PINCONNING Meridian spoiled Pinconning's homecoming with a 35-6 win in Jack Pine Conference football on Friday.

The Mustangs got on the board with 3:40 to play in the first quarter when Jake Schultz ran in a 3-yard touchdown. Schultz later added his second TD of the game on a 1-yard run with 11:55 to go in the second quarter.

Brayden Riley punched in a 5-yard touchdown with 9:08 to go in the half, then quarterback Cam Metzger hit Josh Barriger for a 33-yard TD with 1:07 to play. Meridian had a 28-0 lead at the break.

Early in the fourth, Metzger hit Barriger again -- this time for a 14-yard TD -- with 9:47 to play in the game.

The Spartans added a score late and missed the extra point.

Metzger finished 7-of-11 passing for 128 yards and two TDs. Schultz finished the night as the Mustangs' leading rusher with 52 yards on 13 carries and two TDs. Metzger was right behind Schultz with 51 yards on 10 carries.

Barriger was the leading receiver with 54 yards on three receptions and the two TDs. Dane Plichta had 45 yards on one catch.

Josh Nohel was Meridian's leading tackler with 7.5 total tackles (seven solo) including two tackles for loss. Alex Wall added four tackles (three solo).

Meridian kicker Gabe Mutai made all five of his extra point attempts.

"Tonight was great because we were able to get everyone in for a lot of reps," said Mustangs' coach Mike Bilina. "They work their butts off and we were able to reward them by getting them in tonight."

Meridian (3-1, 3-1 JPC) hosts Farwell next Friday.

Beaverton 42, Farwell 0

FARWELL -- Noah Coffey and Cam Mishler each ran for two touchdowns in Beaverton's 42-0 win over Farwell in Jack Pine Conference football on Friday.

Coffey ran for scores of 28 yards and 7 yards while Mishler ran for 36-yard and 3-yard scores for the Beavers, who scored all their points in the first half.

Trent Reed ran for a 60-yard score and Beaverton's other TD came on Mitch Hall's 28-yard interception return.

Reed was 4 of 5 on extra points and Coffey ran in a 2-point conversion.

Reed completed 4 of 4 passes for 81 yards and ran seven times for 111 yards and the TD.

Brayde Keeley had one catch for 48 yards.

On defense, Logan Love had six tackles while Mitch Hall and Kyle Hall each made four stops.

"Another good team effort tonight," coach Aaron Seiser said after his Beavers improved to 3-1 overall and in the JPC. "Our defense gave our offense great field position most of the night and we were able to capitalize.

"Another plus was the amount of experience our young players were able to get in the second half. We have a huge game coming up versus our rival (Gladwin). We must have a great week of practice."

The Beavers host the Flying G's next Friday.

Freeland 21, Swan Valley 14

FREELAND Bryson Huckeby took a 5-yard run into the end zone as time expired in the third quarter to give Freeland a 21-14 win over rival Swan Valley in Tri-Valley Conference Central football Friday.

Huckeby's run was his second TD run of the night. The other was an 83-yarder with 8:17 to play in the second quarter. That run put Freeland up 14-0 after Garrett Pistro had punched in a 4-yard TD run late in the first quarter.

Swan Valley scored late in the first half to cut the Falcon lead to 14-6 at the break.

The Vikings then scored with 4:49 to play in the third to tie the game at 14. Huckeby's run put Freeland ahead for good.

Huckeby finished the night as Freeland's leading rusher with 90 yards on eight carries and the two TDs. He was also 6-of-10 passing for 81 yards. Jacob Kundinger had 48 yards on nine carries.

Kundinger led the defense with 12 tackles and a sack. Cole Wiese had 11 tackles. Nolan Vanloo and CJ Schultz each had 10.

Freeland won the Battle of the Mountain Trophy for the first time in three years with the win.

"Just a little added fuel to the fire with the crosstown rivalry," said Falcons' coach Kevin Townsend. "They've had some special squads come through there.

"Bryson got targeted and that was a momentum swinger; the guys rallied around their leader almost going down. Starting safety Alex Duley rolled his ankle early in the fourth quarter. Carter Suppes had an interception. They (isolated) him on their best receiver, another senior stepping up to the challenge."

Freeland (3-1, 2-0 TVC Central) next travels to Bridgeport on Friday.

Clare 41, Gladwin 30

GLADWIN Gladwin dropped a back-and-forth battle against unbeaten Clare 41-30 in Jack Pine Conference football on Friday.

After the Pioneers took a 7-0 lead, Nick Wheeler hit Aaron Kozlow for a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

After Clare scored again, Wheeler connected with Kaden McDonald for a TD with 12 seconds left in the first half. But a missed two-point conversion left Clare ahead 13-12.

On the ensuing kickoff, Clare returned it 85 yards for a TD to take a 19-12 lead to the break.

With 7:18 to play in the third quarter, Logan Kokotovich carried it in from 15 yards to cut the deficit to 19-18.

Wheeler gave the Flying G's their first lead on a 3-yard run to put Gladwin ahead 24-19 early in the fourth quarter.

Clare scored with 9:35 to play to take a 27-24 lead. But Wheeler connected with McDonald again -- this time on fourth down and from 4 yards out -- to put Gladwin back in front 30-27 with 7:33 to play.

Clare scored twice more within the last 3:30 to take the 11-point victory.

"We allowed too many big plays to happen in the first half," said Flying G's coach Marc Jarstfer. "They came out and received the ball in the second half. We played good defense. We would go down and score, then they would go down and score ...

"Just a good, hard-fought game. Clare has been the team to beat for the better part of two decades. We know they are well-coached and are going to be well-prepared. We just made too many mistakes down the stretch."

No other individual stats were available.

Gladwin (2-2, 2-2 JPC) travels to Beaverton on Friday.

St. Charles 37, Coleman 6

ST. CHARLES -- Coleman's Konner Carbeno had a strong night in the Comets' 37-6 loss to St. Charles in Mid-State Activities Conference football on Friday.

Carbeno had 22 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Conner Schrank added seven carries for 57 yards for Coleman, which trailed 29-6 at halftime.

On defense for the Comets, Jaden Bovee had seven tackles, Schrank made an interception and Ayden Ruhle recovered a St. Charles fumble.

"We came into the game shorthanded and we turned into a MASH unit as the game went on. (Our) young kids got some good reps. We will keep fighting," Coleman coach Chad Klopf said.

The Comets host Montabella next Saturday at noon.

Read the original post:

Mustangs, Beavers, Falcons roll to football wins; G's, Comets fall - Midland Daily News