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Indians shut out by River Rats in second half, lose 22-14
Tecumseh quarterback Brad Vannatter (center) was stopped short of the goal line in the second half against Ann Arbor Huron. Photo/video by Mickey Alvarado.
By MICKEY ALVARADO
For the second week in a row Tecumseh’s varsity football team built a 14-7 lead by the end of the first half, was shut out in the final two quarters, and overtaken by their opponents to finish the game.
Last week Tecumseh went to the half up 14-7 against Monroe Jefferson and was also shut out in the second half, losing 21-14.
This time around, the Indians lost 22-14 in game two, on Friday, Sept. 3, against visiting Ann Arbor Huron.
Tecumseh coach Jason Mensing has been using his best players, including junior quarterback Brad Vannatter, on both sides of the ball and it has been wearing the athletes out by the third and forth quarters. The Indians forced their way to visiting Ann Arbor Huron’s red zone several times in the second half only to be denied entry into the end zone.
“It’s high school football,” said Tecumseh coach Jason Mensing. “Your best players have to play. And, your great programs do it so we’re going to do it too.”
The Indians clung to a 14-7 lead to start the second half but Ann Arbor Huron’s quarterback Alex Hassan rushed one yard into Tecumseh’s end zone with 2:45 left in the third quarter. The River Rats then completed a two-point conversion pass and took a 15-14 lead.
Ann Arbor Huron’s Luke Benson scored the game’s final touchdown on a 7-yard run just one minute into the final quarter. A good Point After Touchdown kick gave the contest its final score.
Tecumseh had ample opportunity to take the lead again. Junior Ronnie Bechtol broke free and ran 50-yards to place the ball on the River Rats’ 11-yard line with 9:38 remaining. Tecumseh advanced to Ann Arbor Huron’s one-yard line but were pushed back and again turned the ball over on downs.
With 1:17 remaining in the contest the Indians were on the River Rats’ one-yard line but sophomore John Terry fumbled the ball on a second down. Ann Arbor Huron recovered the loose ball in the end zone and then set up on its own 20.
A couple of downs later Tecumseh senior Jacob Goudy stripped the ball from the River Rats and gave the Indians yet another opportunity to score from the 16-yard line.
Tecumseh once again turned the ball over on downs and Ann Arbor Huron took over on its own 11-yard line.
Just like last week, the game finished with the Indians’ opponents taking a knee to secure the victory.
“We’ve got to learn how to win them,” said Mensing. “We had our opportunities and didn’t take advantage of them. Again, I’m sad for our kids. They’ve invested a lot and we’ve got to get over this hump. We’ve got to learn to win the close game.”
Terry scored Tecumseh’s two touchdowns. He rushed 39 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and added the second on a two-yard rush in the second quarter. He totaled 84 yards on 15 carries.
Ann Arbor Huron (1-1) scored its first touchdown in the second quarter on a six-yard pass from Hassan.
Austin Shartle gave Tecumseh 61 yards on 18 carries. Vannatter rushed for negative yards (-3) and went 4-14-1 for 48 yards passing.
Tecumseh (0-2) plays next on Friday at Lincoln (0-2).
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Same Coach Different Season
Here we go again, Jason Mensing with excuse after excuse and accepts no responsibility.
“It’s high school football,” said Tecumseh coach Jason Mensing. “Your best players have to play. And, your great programs do it so we’re going to do it too.”
Coach are you kidding?! Your NOT a great program, you cant even put together a good program nonless a great program.
Why in the world would you leave your quarterback in for both offense and defense? This kid needs a break, he needs someone to talk him back into the game after a bad play. Plus you make him run in and out getting plays. He was obviously upset when he had those bad plays down at the endzone, then you leave him in there and want him to focus on defense. His mind was going to 2 different directions.
You have a whole team of players that can play, use them! Even if their not great, then WORK with them, pull that potential out of them. All these kids want to play, use them in some capacity or another. Quit playing favorites, be the coach that you claim to be. Granted its not all about winning, but its not all about hurting the kids in the process.
I said it last year and I'll say it again, this coach need to go.
Please clarify...
You want to win, but you don't want the best players on the field?
That makes a lot of sense.
