CHAP Chariots Blog

Take a look at video below to see highlights from the CHAP Chariot Varsity Football team’s inaugural season.

2008 CHAP Varsity Football Highlight from Caleb Woods on Vimeo.

The Chariots lost their final regular season CFL-MI game on Friday 16-0 against the North Branch Eagles.  With that loss CHAP losses the tie breaker to make the playoffs because North Branch has the point advantage in the season series even though the records are the same.

CHAP just couldn’t move the ball on offense and the defense even with double digit sacks and two goal line stands could not create any turnovers for big plays.  The Chariots end their 2008 season with a 3-5 record and all but three seniors returning for next year; Durrell Mullins, Jeffrey Winter, and Caleb Woods.

This week the Chariot football team will play their final regular season game on Friday night against North Branch at 7:30pm.  This will be a big game as the winner will secure the final playoff spot and will play Muskegon next week at Lansing Catholic in the first round of the CFL-MI playoffs.

CHAP got their first win of the season versus North Branch earlier this year and will look to do that again tomorrow night.  With a win the Chariots also get a chance for another home game and a shot at knocking off Muskegon.

CHAP beat the Flint Warriors 26-0 to improve to 3-4 and take sole possession of fourth place.   Jacob Woods, Owen Russell, and Tim Saltsman each had a rushing touchdown and Tyler Miller added a touchdown reception from Jacob Woods.

A full recap is still to come.

Just a quick recap of last weeks game, CHAP beat South Washtenaw 42-6, Tim Saltsman had two rushing touchdowns, Luke Wagner and Josh Buzzo each had a receiving touchdown from Jacob Woods and Jacob Woods and Owen Russell each had a rushing touchdown to complete the scoring for CHAP.

With that win the Chariots took over fourth place in the standings, positioning themselves for a playoff berth. This Saturday CHAP will be playing the Warriors of Flint. This will be the closest game to Lansing so far this year, being played at Goebel Field in Charlotte. Kickoff is 5:00PM, so please come support the Chariots as we look secure our playoff spot. Admission to the game is $5 per person or $10 a family, 8 and under are free. Hope to see you there.

On September 27th the CHAP Chariots played the Troy Defenders.  During the first drive Durrell Mullins after running for a first down was tackled. Unfortunately, his leg was rolled over breaking it and messing up his ankle which required surgery.  Durrell had the surgery on Monday the 6th and is recovering well. Regrettably he will be out for the remainder of the season.

CHAP was not able to move the ball very effectively in the first half after losing one of its two running backs and went into half time down 12-0.  In the second half the Chariots were able to put one score in the end zone.  But, late turnovers and missed tackles which resulted in big plays made it impossible to come back and CHAP lost 25-6 to fall to 1-3.

The following week, October the 4th, the Chariots played the undefeated Muskegon/Shoreline Breakers under the lights in Grand Haven.

As with past games CHAP gave up some big plays early on resulting in Muskegon taking a 14-0 lead in the first few minutes of the game.  After the initial scores, CHAP answered with two scores and gave up one more leaving it 21-12. There were now four minutes left in the half with the Chariots possessing the ball.  The running game was really working and the Chariots drove the ball into the red zone.  Then with just seconds left in the half Jacob Woods cut up field on a option keeper and powered ahead to the two yard line where he was hit fumbling the ball which Muskegon recovered ending the half 21-12 Muskegon.

In the second half CHAP received the kick and put together a drive that lasted over nine minutes but, stalled  just outside of field goal range.  Then the defense went to work not allowing the Breakers to move the ball and with the help of some penalties backed them up inside their own 20.  Muskegon fumbled twice on that procession neither of which were recovered by the Chariots. Then two big plays put Muskegon in the red zone with three minutes and change left to play.

The Breakers burned as much of the clock as they could and with 20 seconds to go scored taking a 28-12 lead.  After the ensuing kickoff the Chariots looking for a big play threw a deep pass down the middle that was picked off and returned for a touchdown making the final score 34-12.

