One point made the difference
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RONAN – The Stevensville Yellowjackets eked out a slim win over the Ronan Chiefs in their season home opener on Friday evening at home.
The Yellowjackets walked off the field with the win, besting the Chiefs 26-25, in a game that came down to the final minutes. While this is the second loss in a row for the young Ronan team, it’s a closer score than Coach Matt Detwiler has seen so far.
The Chiefs came close when junior Kuba Detwiler picked off a Stevensville pass and returned for a touchdown with two minutes and 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the Yellowjackets managed to hold on to their slim lead by stopping the attempted two-point conversion.
“I was very happy with our overall performance Friday night,” coach Detwiler said. “Those young men battled and put us in a position to win the game. We, unfortunately, came up a little short. If given the opportunity again, down by one with 2:30 left in the game, I would go for two and the win over and over with the confidence I have in our team.”
In a game of back-and-forth touchdowns, points were put on the board for the Chiefs by Zane Walchuk, Kane McAllister, Kuba Detwiler, and junior quarterback Eric Dolence. Dolence scored three touchdowns, two on pass receptions of 61 yards to Walchuk, 34 yards to McAllister, and a one-yard sprint into the end zone in the fourth quarter. Kuba Detwiler had the fourth quarter 43-yard intercepted pass for his score.
“I asked for a clear leader to emerge this week and in the coaching staff’s eyes, Zane did just that,” noted coach Detwiler. “Walchuk had an outstanding night statistically speaking and
embodied Chief Football. On the offensive side of the ball, he had 72 yards receiving with a TD on just two receptions. On the defensive side, he had five tackles and seven assists. Then, specials teams he averaged 34 yards returning kickoffs with a long of 65 which could
have been a TD if the Stevensville kid didn’t make a diving shoelace tackle.”
The Chiefs will take on Dillon in an away game on Friday evening.
“Going into Dillon this week, we are going to stay focused on us as a team when it comes to tackling, being better conditioned and consistency on both sides of the ball,” said coach Detwiler.