I think Coach Mensing knows his players enough to understand that perhaps a tired first string quarterback is better than a fresh second string quarterback.
Playing favorites? If I was a coach, my favorite players would be the best players, too.
We support you, Coach Mensing.
Ok.... The problems with
Ok.... The problems with the program go far beyond the x's and o's of football. You have a coach who is.... insecure (closed practices), lacks confidence in his own ability (avoids parents), thinks he is a great communicator (no friends except other coaches), and his staff sadly is more and more disliked in the community even those who are probably good guys. Mensing's faults are now even a burden to his own staff and how they are viewed. Very unfortunate for all, especially the kids. In a sense he is a dictator, and is surrounded by people who really do not like him and pretend to so they can stay involved. Our new AD, is not much different!! Self indulgent.......
@gillie
Thank You very much for saying the truth! People do not like hearing the truth though, they like to try to discredit what you say by turning things back on you, however they never can answer the truth or questions you ask them.
Thanks again!
Thats awsome! way to speak
Thats awsome! way to speak for my QB.-Caleb Hughes 78
Ridiculous!!
We get beat and the coaching staff is involved in a bickering match that turns ugly by the use of dispicable language. This all occurs while the kids are just feet away. The football coach and the AD need to make a wise decision here, with the support of the administration OR will everyone close their eyes and act like it didn't happen. Great community, but questionable character and integrity within the school district.
Nice school poor management...same old song and dance
This is kinda of funny posted this on the blog before I even read this article...maybe One the great coat starts listening he might have a team! Is because Mensing never plays the other kids..."His stars" are the only ones that play...maybe this is why our kids are tired by the 3rd and 4th quarter....pay attention and you will see. Many kids did not return to the team because they never played and it is toooooo much work offseason to sit in the cold and rain and watch a team lose....Get smart Tecumseh! Also if you used the n word I would hope something would happen because it is an embarrassment to the school and town! I just wished things could be different in this political environment.....Also as a side our kids couldn't even get a schedule of classes...many were missing classes on their schedules and it is still not fixed....THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! Get your crap together school system!
Tecumseh
It is pretty easy to tell that most of the comments made on this article were from parents of players. You have no idea what goes on behind the scenes of a football program. If your Quarterback is one of the best players on the team, then he has to play defense. Look at Clinton, a decent football program in a down year so far. Their QB plays defense as well. It's not like the Tecumseh QB needs to worry about passing the ball. Also, I agree that at all younger levels (JV through 5th Grade) all kids needs the opportunity to play. However, at the varsity level you need to win football games. If coach Mensing was 2-0 right now, nobody would care who is playing and who is not. I am not sure what goes on at Tecumseh as I am not in any way involved with the program, but if you are so irritated with what the coach is doing, maybe you should bring your concerns to his face and not whine and moan in the stands.
I do not have a child who
I do not have a child who plays on the team. Its my own observations of this offense for the past 25 years! The offense can't average 14 points a game and expect to be succesful!
It'd be great if we could
It'd be great if we could bring our concerns to his face, but that's next to impossible since we have to schedule an appointment. Lo and behold, there's never a good time for him to see anyone....
Problem
As I said before, I have no affiliation with Tecumseh and I do not know coach Mensing, if he is as bad as you all say, then I feel sorry for the entire Tecumseh program. Why has he been around if he is that bad? I just see on every posting board around about his offensive system is terrible. I do not personally like his offense, but ran well, it would be fine. Sounds like to me that his offense is not the problem at all. I have heard that he does a lot for the community. Is this true?
Kids Who Didn't Return
Actually, there are boys on the team that returned that don't play. Also, many boys who DID play and didn't return. My son did not return for his senior year, for the same reasons most of the boys didn't. Quite simply, they were tired of being coached by a man that commanded respect (since he couldn't earn it), yet showed none to his players. Tired of being brought down instead of lifted up. Tired of a man who takes no responsibility when they lose, yet all the credit when they win. These are not boys who are afraid of hard work...for these boys work hard in other sports, as well as in the classroom. I have long believed that life is too short to surround yourself with people who make you feel bad, a lot of these former players have figured that out for themselves.
You, ma'am are very wrong.
