The Tecumseh Indians scored early and often in their season opener at Carleton Airport and then held off a furious Jet comeback in the second half to earn a 40-34 win in Carleton on Thursday. Tecumseh scored all 40 of their points in the first half and took control of the game by taking the opening kickoff and going 61 yards in just three plays, highlighted by their opening play, a 45-yard bomb from Chance Gromley to Gabe Abbott that set the Indians up 1st and ten at the Jets 16. Two plays later Gormley sprinted into the end zone from 11 yards out to give the Indians a 6-0 lead. Tecumseh ‘s special team’s unit then made the big play on the ensuing kickoff, as Carleton kick returner Patrick Murphy was unable to field Sawyer Mattelle kick and Ben Andrews fell on it at the Jets 26-yard line. After a sack, the Indians picked up a crucial 3rd and 14 play with a 26-yard pass from Gromley to Nate Bullinger. Three plays later Cameron Loudermik took a pitch from Gromley around the left end to up the Indian advantage to 12-0. The Jets offense finally had their hands on the football and fought back with a 6 play, 54-yard drive of their own to cut the Indians lead to 12-7. But another special team’s error cost the Jets, as the ensuing kickoff sailed out of bounds at the Tecumseh 46-yardline. Gromley wasted no time capitalizing on the good field position, scampering 54 yards on the first play to make the score 20-7 after Xavier Figel ran the 2-point conversion into the end zone. The Indian defense then came up with a three and out, and Gabe Abbott set up the Indians next score with a 66-yard punt return to the Jet 6-yard line. Two plays later Gromley scored his third touchdown of the game and added another 2-point conversion to put Tecumseh up 28-7. But the first quarter scoring was still not done, as Airport scored on the last play of the quarter, as Patrick Murphy scored from 12-yards out to cap an eight play 63-yard drive and the score was 28-14. Things settled down a little in the 2nd quarter, but that didn’t stop the Indians from scoring a pair of touchdowns, the first on a 4-yard run from Gormley and a beautiful 26-yard throw and catch to Bullinger to give the Indians a comfortable 40-14 halftime lead. Momentum in the game completely changed in the 2nd half of the contest, as the Airport defense pitched a second half shutout, scored 20 unanswered points on three touch downs that allowed the Jets to creep within 6 at 40-34 with 1:42 left in the game. But that would be the end of the scoring, as Sam Gratz onside kick went out of bounds and Tecumseh ran five straight plays to run out the clock for the victory. Tecumseh’s top performer was Gromley scoring four touchdowns and racking up 88 yards on 9 carries. He also threw for 121, mostly to Gabe Abbott who 3 passes for 121 yards with 85 of those yards coming after the catch. On defense Sam Abbott had 7 tackles and a pair of sacks, while Cruz Torres led the Indians in tackles with 9 including 7 solos. For Airport they had two backs rushing for over a 100-yards with Patrick Murphy picking up 104 yards on 14 carries and quarterback Colton Alston rumbling for 103 yards also on 14 carries. Alston was also very effective in the passing game collecting 219 yards on 12 attempts and two touchdowns. The Indians will now get ready to return to Friday night games next week when the team travels to Pinckney to open the SEC-East slate against the Pirates at 7:00.