In the Division Eight State Title game, the Aggies of Beal City and the Pioneers of Gabriel Richard met to decide who would be the new king of the division. While the Pioneers got off to a quick start, the Aggies came out on top 43-14.
Gabriel Richard
Skill and Talent
While the Pioneers might have had more talent out of all their skill players than Beal City, it looked like they had just run out of steam. Head Coach Mark Shea said as much post-game as they had players playing injured and missing Antonio Sobush in the game due to an injury. While injuries are a part of any football season, they came right ahead of the biggest game in school history stings. All in all, this season was a show of how a team in just the span of a few years can flip the script for a small school, as they went 3-6 just four years ago to being in a state final this year.
Beal City
Winning at the Line
A major key to Beal City’s first state title since 2009 was winning in the trenches, and they did just that. Head Coach Brad Gross said as much following the game: “Six weeks ago, we said we have to start playing physical football with bad intentions. “His team responded and did just that.
McKenny off the Block
Both Drew Block and Owen McKenny played out of their minds in the state title game. Whether Block made a nice run, which he did a few times, or McKenny made an amazing catch for a touchdown, both players got off the starting block fast and helped their team to the school’s first football title since 2009.