of a sack. Kruse, on the other hand, finished with four carries for 86 yards, along with completing 4-of-8 passes for 106 yards. He totaled two rushing touchdowns, giving him 13 touchdowns on the season.
It looked like Lutheran North was going to shut out Bishop Foley, but junior Joe Schmidt did not let that happen. Schmidt found a hole and ran for a 69-yard touchdown to finally get the Ventures on the board, 36-7, with about two minutes left before halftime.
While the offense was red hot in the first half, Lutheran North scored just twice in the second half, both on run plays from their back-ups. Anthony Labara punched in a score from five yards out and freshman Jake Mlynarek added a touchdown of his own in the victory.
Bishop Foley quarterback Alex Dixon finally found the end zone late in the fourth quarter on a 70-yard touchdown to Schmidt against the second-string Lutheran North backfield. Dixon was 5-for-15 for 148 yards, of which 109 came in the second half, and had three interceptions.
The story for Bishop Foley was Schmidt, a bright light in an otherwise dark night. He totaled 218 all-purpose yards - 79 rushing, 109 receiving and 30 return yards - and two touchdowns in the loss to the Mustangs.
Lutheran North will travel to Allen Park next Saturday, Oct. 17, where they will battle Cabrini. If the Mustangs want a chance to make the playoffs, the team will need to beat both Cabrini and Richmond to end the season.
