Although they did not qualify for the state playoffs, Goodrich’s varsity football team ended their season with their heads held high.
The Martians defeated visiting Yale 15-9 Oct. 20 in the season finale for both schools. Goodrich ended the season with a three-game winning streak to finish the year with a 4-5 record.
After the game, Goodrich coach Tom Alward told the team he was proud of them for sticking together when the team was struggling earlier in the season.
‘These kids played hard, and so did Yale,? he said. ‘We have the best team in the state that didn’t make the playoffs. I firmly believe that.?
Toward the end of the third quarter, the game was halted for approximately 25-30 minutes when Yale junior quarterback Aaron Zimmerman was injured in a helmet-to-helmet collision. Zimmerman lay on the ground as trainers and coaches from both Yale and Goodrich attended to him.
Yale head coach Don Smeznik gave his recollection of the play.
‘He was running around end on a run play, and he was being tackled,? he said. ‘The Goodrich player came around, and they had a helmet-to-helmet collision. He had feeling in his hands and legs, and tight stiffness in his neck. There wasn’t any type of concussion ? it was a precautionary move.?
After about three to five minutes of diagnosis, an ambulance was called, Smeznik said. He added it took about 20 minutes from the time the ambulance was called before paramedics arrived at the Goodrich field.
Zimmerman was taken off the field by ambulance as the paramedics stabilized him and put him on a stretcher. He was transported to Genesys Regional Medical Center, One Genesys Parkway, Grand Blanc.
Smeznik said Zimmerman is back in school and ‘doing fine,? and should be fully recovered in about a week’s time.
At the beginning of the game, the Bulldogs took an early lead in the first quarter when Zimmerman connected with Jordan Locke for a touchdown pass, giving Yale a 6-0 lead.
However, the Martians answered with 10:14 left in the second quarter when Bennett Gillam broke through the hole for a 49-yard touchdown run, tying the contest at six.
Toward the end of the first half, the Martians drove downfield and Stephen Harlow hit a 43-yard field goal with three seconds left, giving the Martians a 9-6 lead at halftime.
After both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, the Martians? Dusty Bourassa broke a 63-yard run, setting up a five-yard touchdown run by Grant Overcashier with 6:57 left in the fourth quarter. Overcashier’s touchdown gave the Martians a 15-6 lead.
The Bulldogs would mount one last scoring drive of their own, as they kicked a field goal with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter, trimming the Goodrich lead to 15-9.
Although the Bulldogs tried an onside kick, the Martians recovered the ball on their own 43-yard line, and wound down the clock.
Bourassa finished the game with 159 yards on 21 carries, while Gillam tallied 65 yards rushing and led the Martians defensively with 27 tackles.
Several other Martians contributed double-digit tackle totals. Josh Johns and Chris Tanner had 16 tackles each, while Paul Burt added 15 tackles and Mike Schultz 12.