TAWAS --Forty-three years ago, fathers taught their sons life's lessons in the back 40 acres.
On Friday, October 3, 1997 Tawas took Oscoda behind the wood shed.
Playing not just for a year's football bragging rights but for the News-Press traveling trophy, whch began 43 years ago in 1954, the Braves varsity squad dominated the Owls 47-14. This year's Tawas inscription on the gold and wood trophy with the gilted full-sized football atop, will be the Braves' sixth in a row since the third News-Press trophy put into use in 1992. Oscoda still claims a 23-30 edge in winds since the trophy game was inaugurated.
"That was the most emotion the kids have shown all year," said Tawas coach Dan Pippin. "That first half we could have played with anybody. The biggest key was the kids were having fun."
Indeed Tawas (2-3 overall and 1-2 in the Northeast Michigan Conference) brought the no-huddle offense, used exclusively last season, back out of the closet for arch rival Oscoda (1-4 overall and 1-2 in the NEMC). Friday's game at Tawas was played before a capacity crowd as fans from both schools packed the bleachers on both sides of the field.
"We should have never put it a way," Pippin said of the no-huddle offense. "It makes play calling so much easier."
Oscoda scored its two touchdowns on 25-yard run by John Wilson with 5:11 left in the fourth quarter and on a 38-yard fumble recovery by junior linebacker Mark McLaughlin with 2:25 left in the game. The points after were kicked by Wilson.
"Tawas had a lot of speed which is hard to defend," said Owl coach Melvin Richendollar. "I thought the kids from Tawas hit extremely hard, were well prepared for the game and caught everything in sight."
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