Plymouth shows promise in Week 1 setback to T.C. Central
Plymouth junior Max Hornbacher goes horizontal to bring down a Traverse City Central ball-carrier Friday night.
A forecast for severe weather Friday night never materialized, but Traverse City Central senior Goodwin Scott proved to be a dangerous bolt of lightning against host Plymouth.
Wearing No. 1 for a reason, Scott returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown before adding a 62-yard scoring run with just over a minute remaining to lead the Trojans to a 22-14 triumph over the feisty Wildcats.
Playing with a reshuffled offensive backfield in the wake of the graduations of All-Conference players Sam Plencner (QB) and Jaxon McCaig (record-setting RB) — and missing standout offensive lineman Lucas Barnes — Plymouth exploded for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the the Trojans sweat at least a little before their four-hour bus ride home.
The Wildcats’ 2023 offensive stars’ replacements were more than solid. Senior quarterback Logan Pheiffer — one of Plencner’s primary receiving targets last season — completed 17 of 24 passes for 218 and rushed 12 times for 66 yards.
(To check out video highlights from Friday’s game, click here.)
Solid debut
Pheiffer tossed two late scoring strikes to senior running back Nick DeKiere and senior receiver Jimmy Cleveland to bring the ‘Cats to within one score (they trailed 15-0 entering the fourth quarter).
DeKiere had a big night, rushing for 66 yards on 18 carries and catching five Pheiffer aerials for 104 yards.
Cleveland finished with four receptions for 43 yards.
Central quarterback Gle Carter’s 2-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal mid-way through the final quarter was sandwiched between Scott’s two long bursts.
‘In-Sain’ interception
Plymouth’s defense made several big plays, including Saamir Sain’s leaping first-half interception inside at the Wildcats’ 2-yard line that thwarted a promising Trojan drive. Sain out-jumped the much-taller Scott to notch the pivotal pick.
Michael Niemi, LaRon Davis, Brady Ender-Senholtz and Jonny Stran were ball-hawks throughout the night for Plymouth’s swarming defense.
Plymouth returns to action Friday against defending KLAA West Division champion Northville.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
