by Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
After a week one loss, the McBain football team had hoped for a bounce back win at Beal City on Friday. The Ramblers ran into a buzzsaw though, dropping the Highland Conference contest 31-6.
“We had to start the game with some back ups and we were just not in sync,” head coach Pat Maloney said. “We had improved play on both sides of the ball, but failed to execute the offense the closer we got to the endzone.”
The Aggies opened the game’s scoring with a touchdown on the ground and two point conversion. McBain answered with a touchdown pass from Braylon Pace to Evan Haverkamp, pulling within 8-6.
Beal City scored again midway through the second quarter to take a 16-6 lead, which the score remained until half.
The Aggies scored again in the third to take a 24-6 lead and tacked on a late touchdown and extra point to finish out the scoring.
Pace finished nine-of-20 passing for 90 yards and one touchdown, Kalvin McGillis ran 10 times for 36 yards, Haverkamp had two receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown and Isaac Baas had two grabs for 25 yards.
Baas and McGillis had seven tackles apiece and Caleb Abbot had an interception.
The Ramblers start the season 0-2, a similar spot they were in last year before they won six of their last seven regular season games to qualify for the post-season.
“Being 0-2, yes we have been here before but we have to get better,” Maloney said. “Any team can win a Highland Conference game on any given Friday, so we have to prepare better and play better. (We need) better and sustained scoring drives on offense and shutdown defense.”
McBain (0-2 overall, 0-1 Highland) hosts Roscommon (0-2, 0-1) today (Friday).
“Roscommon has an elusive quarterback, so we have to tackle in space and take care him scrambling around and making plays,” Maloney said. “(They have) active defense that doesn’t always line up the same or moves during the cadence. We have to be strong against the blitz they will bring linebackers from all over. Big thing is turnovers. We have to have ball security on offense and we cause a few on defense.”