Hartland coach Andy Metz did what any good coach would do after an error-filled 23-7 loss at Oxford Friday night.
He took blame for the loss. He took blame for penalties that stalled drives and for penalties that ignited drives for the opponent. He also vowed to make things better, which should begin with a 5 p.m. Monday practice.
Metz did not jump offsides when Hartland had a chance to take advantage of Oxford going for a Dan Campbell like 4th and 3 play at its own 27-yard line midway through the third quarter of a 7-7 game. But he did not get through to that player to hold steady when an opponent’s primary goal is to draw you offside.
He did not initiate a pass interference penalty that allowed Oxford to kick a late field goal that pushed the game to a two-possession game, 16-7. However, maybe a few minutes more of working on pass defense technique might have prevented that play.
Here is one more thing to remember. The sky is not falling in Hartland despite the loss.
“We are making the right steps,” Metz said.
Oxford is not slouch. The Wildcats won the tough Oakland Activities Association Red division last season and advanced to the District Finals. They also own victories the past two years over state-powers West Bloomfield, Oak Park and Davison.
Oxford did not wear the Eagles down physically. Rather, the Eagles self-destructed mentally, lapses that should clear up as the season rolls along. In their defense this is coaching staff number three in the past four years.
It is a staff that didn’t take over until the spring of this year.
Everything is new again. New offense. New defense. New terminology. New way of doing things. That might explain why Hartland was a step slow at times.
This team won’t stay down for long, just as long as receiver Parker Sundman is catching passes, linebacker Jack Lansing is knocking folks to the ground and quarterback Michael Elliott is slinging it.
There are too many good pieces in the program for it not to flourish. Good players meet good coaches. Now the pieces must mesh.