Fenton Football Team Loses Second Straight Game

Moving the ball wasn't a problem for the football team Friday. Finishing off drives, however, proved to be problematic in a 21-12 loss to Brandon.

Fenton turned the ball over four times, including twice inside its own 30-yard line. The Tigers also failed to convert a fourth-and-one inside the Brandon 10-yard line, missing another chance to put points on the board.

"We put the ball on the ground, we threw some interceptions that we don't normally throw and it's tough to come back from that," said Fenton coach Jeff Setzke.

Brandon's first touchdown came after it looked like the Fenton defense would get off the field quickly on the game's first possession. The Tigers stopped Brandon on three straight plays, forcing a punt. But a running into the kicker penalty gave Brandon a second chance and the team drove 81-yards, capped off by a Brandon Lee touchdown catch from Shane Mahaffy.

Fenton drove into Brandon territory on its next possession, but lost a fumble at the Brandon 32.

Kicker Kenny Allen put the Tigers on the board in the second quarter with a 29-yard field goal and after a Brandon punt, the Tigers were again putting a nice drive together before a Brandon interception ended that threat.

A costly Fenton penalty set up Brandon's second touchdown late in the first half. The Fenton defense forced a fourth down, but Brandon elected to go for it. Mahaffy threw a ball up for grabs in the end zone. There was minimal contact as both the receiver and defender went for the ball, but Fenton was flagged for pass interference, setting up a first and goal inside the 10. Brandon's Cody Feltner scored to put the Blackhawks up 14-3 at the half.

Gerad Wegener gave Fenton its first touchdown on a 29-yard run in the third quarter. Fenton fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, so that cut the score to 14-9. After a defensive stop, Allen connected on his second field goal to make it 14-12 entering the fourth quarter.

Brandon punched in a game-sealing score early in the fourth on a run by Blake Nivelt. Fenton twice advanced the ball into Brandon territory in the final five minutes but came away with no points in either trip. The inability to end productive drives with scores has been problematic of late.

"I think the team is still searching for their identity," Setzke said. "This is a good football team, we're just struggling a bit right now."

Fenton is now 3-2 on the season. The Tigers must win three of their final four games to qualify for the postseason. They still have games against Clio and Kearsley, teams that are a combined 0-10 right now, but also must face first place Lapeer East on the road and travel to Swartz Creek, a team that is also 3-2 and very much alive for a potential playoff berth.

"These struggles that you fight your way through build character," Setzke said. "Our goal is to qualify for the playoffs. We have to fight our way through it and get it done."