CADILLAC---The Gladstone Braves and Durand Railroaders battled in a back-and-forth football game Friday night in Lower Michigan, and the normal four quarters weren’t enough to settle the outcome.
The Railroaders won the game in overtime, 28-22, after the Braves turned the ball over on their final possession in regulation time, and on their only possession in overtime. But it was a game that saw both teams make big plays as the teams met at Cadillac High School after both had their season-opening match-ups fall through.
For a Gladstone team that went 1-8 least season, it was an ecouraging start to the season, as quarterback Cooper Sanville threw two long touchdown passes in the second half and Owen Gereau added a 19-yard touchdown run.
And the defense made big plays, like a red zone stop at the end of the first half, and another stop in Braves territory late in the fourth quarter that gave them a chance to win the game outright.
Railroaders senior running back Caden Holbrook scored the winning touchdown from ten yards out. It was his third touchdown run of the game.
It was another senior, Kingston Kilburn, who put the Railroaders in front with a 63-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Braves held on defense just before halftime, keeping it 6-0, and got a big stop on Durand’s first possession of the second half.
The Braves finally got on the scoreboard when Sanville hooked up with Aiden Burie for a 47-yard touchdown pass with 7:36 left in the third quarter. Luke Inghram’s extra point kick put Gladstone in front, 7-6.
The Railroaders came right back with a 60-yard drive, helped along by a 15-yard facemask penalty. Holbrook’s one-yard run put Durand in front, then he ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-7.
Gladstone had the answer, though, as Sanville went deep again, this time to Mason Sierpien from 51 yards out. Inghram again made his extra point kick, despite a low snap that had the ball momentarily on the carpet, and the game was tied again at 14-14 with 2:29 left in the third quarter.
Once again, the Railroaders were on the see-saw as the fourth quarter began, with Holbrook scoring on a 35-yard scamper on 3rd-and 4. Quarterback Lucas Goodman scored the two-point run with a nearly-uncontested sweep, and the Braves were in a 22-14 hole.
But the running game finally got going, with the Durand defense having to honor the Braves passing game. Gereau had several nice runs to move the chains, and the big play was an electrifying scramble by Sanville from one side of the field to the other. That 31-yard run on 3rd and 8 put the Braves at the Durand 19 yard-line, and Gereau scored on the next play to bring Gladstone to within 22-20 with 6:42 left on the clock.
Next was the two-point play, and Sanville found a diving Tre Brunette in the end zone. Game tied again, 22-all.
Durand drove into Braves territory, but a penalty and a huge sack by Jack Savard put the Railroaders into a 4th-and-21 play. They managed 15 yards on a counter play, not enough for the first down.
Gladstone took over on downs, and got two first downs to the midfield area. But with 38.9 seconds left. Sanville’s long pass was intercepted along the Braves sideline. The game went to overtime, and the Braves made it there despite two personal foul penalties in the quarter.
Gladstone got the ball first in overtime. Gereau was tackled for a loss, and then Sanville threw an interception in the end zone. The Railroaders needed only one play for Holbrook to score the walk-off win.
It was the second all-time meeting between the Braves and the school from the Flint area. The other meeting was also won by Durand, 28-24, in 2022, when both teams were ranked in the top ten in the state.
Gladstone will be at home next Friday night against the Negaunee Miners. Kick-off is set for 7:00 at the Marble Athletic Field.