While the final score doesn’t reflect it, the game was very close and could have gone either way.  CHAP is now 1-4 but its remaining games are against the bottom three teams in the league by record: South Washtenaw, Flint, and North Branch.   If the Chariots win all three games they will most like make the playoffs and have another chance at Muskegon.

Next week’s game against the South Washtenaw Stallions will be played at North Field Township Park with kick off schedule to started at 4:00 pm.  The CHAP JV team will also be playing at the same location at 2:30pm

CHAP won their first game the of the CFL-MI season 14-12 beating the North Branch Eagles.

The Chariots came out of the gate a little slow and gave up a touchdown to North Branch on their second possession making the score 6-0 Eagles.  After a kickoff return to the 50 by Tim Saltsman CHAP started their answering drive which ended with a 30+ yard touchdown run by Durrell Mullins and the extra point by Jacob Woods to give the Chariots a 7-6 lead.

That’s how the scored stayed for the rest of the half and into the fourth quarter as the Chariots couldn’t move the ball and two interceptions by Luke Wagner stopped scoring drives for the Eagles.  With just under eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter CHAP was looking at a 4th and 1 on their own 38.  The Chariots went for it and were stopped resulting in a turnover on downs which lead to another North Branch score, making it 12-7 Eagles.

On the ensuing kickoff Tim Saltsman picked up the squib kick and returned it all the way for a touchdown which after the extra point gave CHAP a 14-12 lead.  After a stop by the Chariot defense CHAP was looking for an insurance touchdown.  On fourth down Jacob Woods threw a deep ball to the end zone but Durrell Mullens was not able to bring it in.  Back on defense the Chariots were on their heals as North Branch began to put together a long drive to win the game.  But on a long pass down the sideline the safety, Jacob Woods, was able to pick it off sealing the game for the Chariots at 14-12.

Next week CHAP plays Troy who they lost to on week one.  The Chariots will look to avenge that loss with their second straight victory.  The game is set to start at 3:30 pm at Ann Arbor Huron High School

Below is video of last Saturday’s game.  Full description still to come.

CHAP vs North Branch 9.20.08 from Caleb Woods on Vimeo.

The location of the game this Saturday, the 20th, has changed to Grass Lake High School 11500 Warrior Trail Grass Lake, MI 49240.  CHAP will be the third game of day with kickoff scheduled for 5:30.

The CHAP Chariots played the second game of their CFL regular season schedule on Saturday vs the Plymouth Eagles amidst a day of rain on a muddy field.

After winning the coin toss, the Chariots elected to kick attempting to pin the Eagles down in their own half of the field.  Unfortunately, the Chariot’s defense  wasn’t able to stop them and Plymouth ran their way down the field to score the first TD of the game taking a 6-0 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff the Chariots’ because of their good blocking and the speed of Durrell Mullins returned the kick off 80+ yards for the score, tying the game at 6-6.  After a stop by each defense, the Eagles put together another long drive to take a 14-6 lead into half time.

Taking the field in the second half the CHAP defense played with heart; forcing turnovers and controlling the field position which in turn lead to a 15 yard touchdown pass by Jacob Woods to Durrell Mullins which brought the Chariots to within two points, with the score 14-12 Eagles.  With a great stop by the defense CHAP put together a nice drive that brought the Chariots to the Eagles’ 25 yard line when the drive stalled and the Chariots turned the ball over on downs with 2:03 on the clock.  The CHAP the defense went back in action coming just inches short of getting the ball back.  However, the Eagles managed to get a first down and were able to run out the clock ending the game at 14-12 Eagles.

While a loss is a loss the Chariots played a much improved game compared to last week.  The offense started to click and the defense was able to shut out the Eagles in the second half.  Next week CHAP will play the pass happy North Branch Eagles in Jackson which should be very interesting considering it will be the Chariots first game under the lights.