Comets Win Key Conference Game at Home

By David Rice
JTV Sports

(September 16, 2022 11:51 PM) What started out as a slow and low-scoring 7-0 first half, turned into a second half runaway for Hanover-Horton on Friday night.

Grass Lake came in 2-1 looking to get a conference win on the road to boost their confidence headed into the back half of the season. Meanwhile, Hanover-Horton last week put up a surprising 39 points on Addison.

The first quarter started out as a back and forth 3-and-out type of play for both teams. Both teams in the opening frame had good-moving drives that were killed by penalties. The Comets took off 3:30 in their first possession that ended in a 4th down incomplete pass. Then, Grass Lake (led by a 20-yard Andrew Stockton) run was brought back by a holding penalty than ran them into a 3rd & 20. The first quarter ended scoreless.

Grass Lake started off strong in the second quarter, changing the current tone of the game. QB Brayden Lape and WR Robby Anderson connected on two 15-yard passes including a TD pass to give them a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. 

Then the remaining of the entire first half was highlighted by both teams punting twice. A Warriors sack by Josh Claussen ended the first half by holding his team’s 7-0 lead.

Grass Lake had a 7-0 lead going into the second half, but was quickly shot down by a spectacular 3rd quarter for Hanover-Horton. 16 seconds in, Graham Gumper returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for a TD to make it 7-7.

Grass Lake struggled from this moment on, punting twice and a turnover on downs in the third quarter alone. Hanover-Horton turned the tide in their favor, giving themselves a 10-7 lead with a 25-yard field goal. Then just 3 minutes later, the Comets scored again on a 35-yard TD run to extend their lead to 16-7. The Claussen sack for Grass Lake at the end of the first half was the last big play for GL in this game.

Hanover-Horton iced the game in the fourth quarter. Brady Tamblyn scored on a 30-yard TD run with 11:13 to play, making it 24-7 in favor of HH. Grass Lake attempted to see a light of hope but ultimately came up short, with a turnover on downs possession followed by a punt with 3:30 left to seal it. 

Hanover-Horton gets the home conference win over Grass Lake 24-7. Grass Lake falls to 2-2 and will play at Michigan Center next Friday (9/23) in an attempt to spoil the MC Homecoming game.