Linden (7-4) ran with anger. Hit with anger and brutally ended its 10-game losing streak to next door neighbor Fenton 35-7 Friday in a District 2, Division 3 championship game at Fenton.
No one played with more anger than senior running back Bryce Eliuk, who is otherwise a great guy that gives back to his community and has time for everybody. He bullied Fenton on touchdowns of 81, 82 and 44 yards during a 278-yard rushing night on just 18 carries. Eliuk led the way as Linden erupted for 401 yards of total offense.
“He’s the best player in Genesee County,” said first-year Coach Chad Williams. “That’s my guy there. He’s one of the best human beings around.”
Eliuk might be a nice guy, but admitted he loves being the villain on the road.
“Of course, we play every game with anger,” he said. “Every team is our enemy, and we have to play the villain.”
Afterwards, Linden players jumped for joy in a geyser of championship water and Gatorade. However, there is more work to be done. Linden seeks its first regional championship next week when it plays host to Dewitt, who rallied to beat Mt. Pleasant 56-49 in triple overtime.
“This is not the end for us,” Williams said. “This is not our Super Bowl. We are going to keep fighting.”
Linden players were thrilled to see the streak end. So is the entire community.
“They were our big brothers for a while, but tonight we opened up the history book and put Linden right in there,” Eliuk said.
Fenton beat Linden 28-21 during the regular season to force a three-way tie for the Flint Metro League Stripes Division championship. After a power outage delayed Friday’s game for half an hour Linden came out swinging while taking a 28-0 half time lead.
The first time they met, Fenton led 28-7 at the half.
“It means so much,” said junior quarterback Michael Bush. “I’ve never beaten these guys in my life. With these group of guys, it means so much. I love them so much.”
Fenton quarterback Nolan Alvord passed for three touchdowns in the first meeting. This time he was held to 96 yards passing, completing just four of 18 attempts.
Linden led 35-0 midway through the third quarter following a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bush to tight end Montgomery Keener. Fenton avoided the shut out with 0:06 remaining in the third when Alvord found Ja'Hion Bond from six yards out.
"This is all we work for," Eliuk said. "Your life's work comes down to these 48 minutes."