JOHN GLENN - Sept. 28, 2007 - The rebuilding of the Oscoda football program comes in incremental steps, and the Owls took some of those significant steps forward during Friday's 55-6 loss at John Glenn.

The Owls stopped the Bobcats' opening drive on downs, closed the gap on a 72-2 loss to the Bobcats in their last meeting in 2005 and scored their first rushing touchdown of the season.

There were a few less quantifiable goals reached as well.

"We made it a goal of ours that our team would play with 100 percent effort and toughness regardless of the situation," said Oscoda coach Chris Davis. "I felt we accomplished our goal.

"Our defense played very tough at times, especially early in the game. John Glenn's opening drive was a turnover on downs. That was very uplifting for our defense and it proved that if we play with 100 percent effort and toughness that positive things would happen for our defense."

Glenn finally broke the ice with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Richard Watson to Jordan Schumann, then put up 34 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 41-0 lead at the half.

"Our offense moved the ball early in the game," Davis said. "But turnovers once again made it difficult for us to sustain drives."

The Owls broke the ice with about a minute left in the game on Thomas York's short touchdown run.

"This was a great boost for our offense," Davis said. "(They) have been working hard to put together a series of plays and then a drive. Cashing in on the ground meant a lot to our kids. We have scored a few touchdowns through the air but none on the ground until Friday."

York finished with 16 yards on four carries. Justin Cain completed 9-of-23 passes for 27 yards, with Tom Schonfeld making one catch for 12 yards.

York and Mike Lamrock led the defense with eight tackles apiece.

The Owls (0-6, 0-4 NEMC) travel to Standish-Sterling (5-1, 3-1), which is coming off a victory over Ogemaw Heights and needs a win to claim a share of the league title (with the winner of the Tawas-Ogemaw game).

"(SSC) is an excellent football team," Davis said. "I look forward to a great week of practice in preparation for the game."