Diesels corral Outlaws, 22-13
By Christian Young
KALAMAZOO---After a snarling, tough first half, followed by a second-half shootout, the Detroit Diesels wrapped up the Kalamazoo Outlaws at Mayor's Riverfront Park for their third straight win.
The Outlaws got on the board first with a touchdown pass, but the extra-point attempt was blocked. Quarterback Andy Hess (Lutheran Westland) struck right back in the second quarter, with a halfback option to Venzal Russell (Dearborn Heights Robichaud), who then connected with Jon Craven (Farmington) for a 40-yard score. Keith Thomas busted in the two-point conversion to take the Diesels up 8-6 at halftime.
The Outlaws came right back with a scoring punt return in the third quarter.
But the Diesels retaliated when Russell leaped in the air for a pass. It initially looked to be broken up by the Outlaw defensive back—until Russell fought for the ball, and cut across field, winning the footrace for the endzone. He also caught the ensuing two-point pass.
Hess found Craven again for the final go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Outlaws had another chance to go after them, but the Detroit defense held like a brick wall, allowing the Diesels to run out the clock.
Hess finished 9-of-21 passing for 144 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. Despite those miscues, he was able to manage the game and pull out the win. Russell caught four balls for 72 yards and that wild cross-field touchdown, in addition to his 40-yard scoring toss, and Craven had three catches for 61 yards and his two touchdowns.
Earl Blanchette charged the Detroit defense with six sacks. Dan Hayes had four, and Ja'Ron Embry (Dearborn Heights Robichaud) and Lamarr Miller had three broken up passes each.
Taking their third straight win, the Diesels (4-3 overall, 4-2 GLFL) will return home to face an old foe in the Genesee County Patriots at Livonia Franklin High School on August 2nd at 6:30 p.m. The original opponent, the Lenawee County Crusaders, folded, but Diesels general manager Al Seder isn't worried.
"The Patriots game should be a good tune-up for our game against the (Northwest Ohio) Knights," he said.
The Diesels will face the Knights at Franklin on August 9th to close the home portion of their schedule.