Powerful Maroons slip past Wrightstown

MENOMINEE, Mich. — Two-time defending Michigan Division 5 champion Menominee edged Wrightstown 30-28 in the season-opening game Friday.

The Maroons, using their trademark single-wing offense, surprised Wrightstown by airing out the ball. They attempted 46 passes, including 31 in the first half.

Most were thrown by 6-foot-4 fullback Jordan Maccoux. His favorite targets were 6-5 end Jacob Pederson and 6-4 end Justin Salzman.

"If you're going to win football games, you have to be able to stop (the passing game) and that's one thing we definitely have to work on," Tigers co-coach Steve Klister said.

"We played well, but we don't play to play well, we play to win," co-coach Bill Ehnerd said. "We had too many breakdowns in pass coverage and that's what killed us."

Wrightstown was able to hold down Menominee's passing game until it lost junior defensive back Steve Feldkamp to a knee injury in the first half. He never returned.

Two other Tigers defensive backs were sidelined for one or more series with cramps.

"We just couldn't match up with those two big receivers," Ehnerd said

Wrightstown's final score came when Brett Toseland intercepted a Maccoux pass and ran it 40 yards back for a touchdown, putting the Tigers up 28-24.

With 2:29 left, fullback Joe Schernick scored on a 5-yard run, capping a drive powered by passes of 14, 15 and 11 yards.

Wrightstown began its final drive with 2:24 left. Pennenberg completed a 23-yard pass to Toseland with 22 seconds left and Gerrits attempted a 29-yard field goal with 8 seconds left, but Menominee linebacker James Graham blocked the attempt.

Wrightstown 7 0 7 14 — 28

Menominee 6 6 6 12 — 30

W — Gerrits 22 pass from Pennenberg (Gerrits kick).

M — Pederson 38 pass from Maccoux (pass failed).

M — Schernick 1 run (pass failed).

W — Gerrits 44 run (Gerrits kick).

M — Martin 3 pass from Maccoux (pass failed)

WR — Wiese 18 run (Gerrits kick).

M — Pederson 65 pass from Maccoux (pass failed).

W — Toseland 43 int. return (Gerrits kick)

M — Schernick 3 run (pass failed).

Rushing — W: Matt Gerrits 8-73. M: Jeff Martin 7-54.

Receiving — W: Matt Gerrits 4-118. M: Jacob Pederson 8-169.

Passing: W: Andy Pennenberg 5-10-1-149. M:: Jordan Maccoux 17-41-3-332.

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