NGM Steps on Big Foot 32-7 in Homecoming Win
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Sue Moen
Lawrence Vasquez powers past a Big Foot defense player.
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!! The sweet taste of victory. Sweeter than honey, better than money. Tonight it was NGM's turn to celebrate. And they did it in front of the best crowd of the year. The evening also featured the return to play of senior running back Emery Johnson, out since he suffered a pre-season injury. (How fitting that he should also be named the 2022 Homecoming King.)
NGM struck fast when junior running back Lawrence Vasquez bolted home for the first score of the evening on the first drive. A quick fumble by the Chiefs and QB Max Marty found A.C. Strok over the center of the field. Making the catch at the 10-yard line, Strok shrugged off four would-be tacklers on his run to the end zone. Both extra point attempts came up empty but NGM closed out the quarter up 12-0.
The second quarter was largely a game of back-and-forth, and mostly a very frustrating experience for the visitors. Anytime they would show even a little bit of momentum they quickly "shot themselves in the foot" (no pun intended), at one point incurring back-to-back unsportsmanlike penalties to produce a 3rd and 38...a debt they could not pay. NGM QB Max Marty capped a 60-yard drive with his feet, gliding in untouched the last several yards around his right side. Freshman Ethan Seffrood's PAT was good, making it 19-0 at the half. The taste of victory was just beginning to form on the palate, yet purposely restrained from reaching the lips.
In the third it was all NGM as they posted an 82-yard sustained drive with a nice mix of sharp passes and strong runs. Lawrence Vasquez continues to impress with his punishing upright running style. The drive was finished off nicely with some acrobatics when Marty again hit Strok in the southeast corner of the end zone for a 22-yard score. A trick 2-point play failed, and seven seconds into the fourth it was NGM 25-0. Victory now all but assured.
Big Foot seemed to find their footing (OK, that was a pun) if only for a moment as they marched down field - only to have a long pass intercepted by NGM's Cade Thayer on the NGM 14-yard line. Can you say "86-yard drive"? NGM did as Marty and Co. masterfully orchestrated that distance punctuated by a 42-yard pass to A.C. Strok, who beat his defender and took it to the Chief's 8-yard line. (BTW, coming into the contest Strok led the conference at 25.4 yards per catch and Max Marty was third in passing yards with 1,024...those stats being nicely added to in this game). How poetic that Emery Johnson would get the call and get the ball, running it in from 8 yards out for his first TD of the year. Seffrood's PAT was money and at 2:28 to play it was NGM up a commanding 32-0.
Everything came together for NGM in this game. And if you liked the offensive showing you had to love the defensive effort, particularly inspired by the seniors playing their last home game. Linebacker Jackson Eyler, playing like "a man possessed", was everywhere the ball was. From his spot at right defensive end Ja'Kodey Strahm sent a visitor's helmet airborne, last seen rolling southbound down Highway 69.
Sue Moen
Emery Johnson takes a handoff from Max Marty.
Both benches sent in their reserves to finish out the game. Big Foot's Aaron Rowland, subbing now for their much-heralded Northern Michigan University commit Jax Hertel, showed flashes of some brilliant running to give the Chiefs their lone score of the evening at 0:51 on the clock. NGM freshman QB Grady Johnson, brother of Emery, came in to take a knee, close the contest and secure the victory, 32-7 NGM.
When the clock hit 0:00 the NGM student section stormed the field in force and in unison and the celebration was on. With their record now a distant memory, it was a show of pure teenage joy, unbridled enthusiasm, and school spirit all on full display. Ya just gotta love high school sports and the energy only it can bring!
Next game is away as NGM travels to take on #6 ranked Lodi this Friday. Game time is 7:00. See you in Lodi!
Interesting factoid #2: Big Foot High School is in the town of Walworth and is named in honor of Chief Big Foot of Potawatomi fame. Present day Lake Geneva was originally called Big Foot Lake before the band was forcibly relocated in 1836.
