Kingsford Turning Point
(08.28.09)-- With the Wisconsin Dells Chiefs facing the Kingsford Flivvers (one of Michigan's most proven high school football programs) in the season opener for both schools, after a hour and 45 minute weather delay it was the Chiefs who looked to open the scoring.
Following a Josh Elftmann recovery of a Flivver fumble on their opening play from scrimmage senior Bobby Blaschke lined up in the Chiefs' backfield for the first time since middle school. The Chiefs' leading wide receiver as a junior, now taking snaps at tailback, Blaschke was just one of 10 offensive starters in a new position for 2009.
After gaining just a tough yard on his first two carries, Blaschke picked up 15 yards and moved the Chiefs to Kingsford's 15-yard line. With the Flivvers again stuffing Blaschke on first down, junior Skylar Liebzeit was sacked for an eight-yard loss on second down.
Now facing third-and-20 at Kingsford's 25-yard line the Chiefs offense faced their biggest play of the young season.
Junior Skylar Liebzeit on the short drop only looked to his right and to sophomore Cody Buss along the line of scrimmage. The catch would be the first of Buss' career as a varsity receiver and signal his role as the Chiefs go-to receiver for 2009.
In looking only at Buss on the call, the Chiefs missed a golden opportunity as two of the Chiefs four wide outs on the left were only covered by a single defender along the Chiefs sideline.
Throwing the safe pass to Buss while failing to recognize the mismatch, proved to be the turning point of the game.
The four-yard pass left the Chiefs facing fourth-and-long. A nine-yard sack on the fourth-down play turned the ball over to the Flivvers.
With the Chiefs defense forcing a quick three-and-out for Kingsford, the Chiefs would soon get back into the Flivvers red zone on a 16-yard run by Blaschke.
A Liebzeit fumble, an incomplete pass, and another sack again backed the Chiefs out of Kingsford's red zone and forced the Chiefs to turn the ball over on downs, after just five plays.
Reaching Kingsford's red zone twice and coming up empty on their first two possessions of the game proved costly for the Chiefs. Wisconsin Dells would not reach the Flivver's red zone again.
Tied 0-0 after the first quarter, the Chiefs fell 32-0 to Kingsford - a team that entered the season opener against the Chiefs averaging nine wins a season since 1990.
Like Wisconsin high school football teams, Michigan also plays a nine game regular-season schedule with only their best teams qualifying for the post-season.
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