Christian Mentzer headed in for the winning try
A 79th minute try by Christian Mentzer gave Michigan a 30-28 come from behind victory over the visiting varsity Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals.
The game started well for Michigan with Joel Conzelmann hitting a 4th minute penalty from about 35 meters. That 3-0 lead was short lived though as Wheeling put in a 7th minute converted try under the posts. The Cardinals pressured through a series of attacks in the Michigan 22 and eventually their flyhalf, Joji Vakasisikakala, found a gap to dot down. The contest then went through a series of penalties to both teams. WJU lost their flanker to a yellow card around the 16′ minute mark while CJ Stock and Sequoyah Burke-Combs both spent 10 minutes in the bin shortly after.
Brennen Arnett gets Michigan’s first try with the help of Cole Van Harn and Nick Fehrman
The Men in Blue weathered the disadvantaged well though. In fact, while down 13 men to 15, managed to push in a tight try through Brennen Arnett to bring the game to 8-7 in favor of Michigan. Quickly the lead swung back to Wheeling through a line-out maul attack from 5m out around the 35 minute mark. Michigan made a break shortly after the kickoff but an errant Christian Mentzer pass turned into an intercept try for the Cardinals. Both tries converted, Michigan found themselves down 21-8 at the break.
Michigan refocused after the restart. Consistent phases and pressure in the WJU half caused a lackluster WJU clearance kick to fall into fullback CJ Stock’s hands. Chris Padmos received a pass and then found freshman Matt Kasten who swerved down the left sideline for a U of M try. A solid scrum and backline move five minutes later broke CJ Stock free who linked with Sequoyah Burke-Combs for another try. Only down 3, 18-21, Michigan was back in the game.
Matt Kasten around the corner for a Michigan try
WJU was not going away quietly though. More skill from Vakasisikakala brought Wheeling 7 more points as he chipped ahead near the Michigan 22 and collected in the try zone. Down 10, Michigan struggled to mount consistent pressure. Fortunately for the Wolverines, the Cardinals also struggled. Both teams wallowed in a mess of untidy rucks as subs came on for tired bodies. Riley Hanson and Tohy Rakotovololona making their first appearances to compliment Zach Burns and Kasten as the four Michigan freshmen to see the field. Freshman Jason Anthony was also listed in the 23 man roster.
Back to the business at hand, U of M needed at least 10 points put found themselves with less than 10 minutes remaining. A crack in the WJU defense emerged as consistent phases within their 22 sprung Burke-Combs for a score with four to play. The conversion was good by Joel Conzelmann and Michigan only trailed 28-25. U of M continued to work the ball around the park trying to find a break as time ticked away. Eventually it was Burke-Combs again finding a hole on the left side from about 70 meters out. With only the fullback to beat, he easily dished to Mentzer who took it the remaining 40 meters for the winning score.
Burke-Combs breaks for the winning score with Mentzer and Riley Hanson in support
WJU had one last chance as they collected their own kickoff. But a knock-on, some Michigan phases, and a Wheeling penalty allowed the Wolverines to kick the ball to touch and secure the comeback victory.
1. Nick Fehrman (Shapiro 53′)
2. Evan Rourke
3. Brennen Arnett
4. Zach Burns (Starkweather 43′)
5. Drew Vecchio
6. Kenny Andutan
7. Sequoyah Burke-Combs
8. Cole Van Harn
9. Ian Etheart (Palladino 63′)
10. Joel Conzelmann
11. Matt Kasten (Rakotovololona 53′)
12. Christian Mentzer
13. Zach Burns (Hanson 63′)
14. Chris Padmos
15. CJ Stock
16. Jackson Wagner
17. Ben Shapiro
18. Stuart Starkweather
19. Jason Anthony
20. Jesse Fenno
21. John Palladino
22. Riley Hanson
23. Tohy Rakotovololona
Tries: Arnett 30′, Kasten 44′, Burke-Combs 49′, 76′, Mentzer 79′
Cons: Conzelmann 76′
Pen: Conzelmann 4′
Following the exciting A match-up. Both teams put out experienced B lineups and as such, a very well played game ensued. Michigan opened the scoring after winning a 5 meter attacking scrum. The solid platform allowed #8 Travis Sawyer to break one tackle and drive in for the score. Jared Bosma converted to put U of M up 7-0.
Forward play by WJU put Michigan on their heels in their own 22. Eventually a try had to come with Michigan having no chance to clear the pressure. Wheeling forwards rumbled over for the score and with the kick converted the game was tied at 7-7. Both teams battled through the middle of the park for the next 15 minutes. But Michigan soon was back on the attack in the WJU end. A well taken line-out by Joe Stevens was given to Max Arevuo. Arevuo to Bosma who threw a wide pass that was taken one-handed by Cooper Smart. Smart proceeded to race around the last Cardinal defender for an excellent team try without conversion.
Cooper Smart scores for Michigan with Kevin Linder looking on
With the half winding down, Michigan was again pinned in their own end. A handful of penalties gave WJU a quick tap from 5 meters out that was easily ran in by the Cardinals. With the try converted from right in front of the posts, Wheeling was up 14-12 at half.
Significant subs came on for Michigan but they did not miss a beat. Junior prop Jordan Ulmer blasted his way into the try zone and regained the lead for Michigan at 17-14. WJU answered quickly though as they turned to the boot. Long kicks pinned Michigan deep and one particularly hard chase turned over the ball near the Michigan goal line and allowed for an easy Wheeling score. The kicks continued and later a chip into the try zone gave the Cardinals another try.
John Palladino eyes a gap in the Cardinal line
Down 17-24, Michigan needed a converted try to tie. The team worked many phases through the middle of the field only to see a turnover result in a long kick and the restart of the march. Eventually, no try was to be found and time expired with the Cardinals outlasting the Wolverines this game.
1. Jackson Wagner
2. Cam Watson
3. Jordan Ulmer
4. Alex Davidson
5. Joe Stevens
6. Nolan Webb
7. Jesse Fenno
8. Travis Sawyer
9. Max Arevuo
10. Jared Bosma
11. Mark Borowski
12. John Palladino
13. Cody Griffin
14. Kevin Linder
15. Cooper smart
16. Darsh Kohsla
17. Chris Byer
18. Jason Anthony
19. Mike Manzano
20. Chenning Duker
21. Albert Foo
22. Evan Noon
23. Ryan McDonough
24. Riley Hanson
25. Vino Ravichandran
26. Uygar Ozdemir
27. Matt Ko
28. Cody Brown
Tries: Sawyer 7′, Smart 36′, Ulmer 51′
Cons: Bosma 8′
