Varsity football team comes up short against Dragons
YALE — The 2026 high school football season got off to a thrilling start for the Yale Bulldogs.
Coach Garett Grundman’s squad played their hearts out for four quarters, only to come out on the short end of a 48-45 final score, falling to Swartz Creek in non-conference action last Thursday night.
Following the game, Coach Grundman was disappointed with the loss and proud of his team’s effort against a Swartz Creek team who had larger numbers and good depth at most positions.
“Yeah the boys played so hard, and without a doubt we were the more physical team. We just couldn’t string enough stops together,” Grundman said after the game. “I saw so many good things last night Thursday), but as always, we will bear down and improve!”
The hometown Bulldogs got off to a great start, taking an early 25-14 first quarter lead. The Dragons scored the games’ first touchdown on a 68-yard pass before Yale managed to rattle off three consecutive touchdowns. Quarterback Austin Rhodes proved to be too elusive for Swartz Creek, scoring the three TDs on runs of four, six and two yards.
The Dragons took the ensuing kick-off and rambled 60 yards for a kick-off return for touchdown to make it a 19-16 game only to see Yale respond with a score of their own, this one by Jackson Reeves on a 12-yard run. The Bulldogs struggled all evening with converting their points after touchdown and a missed field goal, leaving valuable points on the field.
“Yes, we left too many points on the field with some special team mistakes and missed extra point tries,” Grundman said. “That’s going to continue to be an evolving situation and focus for us going into Week 2.”
Both teams scored one more time each before the end of the first half with Yale’s coming on a 42-yard pass from Rhodes to Levi Frazer. Once again, Yale missed converting on the two-point conversion. The Bulldogs clung to a slim 31-28 lead at the half.
Both teams settled into a defensive battle using ball control and eating up minutes on the clock. There was no scoring in the third quarter. Rhodes punched in his fourth TD of the night on a 28-yard run to push his teams’ lead to 39-28 to start the fourth quarter. His four yard run late in the fourth capped the Yale scoring. Swartz Creek scored the game winning touchdown with 0:30 remaining in the game.
Yale finished the game with 63 plays, nearly double that of the Dragons and piled up 423 total yards to 353 for Swartz Creek.
Rhodes was 9 of 18 passing for 111 yards and rushed for another 195 yards on 27 carries. He accounted for six of Yale’s seven TDs. Reeves gained 109 yards on 11 carries and scored one touchdown. Issac Wheatley led the Bulldog receivers with a pair of catches for 52 yards while Frazer had one catch, a 42-yard scoring strike from Rhodes.
Although his team came out on the losing side, Coach Grundman was pleased with the effort.
“Super proud of the boys, but regardless, we need to tie up some loose ends and get ready for North Branch.”
Yale will travel to North Branch Thursday night for a 7 p.m. contest with the Broncos, the Blue Water Area Conference opener for both teams.
Scores Around the Thumb
11-player football (BWAC teams)
- Swartz Creek 48, Yale 45
- North Branch 21, Gaylord 14
- Imlay City 14, Flint Powers 7
- Almont 14, Marysville 13
- Petoskey 35, Cros-Lex 8
- Luth. North 32, Mad. Heights Madison 30
- Marine City 20, Richmond 13
- Armada 28, SC Shores Lakeview 14
Upper Thumb
- Caro 64, Bridgeport 6
- Cass City 34, Harbor Beach 0
- Lake Odessa 16, Lakers 8
- Millington 55, Detroit Media Arts 14
- Ubly 22, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 15
- Vassar 68, Carrollton 6
- USA 30, Sandusky 16
- Hart 44, Reese 42 (triple overtime)
8-player football
- Dryden 48, Peck 2
- Potterville 44, Capac 8
- Mendon 46, Marlette 8
- Morrice 28, Brown City 21
- Southfield Christian 22, Memphis 12
- Deckerville 40, Coleman 19
- North Huron 30, Mayville 24
- Merritt Academy 16, Ak.-Fairgrove 6
- GR Sacred Heart 20, Kingston 16
- Breckenridge 35, Bad Axe 8
- Carsonville-Port Sanilac 2, Caseville 0
BWAC Standings
- Almont 0-0 (1-0)
- Armada 0-0 (1-0)
- Imlay City 0-0 (1-0)
- Lutheran North 0-0 (1-0)
- North Branch 0-0 (1-0)
- Croswell-Lexington 0-0 (0-1)
- Richmond 0-0 (0-1)
- Yale 0-0 (0-1)
