Junior tailback Kirk Elsworth has been an exceptional performer for the Goodrich football team all season.
However, he outdid himself in the Martians? Division 5 district championship game against host Livonia Clarenceville Nov. 7.
Elsworth scored six touchdowns as the Martians routed the Trojans 42-6 to capture the first district championship in school history. This is the first time Goodrich (8-3) has won two playoff games in one season.
‘He did an outstanding job,? Goodrich coach Tom Alward said of Elsworth. ‘He’s something special, there’s no doubt about it. We had so many young men that blocked well for him.?
It was a good night for Alward on a personal level as well, as his son (and Goodrich assistant coach) Trevor, and his wife, Shannon, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Collin Trevor Alward, at 6:46 p.m. (about 44 minutes before game time), making the senior Alward a grandfather.
Someday, young Collin will no doubt hear stories from his father and grandfather on the Martians? historic playoff run this season, including their big win on the day he was born.
Elsworth, who gained 187 yards rushing on 21 carries, scored on runs of five and 25 yards in the first quarter, as well as runs of nine, two and seven yards in the second half. As a team, the Martians ran for 258 yards on 41 attempts.
The Martians took a commanding 35-0 lead into the half. Clarenceville (9-2) scored its lone touchdown of the game on an 80-yard run by Matt Saylor just 57 seconds into the third quarter.
‘Clarenceville’s a better team than the score indicated,? Alward said. ‘Our kids played extremely well.?
The Martians capped off the game’s scoring when Elsworth scored his sixth touchdown of the game (and 30th of the season) on a 45-yard run with 9:57 remaining in the third quarter.
With that touchdown, the game clock began running continuously. A Michigan High School Athletic Association rule states the running clock takes effect if a team builds at least a 35-point lead in the second half of a game. The running clock remained for the rest of the game, and Alward pulled most of his starters in the fourth quarter.
Seniors Barrett Johnson and Adam McAuliffe led the Martians with 10 tackles, while juniors Andy Bohlen and Adam Compeau added nine apiece.
The Martians traveled to Erie-Mason (11-0) for the Division 5, Region 4 final Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Erie-Mason defeated Detroit Crockett, one of the favorites for the Division 5 championship, in a district final game Nov. 7.
‘They’re undefeated and have defeated some very good teams,? Alward said. ‘They have athletes at every position, and their quarterback’s a stud, plus they don’t make mistakes. We’ll have to play our best in order to win.?
Erie-Mason, located in the lower southeast corner of Michigan (near Toledo), competes in the Lenawee County Athletic Association. Their chief competition in the league came from Hudson and Blissfield.
Their leading rushers are senior running back Jared England and junior quarterback Aaron Roelfs, while their leading receivers are seniors Dan McCorquodale and Kyle Upchurch. Senior linebacker Dustin Meisner leads Erie-Mason in tackles.
Erie-Mason coach and athletic director John Wachsmuth said the Martians are a well-rounded team.
‘I think they’re very talented,? he said of the Martians. ‘They’re certainly more than one-dimensional and have decent size. I think they’re pretty solid on both sides of the ball.?