Hornets Season Ends at Novi, 42-21

Football season came to an end for the Saline Hornets Friday, in a 42-21 loss to their hosts at Novi High School.

The Hornets (4-5), needed a win to make the MHSAA playoffs. After a defensive stop and a touchdown on their first possession, it looked like the Hornets might live to play another Friday. But Novi  (4-5) tight end Michael Jocz (9 catches, 114 yards, two touchdowns) and running back Justin Brooks (8 carries, 106 yards, 3 touchdowns) dashed Saline’s post-season dreams.

For the Hornets, Reece Dils (10-for-17, 1 touchdown, one interception) threw a 54-yard touchdown pass Brandon Gordon and rushed for a one-yard touchdown.  Matt Barbu scored Saline’s third touchdown of the night on a 44-yard interception return.

“We just continued to give them points in the first half and it put us behind the eight ball and forced us into doing some different things,” said coach Mike Glennie.

Saline came out firing on defense, forcing a three-and-out. The Hornets began at their own 30 and handed ball off to Justin Barnes, who’d rushed for 11 touchdowns and nearly 600 yards in the two previous games. Barnes rushed the team out to midfield before the Wildcats took plugged up the middle and took it away. On third-and-10 from the Saline 46, Dils threw a short pass to Gordon over the middle. Gordon spun around and sprinted 54 yards for a touchdown. Dylan Mulder’s kick made it 7-0 with 7:53 to play in the first quarter.

It didn’t take long for Novi to answer. Derek Ince (23-for-35, 3 touchdowns) moved the Wildcats up the field with passes to Jocz, Logan Regnier, and Scotty Kempa.  Ince completed a big 3^rd-and-10 pass to Jocz for a first down at the Saline 20. Lucas Buck’s 17-yard scamper gave Novi a first-and-goal from the three. Two plays later, Justin Brooks rushed in from a yard out. After the kick, it was 7-7.

Saline’s next drive started at the 29 after a 23-yard return by Gordon. After a couple of passes to Gordon and a run by Barnes, Saline had a first down at the Novi 45.. Barnes tacked on five more yards. But the drive ended two plays later when Derek Cingel picked off a pass at the Novi 33. The Wildcats started at their own 19 after a penalty. Once again, Ince found Jocz on third-and-10 to keep the drive going. A few plays later, Ince connected with Jocz for a 17-yard touchdown. The kick made it 14-7.

Saline’s next drive stared at its 20. A balanced attack that included rushes by Barnes and passes to Derek Owings and Gordon moved the ball up field. Saline pressed as far as the Novi 12, but the drive stalled after Hunter Leslie was dragged down in the backfield. On fourth down, Mulder’s 33-yard field goal attempt was just wide.

Novi’s athleticism was evident on the next drive. Cingel made a great catch along the Novi sideline to move the Wildcats into Saline territory. A couple plays later, Cingel made a diving catch along the Saline sideline in the end zone for a touchdown catch that was disputed by the Hornets. The kick made it 21-7 with 6:41 to play in the half.

Saline climbed back to within seven on a 77-yard drive that was capped with a one-yard keeper by Dils. The big play in the drive was a 47-yard keeper by Dils. An unsportsmanlike penalty moved Saline up to the 17. It appeared that Dils and Owings connected on a great touchdown play, but officials ruled Owings out of bounds. But a few plays later, the Hornets scored on Dils’ keeper. Mulder’s kick made it 21-14.

Saline needed a stop on the next drive, but couldn’t nail it down. On third-and-13, Ince found Kempa for a 13-yard pickup. Novi converted another third-and-five with a pass to Jocz for 21 yards. A few plays later, Ince found Jocz all alone in the corner of the end zone. The kick made it 28-14.

Hopes for a strong start to the second half went unanswered as the Hornets went three-and-out. The Saline defense was equal to the task, holding Novi to zero yards on three plays before Novi punted the ball away. Gordon returned a punt 24 yards to the Novi 39 to give the Hornets great field positions. But the Wildcat defense dropped Dils for a 10-yard loss on first down and Mulder punted three plays later.

Novi delivered the coup de grace on the next play from scrimmage. On first down from the Novi 16, Brooks rushed to his right and was nearly dropped for a loss. He escaped the grasp of a Hornet and seemed to be running into the teeth of the defense when he bounced back toward the middle and then sprinted the rest of the way for an 84-yard touchdown. The kick made it 35-14.

Novi added another touchdown in the third to make it 42-14.

Saline scored its final touchdown late in the fourth when Barbu picked off a pass and returned it 44-yards for a touchdown.

It was a disappointing end to a season that started with promise before injuries and other events wreaked havoc on the roster.  Saline was 2-1 when the season took a wrong turn at Pioneer in a 35-14 loss. The Hornets lost a heartbreaker to Bedford in week five. The next week, with a decimated roster, the Hornets were down 27-7  to Monroe at halftime and the season appeared to be a washout. Saline battled back to take a 28-27 lead but fell in the final minute.

Despite the loss, it was a sign that the Hornets weren’t done playing football

“A lot of people questioned us. People in school questioned us. I think we questioned each other. But we answered those questions and we came together as a team. I think we showed that tonight,” said Hunter Leslie, after the Monroe game.

Saline battled back to 4-4 with wins over Huron and Skyline.

“This is a great football team. If you look at the stats and the record, you don’t see it. But this team went through a lot of adversity this year, and they kept their chins up and fought and played well, and I’m proud of them,” said Glennie.