The WWE banned the pile driver during its matches. The organization deemed the move to be too dangerous.
They did not ban the pile driver in Fowlerville where a bunch of wrestling-craved linemen opened the season with a surprisingly easy 40-14 victory over Corunna.
They did not ban the pancake block or suplex or any other manuver to pave holes for running backs Jacob Hardies (eight carries, 54 yards) and Zach Juopperi. Fowlerville finished second in the Division-2 state championships and qualified nine of 14 wrestlers for the state individual state tournament.
Three placed as all-state performers.
Six play on the offensive line or defensive line. And they were knocking folks all over the place last Thursday night against Corunna.
“When we run the ball effectively, we are going to be hard to beat,” said Fowlerville coach Matt Copeland.
The Gladiators traditionally get off to slow starts, having lost their last four season-openers all to Corunna. They lost four of their first five games last season and lost five of their first six the year before.
Fowlerville aims to get off to a quick start this season thanks in part to a bunch of aggressive wrestlers who are paving the way.
Here is what’s on the table. Fowlerville (1-0) is gunning for its first 2-0 start since 2019 when it finished 7-4 and advanced to the district finals where it lost a crushing one-point game to Flint Powers Catholic.
Fowlerville now travels to Marshall (1-0), a team it crushed 47-14, last season.
“I think this win can carry us a long way,” quarterback Sam Shrader said. “It can get the ball rolling.”
Usually, the Gladiators don’t find their stride until the second half of the season. If they can have a winning record after the first six games, they expect to make the state playoffs with ease.
If the wrestlers up front keep pile driving and driving the pile.