Author: Andy Hawley | Page 28

Next challenge is biggest yet as Napoleon football takes aim at Lumen

November 11, 2016

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Napoleon — Everything earned, nothing given. That’s the genesis of the confidence Scott Ashe said his Napoleon football team has going right now. And why not? Saturday afternoon, the Pirates will look to extend their record-breaking season by another week. Saturday afternoon, in a road trip to Lumen Christi, Napoleon will search for a 10th win in a row and a spot in the state semifinals for the first time ever. “And these guys believe in themselves,” Ashe said. “They know nothing has been given to us at all. They’ve earned the right to be in this game and have this opportunity.” Napoleon comes into the third round of the Division 6 playoffs at 9-2, riding a win streak that began in Week 3 after opening the season with consecutive losses. Having gone without playoff win since 2000, the Pirates snuck past Michigan Center 25-24 in an opener and then went to Grass Lake and pulled a 42-21 upset last week. Is there any more magic aboard this ship? “We feel we’ve prepared as well as we can,” Ashe said simply. “We’re excited for the…

MIS Cares awarded $69,950 in cash grants to 19 local charities

November 11, 2016

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Nov. 11, 2016) — The spirit of giving isn’t just a seasonal belief at Michigan International Speedway; it’s the racetrack’s way of doing business. MIS Cares, the speedway’s charity arm, awarded $69,950 in cash donations to local charities through its grant program during the track’s annual Community Luncheon on Thursday. All of these deserving recipients share the MIS Cares mission to assist and inspire youth in Jackson and Lenawee counties. “We are proud to make a difference in our community thanks to the efforts of MIS Cares through the NASCAR Foundation,” track President Rick Brenner said. “It is because of the generous support of our partners and fans throughout the year that we were able to donate a total of $69,950 to so many deserving organizations in 2016. These efforts will make a year-long impact in our community.” Recipients include: MIS Cares granted the Associated Charities of Lenawee County with $2,500 for its back to school program to provide kids in grades K-12 with basic school supplies as well as shoes and appropriate clothing. The Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee County received a $5,000 grant for the Project Learn program, with the goal that every member…

Concord football approaches another milestone with regional final vs Cassopolis

November 10, 2016

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Concord — Another weekend, another chance to further what has become somewhat of an unforeseen story. For those outside the Concord football program, that is. The 2016 squad has been rewriting the record book at every turn, and now, at 9-2 on the season, has won more games (16) in a two-year period than any other time in program history. Win No. 16 came last Friday as the Yellowjackets did more than enough to beat Homer 48-32, winning the program its first district title since 2001 and it’s first road playoff game ever. “It’s just awesome,” coach Max Clark said. “It’s great for this program and great for these kids.” Tony Brooks Jr. continues to power the Concord offense. In the win against Homer, he completed 15-of-28 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 141 yards on 23 carries. Now his, and Concord’s challenge, is a Cassopolis (10-1) team that allows just 15 points per game in a Division 7 regional. “It’s the same old thing I’ve been saying. You have to take care of the football,” Clark said. “That’s a team that played in a…

After emotional OT victory, Lumen takes aim at Napoleon in D-6 regional final

November 10, 2016

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Jackson — The back and forth of regulation gave way to an emotional overtime victory and just enough points to live another day. And that was only Round 2. On Saturday afternoon, the Lumen Christi football team returns home for one final time in 2016, looking for the ninth win in a row, and a ticket punched to the Division 6 semifinals. The only thing standing in the way is a Napoleon team looking for its 10th win in a row and first trip ever to the final four. “It’s going to be an exciting ball game,” coach Herb Brogan said simply. Enough said. The Titans 37-34 overtime victory last weekend at Schoolcraft was far more dramatic than the 55-28 clinic the team put on in Week 10 over Watervliet. But if nothing else, it showed Brogan, and all who made the trip to Schoolcraft, that this is a stingy Lumen team that has the ability to beat a variety of styles. That will be necessary again Saturday at 1 p.m. when Napoleon arrives. The Pirates started the year 0-2. Since then, it’s been…

