USA 30, Ubly 16
USA Shuts Down Ubly in 2nd Half, Secures at Least a Share of BTC-Black Title
October 02, 2026 — Week 06 — Sebewaing, Michigan
After a fast-moving first half controlled by the Ubly Bearcats, the USA Patriots came out with a vengeance after halftime to secure at least a share of their first divisional championship in ten years. The Patriots defeated the Ubly Bearcats, 30-16 on Friday, October 02, 2026.
The entire first half consisted of three complete drives - two by Ubly, one from USA - each of which resulted in a touchdown. The shortest of the three drives was nearly seven minutes, while both of Ubly’s exceeded eight minutes. Halftime gave Ubly the lead, 16-8, a half in which the Bearcats ran for 120 yards and threw for two scores, both to Devin Geiger from Cooper Langenburg. USA’s only drive of the first half resulted in eight points from a Drake Hamilton five-yard run and a two-point conversion from Noah Howard.
USA received the kick to start the third quarter and began a half that saw the Patriots score three times in four drives, while forcing Ubly’s offense to a pair of turnovers-on-down, a three-and-out punt and a last-ditch effort as time expired. Howard ran in the first USA touchdown with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter from four yards out to bring the Patriots within two points of Ubly, 16-14, but the two-point conversion failed, keeping Ubly’s lead intact.
After stopping Ubly’s next drive at their own 29-yard line, the Patriots flew down the field in 37 seconds and two plays, capped off by Grady Bolzman’s seven-yard dive into the endzone. Howard’s second two-point conversion put USA up by six points, 22-16 with 3:27 left in the third quarter. Ubly’s subsequent drive was a quick three-and-out, garnering only two yards, giving the ball back to USA, who was stopped at Ubly’s 42-yard line seven plays later on fourth down. Ubly put together a six-play drive but was again stopped in USA territory, halfway through the fourth quarter, at the 43-yard line.
Looking to put the game away, USA started marching down the field in no hurry, but the Bearcat defense was giving them trouble, forcing a fourth down from midfield. After a series of miscues, timeouts and penalties, USA’s Carter Maturo threw a 37-yard strike to Blake Sakon who intentionally slid at the Ubly two-yard line to milk more clock. Howard scored his second touchdown of the night with 1:21 left in the game, in which Sakon brought in the two-point conversion catch, pushing the lead to 14 points, 30-16.
Player of the Game
#8 Grady Bolzman
21 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD (6.0yd/carry)
4 tackles
Photo credit: Kendall Anthes, WLEW Sports Network
USA was led by Grady Bolzman’s 125 yards on 21 carries and one score. As a result, he was named the Ameriprise Financial Player of the Game. Noah Howard added 78 mores on just 10 totes for two scores, while Drake Hamilton added 11 carries for 47 yards and one touchdown. Carter Maturo threw just one pass on the night, a completion to Blake Sakon, which could have been a touchdown had it not been for the intentional slide at the two-yard line. The Bearcat offense, which was down two running backs, Tyreke Essenmacher and Weston Bambach, was led by a century-mark peformance by Blake Soule who finished with 22 carries for 100 yards. Jordan Maurer ran the ball 17 times for 45 yards while TJ Barnes added 15 yards on three carries. Cooper Langenburg threw for two touchdowns, both to Devin Geiger, while going 4-6 for 87 yards.
The victory for USA extends its win streak to three games after a 1-2 start to the season. With a victory over Vassar next week, the Patriots can claim the BTC-Black title outright. The Patriots finish the regular season with two non-conference games against Mt Clemens and Saginaw Valley Lutheran.
The Bearcat loss snaps a three-game winning streak and pushes them to 4-2 overall. Ubly returns home for two games against Caro and Millington before heading to Cass City to round out the regular season — the featured game of the week on the WLEW Sports Network.
