CHEBOYGAN – On a scale of 1 to 10 for frustration, Bob Miller probably scored around 9.8 on Tuesday night.
Primarily, that frustration stemmed from a lack of consistency on the part of the players, who showed positive signs in certain periods but were restless in other stretches.
Inconsistency was a theme for Cheboygan Boys football coach and the Chiefs, who had to settle for a 2-2 draw against a resilient Sioux Blue Devils team at home.
“We are inconsistent and impatient,” says Miller. “That’s what I was telling them[after the game]: ‘You guys have the physicality, the know-how, and you do it all the time in practice.’ 50% of the time you’re at your level, a lot of people are too eager to carry the ball and don’t make a pass until they run into traffic, we’re just a bunch of decent individual football players , team – we lack that communication in that area.
“I told them they have the ability and they need to decide if they want to make this season a winning season, but their decision-making paradigm is failing them at this point.”
The Chiefs (3-2-1) received first-half goals from both senior Conor Gibbons and junior Jackson Dunn, but the Blue Devils (2-6-2) were the first to tie both. It turned out that lack of concentration took its toll as it came from behind and the second half.
The Chiefs squandered several chances to score a all-important insurance goal, but the Blue Devils, with their lackluster defense in the stretch, stayed close and eventually scored a well-earned draw. I was able to get it.
“We explain to them where they need to be and when they need to be there. That’s[Wednesday]practice,” Miller said. To, ‘Here you go.’ We were able to build a Walmart in the middle of this field in half the place that we weren’t covering real estate. It’s not a math problem, or rocket science, or surgery, or whatever you want to call it. , to make up for it, and they know how.”
After both teams struggled to find their first goal in the first 30 minutes, Gibbons received the pass, entered the box and fired a strike past Sue’s goalkeeper to secure a 1–0 Cheboygan lead. When the Chiefs finally broke through. However, the lack of focus on defense soon plagued the Chiefs, surrendering Sue’s tie from Mason Berry. Bury broke through Cheboygan’s defense and turned the net with a powerful shot just 15 seconds later. The Chiefs were rewarded with a strong surge to end the half as Dunn took the pass, found space and broke Cheboygan Reed’s shot 2–1 with 1:15 remaining. The Chiefs continued to hold the lead.
Just when it looked like the Chiefs were going for the win, the Blue Devils used Reis Rizzo’s devastating counterattack goal to score the rebound with 12 minutes remaining.
The Blue Devils wanted a win, but the coach was happy with the draw.
Soult manager Alan MacArthur said, “We had our moments, especially in the second half.” “The seniors have taken over little by little. We have a small team, so we don’t have much relief supplies. There were too many cancellations, but I didn’t mind the cancellations, so in the end I think I’m lucky, but I’m going to take it 2-2.
“I’m not disappointed[not winning]because we were losing at the start, so the players were a little bit more resilient. We’re still young. There are only four seniors, The rest are all juniors, so I’m very happy.”
Keying the Chiefs in a strong stretch of defensive play was senior goaltender Max Hart, who saved a big Thor chance from a counterattack early in the first half, and consistently making clearances to crush Sue’s offense. It was junior center back Ian Jackson.
“Our defense, Ian[Jackson]did well, Jordan[Johnson]didn’t feel good, but Max[Hart]did well,” Miller said. We needed more than that, yes we need leadership hierarchies, but we need leaders in every line. When they communicated and made the pass, they were four yards behind the player with the ball, so we had to clean up a lot.”
For the Chiefs, the way they’ve practiced hasn’t translated to the field of the game.
“We do it in practice all the time,” said Miller. “After the hard work is done with cardio, I’ll have them play away for a bit, put their heads up and work on finding those openings, constantly needle each other and do it. Easy.” to, and they’re laughing,” Miller said. “They go out on the field and are just another team. Had they maintained that kind of dominance all along, they wouldn’t have come close to a draw.”
Meanwhile, the Blue Devils returned to the Upper Peninsula with a much-needed boost of confidence.
“I think the players were talking about what they needed to do on their own in the second half,” MacArthur said of the team’s resilience. “The coaches could only say a lot, but they took it over and did what was needed with a little skill and movement of the ball. So we can always use that time to develop into the future, so that’s what we do.
Cheboygan will resume his homestand when he hosts undefeated Ogemaw Heights (5-0-1) at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Sucent. Marie travels to face Marquette on Thursday.
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