By John Raffel
Beal City badly wanted another trip to Ford Field and the Division 8 state finals. However, the banner season for the Aggies ended at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Nov. 21 with a 10-7 loss to Munising.
Chase Rollin’s 98-yard kickoff return was the only touchdown for Beal City, and Munising scored a field goal for the winning points to earn its first spot in the sate finals in 34 years.
“It was a very hard-fought game by both teams, a defensive struggle,” Beal City coach Lou Rau said. “We had our opportunities but couldn’t overcome some key penalties and mistakes.”
Austin Cook had a big game for Beal City defensively with 11 1/2 tackles. Garrett Blank led Munising with 222 yards rushing and a touchdown. “Regardless of the semifinal loss, it was a very successful season,” Rau said. “We had our ups and downs, but they were just opportunities to grow as a team. Many can’t realize how hard it is for kids to perform at such a high level year in and year out, week in and week out. I’m very proud of all these young men have accomplished.”
The Beal City offense struggled to some extent, although Chase Rollin gained 72 yards and Luke Farrell had 50 yards.
A main highlight of the playoffs was a 28-0 win over Baldwin in the regional final. The Aggies blanked an offense led by all-state quarterback Brandon Childress.
Rollin considered the game over Baldwin as perhaps one of the best defensive performances of the season. “We stopped their key player, and in turn we got the shutout,” he said. “Offensively, we executed everything right. We feel pretty confident with our ability to play at a high level.”
“Our success cannot be measured by trips to Ford Field,” Rau said. “Yes, it was disappointing to not get there for a third consecutive year, but it doesn’t make this team any less successful. The athletes work hard year round to have the opportunity to play for a state championship; sometimes though, it just isn’t in the cards, so to speak.”
During the regular season, the Aggies lost 20-0 to Ishpeming and 14-13 to Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport. They were hoping those losses would help prepare them for the pivotal games late in the playoff run.
“[In the Baldwin game], we all clicked and came together as a team,” quarterback Tucker Gross said. “The two losses helped us more than a win ever would. We learned from it.”
“That gave us a feeling of a loss that we don’t want to have again,” Rollin said prior to the Munising game. “I think [the Baldwin game] was the best team effort we had.”
“We’re definitely good enough to go all the way,” Farrell said. “[Munising will] be a physical team, so we’ll practice being physical.”
The 2014 team is one that Rau won’t forget for a long time. He said he would especially remember, “the extreme hard work put forth by this senior class. They worked continuously from last Thanksgiving to the present, rarely taking a day off, all to achieve their goals.”
It wouldn’t be a shock if the Aggies make another playoff run sometime. “The future will always be bright as long as the work ethic continues to thrive,” Rau said.
Farrell and Cook will graduate, but quarterback Tucker Gross and Rollin are among the returnees.