Football

Turnovers Costly For Menominee In Loss To GRWC

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

DETROIT---The Menominee High School football team turned the ball over seven times and lost to Grand Rapids West Catholic, 43-7, in the MHSAA Division Five state championship game Saturday afternoon at Ford Field in Detroit.

It was a stinging loss for the Maroons, who were hoping the seventh time would be the charm against West Catholic. Instead, Menominee's season ended in the state playoffs at the hands of West Catholic for a seventh straight November.

West Catholic raced to a 29-0 lead in the first half after Menominee turned the ball over on five of its first eight possessions. One bright spot for the Maroons happened in the third quarter, when Hunter Hass returned a blocked field goal 76 yards for a touchdown.

It is the first time that a blocked field goal has ever been returned for a touchdown in Michigan High School Athletic Association state finals history. But West Catholic scored two more touchdowns to set the clock rolling on the mercy rule.

Menominee finishes its season with a 12-2 record, and state runners-up.

More details and statistics are posted below, courtesy of the MHSAA.

GR West Catholic vs Menominee (Nov 26, 2016 at Detroit, MI)

GR West Catholic (12-2) vs. Menominee (12-2)

Date: Nov 26, 2016 • Site: Detroit, MI • Stadium: Ford Field • Attendance:

Score by Quarters	1	2	3	4	Score
GR West Catholic	16	13	7	7	43
Menominee	0	0	7	0	7

SCORING SUMMARY				GRWC -MENOMINE
1st	09:19	GRWC	Liam Putz 47 yd field goal
			5 plays, 13 yards, TOP 2:14	3 - 0
	00:37	GRWC	Brett Meyers 91 yd pass from Gaetano Vallone (Liam Putz rush fumbld)
			3 plays, 93 yards, TOP 0:51	9 - 0
	00:07	GRWC	Sam Neville 24 yd pass from Gaetano Vallone (Liam Putz kick)
			1 play, 24 yards, TOP 0:05	16 - 0
2nd	08:53	GRWC	Sam Neville 61 yd pass from Gaetano Vallone (Liam Putz kick)
			3 plays, 64 yards, TOP 0:48	23 - 0
	00:16	GRWC	Aaron Hall 26 yd pass from Gaetano Vallone (Liam Putz rush fumbld)
			1 play, 26 yards, TOP 0:08	29 - 0
3rd	07:49	MENOMINE	Hunter Hass 76 yd blocked FG return (Shawn Sandahl kick)
				29 - 7
	03:59	GRWC	Dominic Stornant 5 yd run (Liam Putz kick)
			9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:50	36 - 7
4th	11:46	GRWC	Gaetano Vallone 37 yd run (Liam Putz kick)
			3 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:00	43 - 7

Kickoff time: 4:36pm • End of Game: 7:01pm • Total elapsed time: 2:25
Referee: Dave Stein • Umpire: Hershell Bell • Linesman: Peter Long • Line judge: Dan Kellogg • Back judge: Joe Rozell • Field judge: Andrew Hill • Side judge: Mark Richer •

Team Statistics (Final)
2016 MHSAA FOOTBALL FINALS
GR West Catholic vs Menominee (Nov 26, 2016 at Detroit, MI)

Team Totals	GRWC	MENOMINE
FIRST DOWNS	16	13
Rushing	4	9
Passing	11	4
Penalty	1	0
NET YARDS RUSHING	112	93
Rushing Attempts	28	38
Average Per Rush	4.0	2.4
Rushing Touchdowns	2	0
Yards Gained Rushing	139	148
Yards Lost Rushing	27	55
NET YARDS PASSING	351	70
Completions-Attempts-Int	15-22-1	10-21-4
Average Per Attempt	16.0	3.3
Average Per Completion	23.4	7.0
Passing Touchdowns	4	0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	463	163
Total offense plays	50	59
Average Gain Per Play	9.3	2.8
Fumbles: Number-Lost	1-0	4-3
Penalties: Number-Yards	3-27	1-10
PUNTS-YARDS	1-25	2-69
Average Yards Per Punt	25.0	34.5
Net Yards Per Punt	25.0	35.5
Inside 20	0	0
50+ Yards	0	0
Touchbacks	0	0
Fair catch	0	1
KICKOFFS-YARDS	8-475	2-120
Average Yards Per Kickoff	59.4	60.0
Net Yards Per Kickoff	38.4	40.0
Touchbacks	6	2
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	1--2-0	0-0-0
Average Per Return	-2.0	0.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	2-48-0
Average Per Return	0.0	24.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	4-49-0	1-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	0-0-1
Miscellaneous Yards	0	76
Possession Time	21:05	24:36
1st Quarter	3:10	8:50
2nd Quarter	3:20	8:40
3rd Quarter	8:47	3:13
4th Quarter	5:48	3:53
Third-Down Conversions	5 of 11	1 of 10
Fourth-Down Conversions	0 of 1	4 of 7
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	1-3	0-1
Touchdowns	1-3	0-1
Field goals	0-3	0-1
Sacks By: Number-Yards	1-13	0-0
PAT Kicks	4-6	1-1
Field Goals	1-2	0-0
Points off turnovers	29	0