Week 3: Orangeville vs Hiawatha

Broncos run away in rout of Hawks

Orangeville - This week saw the NUIC receive the respect it deserves in the I8FA polls, and the Broncos were the leader of the pack with the #2 ranking. They played host to the 7th ranked Hiawatha Hawks, but the supremacy showed just over 8 minutes into the game as the Broncos ran through Hiawatha 56-8.

The very first play from scrimmage saw Gunar Lobdell take the ball off right tackle through a hole large enough to drive a semi through as he went untouched for a 56 yard TD run just 10 seconds into the game. Gavin Roth added the extra point to give Orangeville the 7-0 lead.

A quick defensive stop would force a Hiawatha punt and set Orangeville up at their own 23 yard line. Another big 30 yard run by Lobdell coupled with a 27 yard pass from Carson Rote to Brayden Cahoon helped set up the Broncos inside the red zone. Cahoon would finish the drive with a 4 yard TD run. Roth added the extra point as the Broncos went up 14-0 with 7:26 to play in the 1st quarter.

The next series would see the Hawks drive the ball 26 yards and get into Orangeville territory, but the defense would force a turnover on downs at the Bronco 38 yard line. Not too long after Lobdell broke free again, this time a 43 yard sprint for the score to push the lead to 21-0 in favor of Orangeville after another Roth PAT.

The Broncos defense would stifle the Hawks again and force a punt. Cahoon was back deep to receive the punt, picked it up off a bounce at his own 35 yard line, juked a defender to his right, picked up a block to his left, and ran up the middle for a 65 yard punt return to give Orangeville a commanding 28-0 with 2:54 left to play in the 1st quarter.

On their 4th drive of the game, the Hawks would chew up 5:40 off the clock on a nice drive deep into Bronco territory, but Orangeville's defense would stand tall again and force the turnover on downs at their own 21 yard line. A 79 yard drive capped off by a 10 yard TD run by Joey Thomm would extend the lead to 35-0 with 5:21 left in the half.

On the ensuing Hiawatha possession, the Broncos would force a fumble and Ryan Guy would fall on it for the Broncos at the Hawks 45 yard line. A false start penalty would back Orangeville up 5 yards, but no need to worry as Rote would roll to his left, then tuck it and take off for a 50 yard scamper and score to give Orangeville a 42-0 lead with 3:49 to go until halftime.

The very next drive for Hiawatha would end with another fumble; this time it was Rote who would recover it at the Hiawatha 34 yard line. Lobdell would take the handoff and sprint those 34 yards for his 3rd score on the day and give Orangeville a 49-0 lead they would take into halftime.

In the second half, with the clock running, Orangeville would get their first drive of the 2nd half started at their own 8 yard line. They would get to their own 34 yard line before Blake Folgate would get the carry off left tackle and burst up the middle for a 66 yard TD run and a 56-0 lead with 2:38 to play in the 3rd quarter.

The Broncos would force another turnover on downs, but after a short drive they would cough the ball up as Max Keating jumped on the ball for the Hawks. Having some momentum, the Hawks were able to grind out a 39 yard drive that was capped off with an 11 yard TD pass from Chris Korb to Cole Brantley with 3:35 left in the game. The 2 point try was good, and it would bring the final score to 56-8 in favor of the Broncos.

Orangeville would rush for 398 yards, pass for another 72 yards, and physically dominate the entire game. They would hold the Hawks to 140 yards rushing and 16 yards passing on the day.

Leading the way for the Broncos was Gunar Lobdell, who rushed the ball 10 times for 193 yards and 3 TD's. Carson Rote would add 75 yards rushing with a TD and 72 yards passing. Blake Folgate would rush for 88 yards and a score, while Brayden Cahoon would finish with 27 yards rushing with a TD, 48 yards receiving, and a 65 yard punt return and another TD. Joey Thomm would add 15 yards on the ground and a score. Gavin Roth was a perfect 7-7 on PAT kicks, but did miss a 53 yard FG attempt before the half.

Hiawatha was paced by Hayden Bingaman who would run the ball 24 times for 115 yards. Cole Brantley rushed for 25 yards and had 16 yards receiving and the lone Hawk score.

Orangeville (3-0) will be back at home next week as they welcome in the #4 ranked Aquin Bulldogs (3-0) in a "conference" game on Saturday with kickoff at 1 pm.