Bronson, Constantine football teams win openers
BRONSON — After week one of the prep football season here in Branch County, it appears as though Bronson football’s new emphasis on a power running game might have been the right move.
Bronson rushed for 422 yards on the ground Friday night, with two players eclipsing the 100-yard mark, as the Vikings rolled past Prairie Heights 40-12 to open the season 1-0.
Bronson raced out of the gate, scoring 20 points in the first quarter to take control early. The scoring for the Vikings started with a huge play as Seth Withington raced around the left end, rumbling 75 yards for a touchdown.
Bronson added to their lead in the first quarter with a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs, with Withington and Carson Norton getting into the endzone.
Prairie Heights finally got on the board in the second quarter thanks to a 10-yard pass play, finding the halftime score of 20-6.
Bronson came roaring out of the half, quickly getting that touchdown back and then some with two third quarter touchdowns as it was Norton scoring from 5-yards out and 18-yards out, pushing the Viking lead to 34-6.
Prairie Heights scored one last time on a 13-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, closing the score to 34-12.
Bronson officially put the game away with a grinding drive in the fourth quarter that was capped by Withington’s third touchdown of the day, as 27-yard rumble, to find the final score of 40-12.
Seth Withington, who received WLKI player of the game for his efforts, went off with a monster game. Withington rushed the ball 16 times for 217 yards and three scores, along with one two-point conversion, as the big senior kicked off his final season in purple and gold on a strong note.
Quarterback Carson Norton also had a big game, rushing the ball 13 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns, while also completing two passes for 13 yards. Norton also had a big game on the defensive side of the ball, recording nine tackles with a sack.
Collin York was a two-way stud for Bronson, rushing the ball 14 times for 129 yards on offense while leading the Viking defense with nine total tackles, two for a loss, and three sacks.
Also adding to the Bronson defensive effort was Spencer Losinski with seven tackles; Miles Losinski with six tackles, three for a loss, and one sack; Joey Salek with four tackles, one for a loss, and three sacks; and Harvey with four tackles, two for a loss. Also adding sacks were Wilson, Hoard, and Lilly.
With the win Bronson improves to 1-0 on the young season while Prairie Heights falls to 0-2 with the loss. The Vikings will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Summerfield for non-conference action.
Constantine wins on the road
The Constantine football team beat Detroit Southeastern on Friday night, 35-22.
The Falcons found themselves tied at halftime, 14-14, but controlled the second half. Constantine posted 14 in the third quarter and added another score in the fourth.
Isaac Moroe, Bennett VandenBerg, Brody Jones and Rushawn James each found the end zone on rushes for the game. They combined to rumble for 225 yards on the ground.
Defensively, Caleb Bontrager and VandenBerg each made 10 tackles to lead the way.
Martin tops Colon
The Colon football team fell 62-6 in the season-opener to Martin on Friday. The Clippers led 8-0 after one quarter of action and then scored 38 points in the second quarter.
The lead at the half was 46-6. Colon's touchdown came by Maverick Downs, he rushed for a 6-yard score.
Martin's two other touchdowns came in the third quarter. The Clippers out-gained Colon 371-204 in total yardage. Downs rushed 21 times for 135 yards, both Kyle Muntian and Kaleb Thaxton had 12 yards rushing. Dane Borgert caught three passes for 38 yards.
Defensively the Magi got four tackles each from Taxton, Downs and Johnny Greenwald.
Litchfield beats Burr Oak
The Burr Oak football team dropped a 58-25 decision to Litchfield on Friday.
Ethan Boyle scored a pair of TDs for the Bobcats, Austin Cole scored one as well. Cole also booted a field goal through the uprights for three points.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Bronson, Constantine football teams win openers
