EDWARDSBURG — Edwardsburg football coach Kevin Bartz was pleased how his team played overall in Thursday’s 34-7 Wolverine Conference win over Otsego. But one thing stood out the most to the veteran coach of the Eddies.

“I guess what I was most pleased with was our discipline,” said the 18th-year Edwardsburg coach. “I think we definitely won that area. We had no turnovers and our penalties were minimal.”

The Eddies totaled only 35 yards on six penalties, while the Bulldogs totaled 40 yards on eight penalties. In the first quarter alone, Otsego had four offside penalties for 20 yards.

Edwardsburg also turned two Otsego turnovers in the second half into 14 points. Dylan Hulett’s fumble recovery gave the Eddies the ball at their own 28-yard line. Four plays later, Hulett broke several tackles and scored on a 45-yard run to give Edwardsburg a 21-0 lead with 9:08 left in the third quarter. Hulett finished the game with 113 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Otsego turned the ball over again on its next possession with Edwardsburg’s Grant Szalewski returning an interception 13 yards to give the hosts possession at midfield. Nine plays later, Jack Bywaters scored on a one-yard run to give the Eddies a commanding 28-0 lead with 2:34 left in the third quarter. Bywaters finished with 145 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. Bywaters’ five-yard scoring run gave Edwardsburg a 7-0 lead with 10:38 left in the second quarter.

Bywaters easily could have scored three touchdowns, but came up just short after fumbling in the end zone in the second quarter. Alert teammate Ryan Rivers pounced on the ball in the end zone to give the Eddies a 14-0 lead with 5:20 left before halftime.

“That was a huge play,” Bartz said. “Bywaters kind of went in (the end zone) and landed on his back and the ball popped up and it was a very alert play by Rivers. If we don’t get that one in, momentum becomes a factor.”

The Eddies rushed for 338 yards out of their wing-T attack. Eight different players carried the ball for Edwardsburg on a very hot night.

“As long as we’ve got our backs moving forward and we’re hanging on to the ball, we’re in good shape,” Bartz said.

Edwardsburg got solid play from its two quarterbacks Brett Bowman and Dante Razzano. The duo executed the fakes running the wing-T and completed all three passes thrown for 82 yards. Three fourth downs were converted on those passes.

“We can pass the ball and we’ve got kids who can catch the ball,” Bartz said. “We’ve also got two quarterbacks that I’m confident can run the offense.”

Edwardsburg’s defense held Otsego to 274 yards.

The Bulldogs scored their lone touchdown with 2:22 left in the game when quarterback Maxx Jirgens and receiver Jaeden Thompson hooked up on a 65-yard scoring pass.

“I attribute a lot of our success on defense to coach (Randy) Brooks and the changes he’s made,” Bartz said. “We’re a lot more aggressive with our linebackers and we’re coming from different areas. I thought our nose guard Travis Myrick, in particular, did a nice job playing both gaps. Jacob Widup and our inside linebackers also did a nice job.”

 

Otsego 0 0 0 7 — 7

Edwardsburg 0 14 14 6 — 34

E – Jack Bywaters 5 run (Tyler Treat kick)

E – Ryan Rivers fumble recovery in the end zone (Treat kick)

E – Dylan Hulett 45 run (Treat kick)

E – Bywaters 1 run (Treat kick)

E – Tyler Williamson 4 run (kick failed)

O – Jaeden Thompson 65 pass from Maxx Jirgens