Northmen can't complete comeback for share of BNC, fall to Cadillac
PETOSKEY — It had been eight years since the Petoskey football team was in positon to earn at least a share of the Big North Conference title entering Friday.
But when they the Northmen welcomed Cadillac Friday night, that opportunity was on the line and Petoskey played like it early.
Then came the second half.
Down just 14-13 at the half against the Vikings, things changed for the Northmen in the second half, as Cadillac’s ground attack behind a massive offensive line churned out yards, a two-score lead and eventually a 28-19 victory.
Petoskey never threw in the towel in head coach Jim Webb’s eyes and had a chance late to make it an eight-point game with time on the clock to work with, though couldn’t convert.
“I’m sure they came out after halftime and wanted to set the tone a bit running the football, which they did,” said Webb on Cadillac. “The bottom line is we had an opportunity to get it down to a one score game and it’s anyone’s game again, so that hurt at the end.
“I’m so proud of these guys. They bought in, they fought. As a coach you can’t ask for any more. Of course getting the win, but that’s going to come in time.”
The win gave Cadillac an outright 3-0 conference title in the first year playing without the Traverse City programs, while Petoskey finished up league play at 1-2. Petoskey also moves to 2-4 overall and Cadillac improved to 4-2.
The night started about as bad as it could for the Northmen as a fumble by Petoskey on the opening play was recovered by Cadillac and a score later followed on the Vikings’ ensuing drive.
Petoskey answered back from there however and tightened things up in the first half behind a pair of Joe McCarthy touchdown passes, one to Brian Pike and another to Aaron Sysko.
Out of the break, Cadillac used a methodical drive to bring it down to the one-yard line, where quarterback Charlie Howell then scored on a QB sneak to make it 21-13.
After the Northmen stalled out, it was the same story on the next Cadillac drive, with Howell scoring up the middle on fourth down by the tip of the football up the middle.
Petoskey answered with a short score from Mark Ledig on the ground with 6:37 left on the clock, though a failed two-point play kept it in a two-score game, which eventually came as the final.
The Northmen had drives late, stopping the Vikings twice to bring the ball back, though forced into obvious passing situations had Cadillac prepared.
“It’s tough when you’ve got to throw and they’re dropping back,” said Webb. “It’s tough on the linemen to protect and for Joe to find the open receivers. They started dropping off about nine guys.”
McCarthy finished the game 14 of 28 passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while Pike had 33 yards and a score on three receptions. Sysko also made four grabs for 67 yards and a touchdown.
The Northmen ran for just 53 yards on 22 attempts, while defensively, Ledig made an interception and Trevor Swiss recovered a fumble.
The game came as Webb’s first of his career against his former school, which he entered the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame with. While his new team didn’t get the victory, he knew it wasn’t due to lack of heart and effort.
“I’m not disappointed at all in our effort,” said Webb. “I thought these guys really fought and played their hearts out.”
Petoskey will try to rebound next week with their final home game of the 2022 season when they bring in Kingsford (3-2) for the annual Play with Purpose pink game and senior night on Friday, Oct. 7.
“It’s a big game,” added Webb. “The crowd has been great, the Blue Crew has been behind us every game. They’re in there standing to the end and cheer. I think next week the pink game is going to be a good one. It’s senior night and a triple header.”
Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northmen can't complete comeback for share of BNC, fall to Cadillac
