The Mirror Newspapers Reflecting Life Along The Maumee River
BY J. PATRICK EAKEN | MIRROR SPORTS — Wearing pink socks and pink sleeves did not slow the Generals down last Friday night at Schaller Memorial Stadium.
The Anthony Wayne football team clinched at least a share of its third straight Northern Lakes League title with a 62-0 win over Maumee. The pink in their uniforms had another purpose.
“The pink is just a league-wide thing we do to recognize the importance of raising awareness for cancer and especially for breast cancer,” said AW coach Andy Brungard.
The Generals amassed 443 total yards of offense, gave up just 42 on defense and rolled to a 48-0 lead at halftime on their way to improving to 9-0 overall and 7-0 in the league. Maumee fell to 1-8 and 1-5.
AW averaged 10.8 yards per play, while the Panthers gained less than a yard (0.9 to be exact), and had 18 first downs to Maumee’s five.
Leading the ground game was junior Charles Renn-inger, who had 130 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, scoring on a 37-yard run in the first quarter.
Anthony Wayne senior quarterback Mason Alberts had 81 yards on five carries and scored three times – on 15-yard and 40-yard runs in the first quarter and a 25-yard score in the third
Alberts also completed 7-of-11 passes for 80 yards and two TDs and senior back-up quarterback Jacob Potkanowicz completed 5-of-6 for 117 yards and two scores.
Potkanowicz carried the ball twice for 16 yards and sophomore Kaedyn Mc-Allister had three carries for 19 yards.
On the receiving end, senior Bobby Miller caught three passes for 60 yards and senior Kyle Ray had four catches for 51 yards and one TD – a 19-yard pass from Potkanowicz in the fourth quarter.
Alberts also had a touchdown reception on a 45-yard pass from Potkanowicz in the second quarter.
Renninger caught two passes for 33 yards, junior tight end Thomas “T.J.” Winston had a catch that covered 6 yards and senior tight end Dylan Jennings had a 2-yard TD grab late in the first half.
From his cornerback position on defense, Miller returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter, breaking a couple tackles on the way. Senior safety Ben Wyrick also had a pick for the Generals.
Maumee senior quarterback Zach Marvin completed 6-of-19 passes for 8 yards and sophomore QB Eli Seiler covered 19 yards on 2-of-3 passing.
Senior running back Caden Brookshier led the Panthers with 34 yards rushing and also caught three passes.
Sophomore wide receiver Derek Marvin had three catches for 18 yards, senior wide receiver Blake Schneider had a catch for 6 yards and senior wide receiver Jaelin McCoy had one catch.
McCoy also intercepted an Alberts pass with three minutes remaining in the first half and returned it nearly 50 yards to the AW 25-yard line, where senior Nolan Barber made a touchdown-saving tackle.
If McCoy had scored, it would have been the first points given up to an NLL team against AW all season. Taking over at the 25, three Maumee plays generated minus-5 yards. Wyrick returned the favor with an interception on fourth-and-15.
The Generals seek to win an outright league title this Friday when they travel to Springfield (5-4, 5-1) before entering the D-II playoffs next week.
The Panthers’ season will end on Friday when they host Perrysburg (7-2, 5-1) at Kazmaier Stadium in the annual battle for the Ding Dong Bell.
