Mt. Pleasant captures league championship with win over Midland Dow

MT. PLEASANT, Mich- Entering the game undefeated and looking for their Saginaw Valley League title since 2013 the Oilers of Mt. Pleasant knew it was not going to be easy.

“That is a really good football team,” head coach Jason McIntyre said. “We always know the league goes through Midland and if you want the league title you have to beat the Midland schools.”

Both Mt. Pleasant and Midland Dow entered Friday night undefeated in conference play for a winner take all game for the conference title.

Both teams averaged over 35 points per game, with Midland Dow averaging 43 points per game. Mt. Pleasant would hold Midland Dow to just 10 points on their way to a 14 to 10 win.

“We knew coming in they could score,” McIntyre said. “Watching their game film, it was hard to find a punt.”

The 10 points allowed was the lowest Midland Dow has scored all season.

Touchdown changes momentum

Late in the second quarter Mt. Pleasant found themselves trailing by 10 with Midland Dow marching down the field. Joseph Ostrowsky would flip momentum for the Oilers when he intercepted a pass from Shane Astrick.

“That interception was big for us,” McIntyre said. “The interception set us up and gave us momentum to go down and score before halftime.”

The Oilers would put together a long drive that would end with a fourth and goal touchdown pass from Jackson Ostrowsky to Carter Nostrant.

“The momentum flipped at that point,” McIntyre said. “You could feel the crowd wanted to something to cheer about and we finally gave it to them.

Coming out of halftime, Mt. Pleasant would force a punt and would immediately score. Jackson Ostrowsky would score from five yards out to give the Oilers their first lead of the game.

“It was a real bend, don’t break mentality,” McIntyre said. “These kids are fighters and that’s what they went out in the second half and did.”

Crowd noise plays big role

To add to the hype of the game between Mt. Pleasant and Midland Dow, the game fell on homecoming for Mt. Pleasant.

“There are always distractions on homecoming week,” McIntyre said. “It was clear they were there, but this crowd helped eliminate them.”

The max capacity stands came alive in the second half following the Ostrowsky touchdown and would not be silenced until the end of the game.

“To hear that crowd yelling and cheering really gave us a boost,” sophomore defensive lineman Josh Schell said. “Coach talked today at our assembly and this crowd really helped us stay pumped up.”

The crowd helped force three false starts by Midland Dow in the second half.

“The crowd was great tonight,” McIntyre said. “To hear it that loud really keeps the kids going and really helps get a few pre-snap penalties.”

Schell seals game with big interception

Under three minutes to go in the game, Midland Dow possessed the ball on the Mt. Pleasant 20-yard line and it looked like they were going into score.

At this moment Josh Schell made the play of the year for the Oilers defense.

“I was just trying to drive my man back and I saw the ball coming,” Schell said. “I stuck my hand up and tipped it and it fell right into my arms.”

Schell’s interception was the first of his season and the second of the game for the Oilers.

“I knew that someone had to make a play,” Schell said. “It’s amazing to a play like that for this team.”

Following Schell’s interception, Mt. Pleasant would drive down the field taking all the time off the clock.

“Josh’s tipped ball really game us the momentum we needed to close out that game,” McIntyre said. “This team kept fighting and were rewarded with a league title at the end of the night.”

What’s Next

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Saginaw Heritage to take on the five and four Hawks. This will be both teams final regular season game before the state playoffs start.

Saginaw Heritage needs one more win to secure an automatic playoff bid, while Mt. Pleasant is looking for their first undefeated regular season since 2011.

The game between Saginaw Heritage and Mt. Pleasant will kick off at 7 pm on Friday Oct. 19.