TC Central takes down Alpena in Big North opener

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Traverse City Central defensive backs AJ Mackie (17) and Landon Adams (28) break up a pass for Alpena wide receiver Kaleb Smith (21) Friday at Thirlby Field. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Alpena linebacker Chandler Bloom (34) and defensive back Matt Hamel (2) try to tackle Traverse City Central running back TJ Schwannecke (23). Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Alpena quarterback Brady Marwede (12) scrambles away from Traverse City Central (5) to pass. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Traverse City Central running back Joe Schepperly (32) runs for a touchdown during Friday's win over Alpena at Thirlby Field. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Alpena running back Dylan Thrasher (32) gets tackled by Traverse City Central linebacker Josiah Lopez-Wild (35) Friday at Thirlby Field. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

September 8, 2012

TC Central takes down Alpena in Big North opener

Trojans rush for nearly 300 yards in lopsided victory

BY DENNIS CHASE dchase@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Sat Sep 08, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Central used a potent ground game, an opportunistic defense and strong special teams play Friday afternoon in a successful Big North Conference opener at Thirlby Field.

T.J. Schwannecke scored two touchdowns, one on a 68-yard punt return, to spark the Trojans to a 47-6 romp over Alpena.

Central (2-1 overall) rushed for nearly 300 yards in the rain. Quarterback T.J. Schepperly led the ground assault with 93 yards. Schwannecke added 70.

"We're challenging all the backs to run more north and south," Trojan coach Tom Passinault said. "We have a decent power game this year, which we haven't had in the past. That's an advantage for us."

The Trojans (2-1) also have speed, evidenced by Schepperly's 45-yard touchdown run on the team's first possession and Schwannecke's punt return less than three minutes later.

After that, the Trojans used good field position and pounded the ball in a ground-oriented attack to dispose of the Wildcats.

"(Coach Passinault) wants us to just hit the hole, get up field, get the most yards we can," Schwannecke said. "That was our plan and we did it."

The Trojan defense intercepted four passes, one returned for a touchdown by Vinnie Zakrajsek.

The first pick came on the first series of the game after Alpena marched from its 20 to the Central 20. Quarterback Brady Marwede connected on six consecutive passes in the drive, but his seventh pass slipped through his receiver's hands and right to Central's Alex Liggett.

Schepperly and the Trojans took advantage.

"Momentum change is a big thing," Trojan linebacker Nate Pupel said. "Once we got that first pick it changed."

Alpena coach Jason Dubey agreed.

"I think we had three (passes) hit our hands that bounced up and were picked off," he said. "They turned those three into touchdowns.

"That one on the first drive was huge because we were moving. I think we had a five-minute drive there. Then we had the turnover. (Turnovers) was the story of the night."

The interceptions, along with a couple of good punt returns and Pupel's punting, allowed the Trojans to gain superior field position throughout the contest.

Up 14-0, the Trojans were threatening to score again after Zach Egbert's interception gave Central the ball at the Alpena 27 late in the first quarter.

That drive eventually stalled on downs at the 5, but the Wildcats could do nothing and Schepperly returned the subsequent punt 30 yards to the Wildcats 16. Two plays later, Pupel went up the middle from14 yards out with 8:27 left in the second quarter.

Later in the quarter, Pupel boomed a 58-yard punt that pinned Alpena back on its 7. After a three-and-out, Schwannecke returned a punt 21 yards to the Wildcats 29. Three plays later, Joe Schepperly barrelled 12 yards for a score and a 28-0 lead at half.

"We talked all week about not punting to those two guys (Schepperly and Schwannecke), about kicking it out of bounds," Dubey said. "But the first three punts we kicked right to them.

"Those two guys are two of the fastest in the league. We knew that. We were trying to kick out of bounds, but we didn't and they took advantage."

Central opened the second half with a 63-yard drive that ended with Schwannecke's 9-yard run.

The lead mushroomed to 40-0 on the next possession when Josiah Lopez-Wild took it in from 11 yards out.

Alpena countered with an 80-yard drive that Dylan Trasher capped with a 3-yard run.

Zakrajsek accounted for the last score when he picked off a pass near the Wildcat 10 and scampered in.

"Watching Alpena, we knew they were down a little," Passinault said. "Their starting tailback (Ashton Dever) was out, which was a disadvantage for them. We talked to our guys about how good teams take care of business and we did that."

Dever suffered a concussion in last week's loss to Sault Ste. Marie.

"He had 125 yards last week in two series," Dubey said. "He played 12 plays. He's our speed guy. That didn't help.

"But that's a talented football team (Central). That's going to be tough team to play in the Big North."

The Trojans now host defending league champion Petoskey next weekend.

"We're excited," Passinault said. "Petoskey's had our number. We're anxious to prepare for them."

"We've got to be smart mentally," Pupel added. "Little things can lose big games. We can't be dealing with penalties or missed (assignments). We've got to be strong everywhere."

Alpena, meanwhile, takes on Traverse City West next Friday.

"We get the other part of the double-headed monster," Dubey said. "These are two good (Traverse City) football teams, two good programs, coached by two good guys. We know it's going to be tough."