Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
The Bay City Western football team bounced back from horrific losses to Mt. Pleasant and Midland in back-to-back weeks, and it ended the regular season on a high note by beating rival Bay City Central.
Western ended the regular season 7-2 and will host a first round playoff game against Okemos.
“Our toughest games have been at the end of the season,” said coach Bruce Mann. “These games should prepare us well for a playoff run. Higher expectations and pressures in these games have allowed us to see some weaknesses to work out during practice and helped us to play to our strengths.”
In week seven, the Warriors suffered a heartbreaking 52-49 loss to the Oilers, and they followed that up with a disappointing game against Midland. Mann said those two games exposed weaknesses that the team needed to work on, and he and his coaching staff have partially corrected them, or have at least became very aware of them.
“I feel the kids were really let down by the loss to MP,” Mann said. “We played with so much passion to come back from a large deficit. The kids were emotionally not involved in the game with Midland, which led to a very poor performance. In addition, we have faced quality competition in these two games, which gives us a pretty good measuring stick regarding who we are as a team.”
Mann has gotten key contributions from juniors Jon Metz on defense and Mason Meyers at running back.
“Jon has grown up a lot as a junior inside linebacker. He is the leader of our defense statistically and emotionally. He has become a real playmaker and is someone we count on to play well. Mason is our junior tailback who has become an excellent blocker. He gives up his body for the team and has a great feel for finding the blitzer.”
Although the season has been filled with highs and lows, Mann has watched the team improve during the its course.
“Our guys have been a tremendous group to work with and have worked hard to improve,” he said.