SMCC worn down by Holgate's physicality

SANDUSKY — Toby Notestine made sure to address his reserve players during Friday's postgame speech.Games like the Panthers' 50-13 loss to Holgate at Strobel Field are supposed to be a training ground for backups to gain experience. The problem with that philosophy on Friday was that Holgate only had 12 players.Of those 12 players, eight weigh 180 pounds or more. SMCC has only six such players out of its 20. Notestine didn't think it was smart to throw his inexeperienced players in the game against the same players who wore down his starters."I owed them that explanation," Notestine said after the game. "I'm sure they wanted to play, but that's where a little common sense has to prevail. I didn't put them in because that's a pretty physical football team out there, and they're freshman."One effect of Notestine's prudent decision, though, is that the players that did play took more punishment because of the fewer substitutions. As Friday's game wore on, quarterback and defensive back Kyle Pelz could see the impact of Holgate's physicality on his teammates."(Holgate's) motor just keeps going the whole game," Pelz said. "They're just so big and they just don't get tired. First half, we were right there with them. Second half, we were wearing down."The Panthers actually played a competitive first half against Holgate, which has now beaten them by 35-plus points twice this season. With 10 seconds left in the half, the Panther defense stuffed Holgate quarterback Gavyn Kupfersmith on a run from the five yard line to hold Holgate's halftime lead to 16-7. The first time these teams played, Holgate led 31-7 at half. Holgate responded immediately to start the second half, though. And the trouble started, as it often has for the Panthers. Hunter Gerschutz returned the opening second-half kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown to extend Holgate's lead. Gerschutz returned another kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown later in the third quarter. Notestine has instructed his kicker to squib most kickoffs because the Panthers have struggled to cover them this season. But even that strategy didn't help on Friday. Holgate intentionally kicked off out of bounds a few times against SMCC to avoid covering the return. And with the Panthers' coverage struggles, Notestine joked that he might give that strategy a try. "The special teams obviously hurt us tonight," Notestine said. "I don't know. Maybe we need to adopt their idea and kick it out of bounds." After the first kick-return touchdown, Holgate controlled the game. Pelz threw a late pick-six and running back Isaac Aldridge coughed up a fumble that led to another Holgate touchdown. Notestine never faulted Holgate for increasing its lead, however."The other team's gonna play," Notestine said. "You're not gonna tell them stop playing. You wish you wouldn't have seen some of it, but I get it, too. It's our job to stop them and score."No matter how lopsided the score, Notestine believes each snap is a chance to improve. He wishes his team responded better to the second-half momentum swing, but he understands it's hard to withstand for his young team. Besides, he was proud of how his players hung with Holgate in the first half. He thinks Pelz, who scored both of the Panthers' touchdowns on Friday, is playing well for a wide receiver-turned quarterback. And overall, he saw seeds of improvement in Friday's convincing loss. "We're not into moral victories, but the reality is we played much better," Notestine said. "We have to keep competing against us." SMCC 0 7 6 0 — 13Holgate 8 8 22 12 — 50H — Gavyn Kupfersmith 2 run (Ethan Altman conversion)SM — Kyle Pelz 42 run (Paige Ackerman kick)H — Kupfersmith 4 run (Altman conversion)H — Hunter Gerschutz 65 kickoff return (Altman conversion)H — Altman 4 run (Blake Hattemer conversion)SM — Pelz 29 run (kick blocked)H — Gerschutz 75 kickoff return (conversion failed)H — Hayden Birr 37 interception return (conversion failed)H — Kupfersmith 1 run (conversion failed)Toby Notestine addresses his team after Friday's 50-13 loss to Holgate.