DIESELS STUFF PUNISHERS 16-8
June 21,2008
VICKSBURG, Mich.---After a week of major changes, the Detroit Diesels rebounded to grind out a 16-8 victory over the Southwest Michigan Punishers last Saturday at Vicksburg High School.
Farmington High School graduate Jon Craven snared a 14-yard catch from Brandon Fender (Canton) to put the Diesels ahead in the fourth quarter. Venzal Russell (Dearborn Heights Robichaud) caught the two-point conversion pass.
"I'm glad with the way things turned out," Diesels general manager Al Seder said. "We made some personnel changes on offense and they worked out very well."
So well that the Diesels, who had a net total of zero rushing yards against the Lapeer Lions on June 14th, pounded the ball for over 200 yards against the Punishers.
"We essentially beat them at their own game," Seder said.
The Punishers got on the board first with a short run towards the middle of the endzone, and also ran in the two-point conversion.
The Diesels answered with their own tough running game, often going with three backs in the backfield. Running behind a revamped offensive line, Chris Wilson punched in Detroit's first touchdown, then ran in the two-point conversion, late in the second quarter.
In addition to the offense, special teams was a huge factor in the game.
The Diesels (1-2 overall), evened their Great Lakes Football League record at 1-1. They will travel to Toledo to take on the Northwest Ohio Knights on June 28th and will look to sit at 2-2 heading into the holiday break. They will return to Livonia Franklin High School on July 12th to take on the Lakeshore Cougars.