SCOTT WALTON
Detroit Free Press
November 20, 1988
GRAND RAPIDS -- The chance to play in its first championship game slipped through Novi's hands like a greased crystal ball Saturday afternoon at drizzly Houseman Field.
Second-ranked Traverse City edged unranked Novi, 13-12, in a Class A semifinal. The Trojans (12-0) will play top-ranked Redford Catholic Central for the championship next Saturday at the Silverdome.
Novi came within two yards of its third straight incredible playoff upset. With 34 seconds left, Novi running back Scott Wladischkin crashed the line, the football flew into the air, and Trojans cornerback Doug Hulett pulled it down in the end zone.
"We were in zone coverage," Hulett said, "and I thought they'd run a reverse pass like they did before. The credit goes to whomever knocked the ball loose; they saved the game. I was just there, and the ball fell into my hands."
Novi trailed, 13-6, most of the second half. But the Wildcats (10-2) cut the deficit to 13-12 with 1:19 left. Quarterback Ken Hendrian broke the shirt-hold Mike Springer had on him, and momentum carried him over from the 5. Novi attempted a double-reverse pass on the point after, but Traverse City's Darin Ehrenberger intercepted.
The Wildcats' Brian Daniels recovered the ensuing onside kick on the Trojans' 46 and Novi moved 44 yards on two passes. That set up the deciding play -- Hendrian handing off to Wladischkin on a straight dive.
"I have no idea what happened," Hendrian said. "The ball was just slippery and we didn't have a good connection. It wasn't a good snap to start with, and then Scott got the handoff high in the chest."
The game ended as it began for Wladischkin, Novi's best offensive and defensive player and captain of the Free Press' All-Suburban team. After a 10-yard gain on Wladischkin's first carry, the ball popped loose and Scott Harris recovered for Traverse City. That set up the Trojans' second score of the first quarter.
Traverse City drove 73 yards to score on its first series. Mike Nadlicki followed his blockers, Lloyd O'Brien and Trey Brooke, to score on a three-yard run with 5:36 left. After Wladischkin's fumble, Nadlicki scored with 2:08 left on a seven- yard sweep behind Ehrenberger and Chad McPherson. Josh Wuerfel missed his second extra-point kick, but the Trojans had a 13-0 first-quarter lead.
Novi didn't score until 1:56 remained in the half. Hendrian capped an 80-yard drive with a one-yard leap over the back of center Mark Davio. The Wildcats went for two, but Wladischkin, running right, was wrapped up by Traverse City's Noah Flores.
Wladischkin finished with 139 yards on 26 carries.
"Right now we're very upset with the fact that we were on our way to the 'Dome one minute, then all of a sudden we weren't," Wildcats coach John Osborne said. "The kids are devastated. It's just not acceptable to them. But I'm impressed with our kids just the same.
"We were trying to over up top or over the middle on the last play. I saw the ball go up in the air after the snap, and I thought it was gone then."
Traverse City coach Jim Ooley said: "Our goal-line defense did a great job. I think somebody up above had something to do with how the game ended."