Running backs Alex Brown and Austin Williams have combined to form quite the one-two punch for the Plainwell football team this season.
The Trojans’ Wolverine Conference game with Sturgis on Friday, Oct. 6, was another perfect example of that.
Brown ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries for a 21.7 yards-per-carry average, while Williams ran for 97 yards and a TD on eight carries for a 12.1 yards-per-carry average in leading Plainwell to the 52-9 win.
With the win, the Trojans improved to 5-2. That means if they win at least one of their final two games—they host Paw Paw on Friday, Oct. 13, and host Otsego on Friday, Oct. 20—then they’ll receive an automatic playoff bid.
“The offense was once again led by our two running backs,” Plainwell coach Darren Conklin said.
And it didn’t take long for Brown to set the tone.
Taking a handoff from quarterback Matt Root, Brown raced 21 yards to the end zone less than three minutes into the first quarter. Less than six minutes later he was back in the end zone, this time as the result of a 73-yard run that gave Plainwell a 14-0 lead.
“We had a great start again tonight,” Conklin said. “It was great to see, especially considering the nearly two-hour bus ride.”
By halftime the score stood at 38-3 in Plainwell’s favor as Williams scored on a 44-yard run, Luke Morrell connected on a 40-yard field goal, Brown scored on a 24-yard run and Tristan James recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Root had a hand in Plainwell’s final two touchdowns, connecting with Gunnar Gavalis on a 19-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and running for a 3-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
Root finished 3-of-5 passing for 62 yards.
Defensively, Conklin praised the play of Clayton Tucker.
“I think Tucker was the biggest standout of the game,” Conklin said. “ He drew three holding calls, forced a fumble and had six tackles, two of which were for a loss. He dominated all game.”
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