August 27, 2010
Quick and elusive, Ottawa Hills quarterback Jalen Couch danced all night in the season opener against Grand Rapids Creston. The junior quarterback rushed for 155 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown to lead the Bengals on the ground. Couch also threw for 72 yards and two scores.
“He moved over to quarterback this year for us, and I was pleased with how he moved,” said Ottawa Hills head coach Chuck Ruffin. “He’s only a junior, but he commands the field very well.”
For most of the night, the Polar Bears zoned in on senior running back Devon Ivy (113 yards on eight carries for). Ivy lined up in the slot position and was shadowed by a linebacker and sometimes a safety. The extra attention gave Couch the wiggle room he needed to break several long runs along the sidelines.
When the Bengals weren’t relying on the raw, outside speed of Ivy and Couch, they handed off to their physical running back Javon Phillips (5’10” 210 lbs.). Phillips lowered his shoulders and barreled through the middle of the field for 138 yards on 11 carries.
Javon Phillips’ Touchdown to Start the Second Half from Varsity News Network on Vimeo.
With Ottawa Hills lining up in the spread, Creston backed off its secondary and lost the battle in the trenches to the Bengal’s large offensive line. Danzell Maze showed why he’s a D1 prospect with his ability to open holes and move on to the second level.
“Ottawa did a great job of controlling the trenches,” said Creston head coach Huemartin Robinson II.
Creston had a chance late in the second quarter to keep things relatively close with a 40-yard pass to Fred Fields, but a fumble and several dropped passes stalled their comeback. The Bengals kept the pressure on Creston quarterback Jaymare Joseph who left the game in the third quarter after being gang tackled in the backfield by the entire Bengals defensive line.
“Joseph had a collarbone problem earlier in practice,” said Robinson. “But he’s young. He should heal quickly for us.”
The Polar Bears didn’t get on the board until the fourth quarter when Chris Schipper connected with Fields for a 24-yard touchdown pass. On their next drive, Schipper danced his way deep into Bengals territory with a 37-yard run. A face mask penalty o Ottawa Hills and a short run by Schipper put Creston at the 12-yard line. But with just 48 seconds left on the clock, the Polar Bears went cold as the Bengals iced the game with an interception.
Both teams are on the road next Thursday with Ottawa Hills traveling to Muskegon and Creston at Kenowa Hills.
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