OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Sep. 25, 2009 - The season is only half done, but Ogemaw Heights finds itself in the catbird seat after Friday's 21-7 victory over John Glenn.

The win means the Falcons (4-1, 3-0 NEMC) need just win to wrap up the league title. The Falcons can clinch at least a share of the championship this week if Standish-Sterling defeats Pinconning.

John Glenn (1-4, 0-2), meanwhile, is in unfamiliar territory and needs to win its final four games to have any chance at all of making the MHSAA playoffs.

The Falcons put together perhaps their most complete performance of the season, eliminating the penalties and turnovers that slowed them early on. That, and a run-first approach, set up a pair of huge pass plays that, offensively at least, proved to be the difference.

"The kids have been getting better every week," said Ogemaw coach Andrew Pratley. "We're progressing, but we need to continue to get better.

"Any time we play John Glenn it's going to be a good game. They're a very good team; it's unbelievable to me that they're 1-4. But they always do a great job and are a great program."

The Falcons threw just two passes all night, but made the most of each of them. John Hughes hit Kyle Bellor for a 32-yard scoring strike on the first play of a second quarter drive right after Glenn had taken a 7-6 lead, and the Falcons never trailed again.

Hughes and Bellor connected again in the third quarter, this time for 87 yards on a 3rd-and-8 play, that gave Ogemaw a two-touchdown lead. Bellor also had a 20-yard punt return and a 50-yard kickoff return, the latter setting up his first touchdown reception of the night.

"We're a run-oriented offense, so when we throw the ball we want it to be a big play," Pratley said. "Kyle's really progressed this year."

The Falcons dominated the first quarter, moving 78 yards on 13 plays on their opening drive, all on the ground. Sheldon Roberto gave Ogemaw a 6-0 lead with a 3-yard run that capped the six minute drive.

After going three-and-out on their first two drives the Bobcats moved quarterback Jordan Schumann to running back, putting sophomore Travis Bryant under center. That move helped spark the Bobcats' offense, which was operating with several of its lineman standing on the sideline on crutches. Glenn moved 67 yards on 12 plays, with Schumann picking up 39 of those yards, including a 3-yard touchdown run. Brandon Flues' extra point gave Glenn a 7-6 lead.

Though Ogemaw never again trailed, Glenn threatened repeatedly. Glenn had another 14-play drive late in the second quarter end in frustration when Schumann picked up a fumbled pitch and ran 19 yards for a score, only to have a penalty take the points off the scoreboard. The Falcon defense held for two more downs, and Ogemaw went in ahead 14-7 at the break.

Glenn opened the third quarter with a 15-play drive, but on 4th-and-2 on the Falcon 10, Curtis Cameron raced in unblocked to hit Justin LaFlure at the line of scrimmage to deny the Bobcats.

Three plays later the Falcons committed their lone turnover of the night to give Glenn the ball at the Ogemaw 26, but the Falcons held Glenn to just one yard and a missed field goal on the possession.

"Our defense did a great job, especially in the red zone," Pratley said. "It really was a good team effort all-around."

Even after Hughes and Bellor's 87-yard touchdown, which came with 6:37 left, Glenn wasn't done. A 38-yard pass from Bryant to Tanner Kain gave the Bobcats a first down at the Falcon 6. On 3rd-and-2, Brandon Wrzesinski crawled over a teammate for an apparent touchdown, but was ruled down at the 1-yard line. On the next play, the Falcons' Lance Griffus recovered a Glenn fumble to end the threat.

Ogemaw salted away the rest of the game as Tyler Brindley broke off a pair of long runs to keep the ball in the Falcons' hands.

Brindley finished with a season-high 80 yards on nine carries, while Hughes had a team-high 92 yards on 20 carries.

"Our offensive line has been doing a good job," Pratley said. "When they block like that, we have all sorts of options with guys running the ball."

Schumann led Glenn with 87 rushing yards on 14 carries, with LaFlure adding 72 yards on 14 attempts.

Jimmy Stalsburg led Ogemaw with 15 total tackles, with Brindley adding 14 and Griffus 13.

The Falcons host North Branch in a non-conference contest on Friday before hosting Pinconning on Oct. 9.