You, ma'am are very wrong. Jason Mensing has earned the respect of every man on that team because he's a man with character. He is truely one of the nicest men I have ever met in my life.-Caleb Hughes
Where are the
People complaining about your posts? I am not disputing what you all are saying; it is frequently the norm to get the backlash from the supporters who do not like people who say things that are not positive.
Too bad it is all true
Not a parent of someone on the football team...used to be but am an observer and have dealt with things face to face only to win but really lost in the long run. The items people wrote about are absoulutely the truth and have existed since I arrived here in all sport leagues....When you pay money one would except your son or daughter to get a chance once in awhile. Maybe we could do a pole of what his players think of him? Then people would understand from the kids but I would surmise the kids would be too scared to speak their mind cause I here it at my house.
I have an idea
If you want your kid to play, tell him to play harder. Practice harder. Get in the weight room. Still not good enough? Sorry. Perphaps he can play basketball or baseball. Oops! Never mind. Basketball and baseball have cuts.
I Dont Think You Do
Boom, from you comments made from this post and the other above, I dont think you really know what you are talking about. Yes you want good players on the field, but isn't it the coaches responsibility to develope all the players on the team? Think about it, if it was your kid out there, yes you want him to play, but do YOU want him to play so badly that you are willing to let the coach leave him in for for the whole game with no chance of getting a break, wearing him out to the point of possibly getting hurt. Did you read the story about the high school player that was playing both offence and defence that had a heart attack after scoring touchdown? Freak accident? Possibly. But these kids are not seasoned athetes that have been training for years and their bodies cant always handle that stress. Have you ever played football? I know I have, and I know how much strain the body takes during a game. And yes I played both offence and defence and I know how tough it can be. But we were also given breaks in between because you would be pouring out sweat when everyone in the stands in freezing. It is the coaches resposibility to develop all the players on the team and use them in some capacity or another. Sure they may not be starters, but they can be used on the special teams.
Excuses
I did play football, at Tecumseh, and I played both ways. I rarely came off the field -- and looking back on it I wish I never came off the field. I wish I worked harder at practice. I wish I was in the weight room more often. Perhaps that should be the message to your kids. I know it is to mine.
If your kid was good enough, he would play. Period.
Coaches can only do so much or everyone would be playing in the NFL. Some kids are better than others. Sorry for being captain obvious, but apparently I have to be.
really....
really....
Yes, really...
Yep...
Boom
I know a player who was such an athelete that Mensing pushed him to join the team . This kid was also a LaCrosse player and his parents had already signed him up and paid for him to attend a LaCrosse combine that did get him a scholarship . Because that combine was at the same time as Mensings 3 day football camp the kid told him he couldnt go . Mensing told him "then dont bitch and complain when you dont get any playing time and that goes for your parents also ". That kid played 2 minutes all season and it was in the last game of the season ! 9 monthe of workouts , 2 a days , gold card blitz , practice all week ALL SEASON LONG , it meant nothing because he missed a 3 day camp inorder to get a college scholarship !!!!!
I'm sorry about that...
If he didn't play, its because he wasn't very good, not because he missed a 3 day camp. I GUARANTEE that. Coach Mensing wants to win and you don't win by holding grudges, you win by playing your best players.
If he didn't have fun, I feel bad for him. Perhaps he shouldn't have joined the team. However, in the future, I hope that he can look back on the experience and realize that he enjoyed the time with the team and the relationships that he took away from it.
Congratulations on the scholarship, though. That's fantastic. [I would have missed the camp, too.]
I am sorry
But the problem has always been the management aspect when it comes to sports, I feel bad for the players, the parents. This is not just a Tecumseh problem but a general problem that many cities face all too often.
This is also not about a personal problem, grudge, or bitterness…. It is about what is right and wrong for the students, these situations, and situations of coaches using improper language and such should not happen anywhere.
After the game, a Tecumseh
After the game, a Tecumseh coach allegedly drops the "N" word on a Huron coach and we get nothing of this in the paper.
The coach has been suspended, so there must be some truth to it. And if this is the guy that Randolph brought in, someone needs to reassess his ability to be AD before he really screws something up!
Come on Mickey, how about a little courage in reporting the news!
It was
The information on the coaching incident was printed on the Herald's sports page - 8A - in a highlighted box attached to the story of the game.
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