Fox on the run
Plymouth's back-up running back
sparks 31-8 triumph over Livonia Franklin
Oct. 10, 2009, 2:15 p.m.
Plymouth's
football team made it clear early Friday night that it was going to
control its own fate and not put it in the hands of the officials.
One week after suffering a controversial last-second 33-28
setback and Westland John Glenn, the Wildcats pounded Livonia Franklin,
31-8, in a game played at the PCEP junior varsity stadium.
Plymouth is now 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the KLAA South Division
heading into next week's cross-over clash against Novi. That game will
also be played on the JV turf.
The victory was sparked by several players, most notably
sophomore running back/defensive back Dante Fox, who gained 130 yards
on nine carries and intercepted a pair of Patriot passes; and Tyler
Grosh, who return a punt 60 yards for a touchdown the first time the
Wildcats touched the ball.
"I'm so proud of these kids," said Plymouth coach Mike Sawchuk.
"After what happened last week, they could have gone in the other
direction. But they came out this week and had the best week of
practices we've had all year.
"We beat a good football team tonight. Franklin is huge and
they're very athletic."
Not long after Grosh's punt return, junior quarterback Victor
Hicks scored from 15 yards out to double the Wildcats' lead to 14-0.
Fox made it 21-0 with a 20-yard run mid-way through the second
quarter.
"Dante had an awesome night," said Sawchuk. "He's just a
flat-out good football player."
Franklin stayed alive with eight late first-half points -- two
the result of a safety following a bad snap on a punt and a touchdown
with less than a minute to play before halftime.
Junior kicker Kyle Brindza, who nailed all four of his
extra-point attempts, added a 35-yard field goal late in the third
quarter to extend the Wildcats' lead to 24-8.
Fox capped the scoring with scintillating 77-yard TD dash.
Hicks completed 2-of-5 passes and rushed for 89 yards.
Ed Wright can be reached at
info@plymouthcantonsports.com or (734) 453-1980.