Spring Arbor University hosts Beyond, an all-night youth event

November 8, 2016

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. — Spring Arbor University will host Beyond, a special event for middle school students, on Friday, November 11, beginning at 7 p.m. Beyond will create an atmosphere of fellowship and fun for middle school students, and will feature such activities as: worship and message, food and snacks, inflatables, movies, and basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, soccer and video game tournaments. Beyond is an annual and themed event, and is meant to spiritually engage middle school students in purposeful and meaningful ways. This year’s theme is Pressure, through which Beyond will help students explore their faith beyond the American dream, beyond the typical, and beyond the norm. The event will end Saturday morning, November 12, at 7 a.m. The Beyond event is designed and programmed by SAU youth ministry majors, with as many as 50 additional SAU students volunteering during the event. Students with Basic First Aid training will also be present during the event. Cost of attendance is $15 per person, and registration is required. Youth leaders get one free adult registration for every eight youth registrations. Complete health forms are also required. Registration procedure and form downloads can be found at arbor.edu/beyond. For more information, please contact Madison Penwell…

Concord looks for second win, district title, tonight in rematch with Homer

November 4, 2016

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Concord — As has been the case nearly all season, there’s a certain significance with tonight’s district final for the Concord football team. A year of program firsts can put another check in the record book should the Yellowjackets find a way to go to Homer and defeated one of their top rivals for a second time this fall. “If we can win this game, it will be the most successful two-year span in program history,” coach Max Clark said. “It’s an exciting time for us. There’s some history to be made.” And a district title to be won. Concord (8-2) went 7-3 a year ago, equaling the highest win total for the program in two years, set in 2001 (10-3) and 2002 (5-5). But this year’s team has plenty of experience with big games, and big wins. The Yellowjackets won the first conference title in program history, and last week, knocked off rival Springport 21-14 for the first playoff win since 2001. Now, the team faces a Homer (8-2) squad it edged 28-26 in overtime way back in Week 2. “We expect close game, just…

Pirates look to avenge Week 2 loss, pull upset at Grass Lake for district crown

November 3, 2016

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Napoleon — Following a season-opening loss to Columbia Central, Scott Ashe admitted his Napoleon football team never really recovered. “We were down, and I think as coaches, we were too hard on the guys right then,” Ashe said. “That’s on us. But that was a huge factor. We were down and never really recovered.” Not the best recipe for success when taking on Grass Lake. The Pirates learned that lesson the hard way too, being dominated by the Warriors 36-18. Two weeks in, Napoleon was 0-2 and had a season on the brink of disaster. And then, it all changed. Eight weeks, and eight wins, later, the same two teams are set to meet in a Division 6 district final at Grass Lake. Ashe said his guys have learned their lesson, are confident, and simply can’t wait for 7 p.m. Friday night. “It needs to get here,” he gushed. “I can’t sleep or eat. I just want to play this game.” Napoleon earned a spot in the Friday final after beating Michigan Center 25-24 last week, the first postseason victory for the program since October…

Lumen Christi welcomes Saturday challenge of undefeated Schoolcraft squad

November 3, 2016

By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Staff Writer Jackson — A Saturday road game against an undefeated opponent. That’s the next challenge for the Lumen Christi football team as the 2016 playoffs resume this weekend with district final action. For the Titans, there’s plenty to think about. A rare Saturday contest. A road game against a team that has yet to lose. Maybe even the prospect of entering as an underdog. None of which matters to Herb Brogan and his guys. “It’s a football game. We have a chance to advance, and that’s all that we’re worried about,” Brogan said. “For us, the next team in front of us is all we’re concerned about. Whether they are 10-0 or 6-4, we have to come out and perform.” The Titans did that last Friday, stunning and confusing the high-powered Watervliet attack in a 55-28 victory. School craft also defeated Watervliet this year, but a similar 51-30 final. Much like Watervliet, the Eagles can score, and score often. They enter Week 11 averaging 46.6…

Rayshawn Robinson Albion College Football

Jackson’s Robinson is the MIAA football Defensive Player of the Week

November 3, 2016

Albion College had a pair of scholar-athletes picked for Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Athlete of the Week awards in their respective sports Monday. Rayshawn Robinson, a sophomore cornerback from Jackson, Mich., was named the Defensive Player of the Week in football after returning an interception 42 yards for his first touchdown at the collegiate level during Albion’s 63-20 victory over Rockford (Ill.) University last Saturday. Robinson was also credited with wrapping up five tackles in the game. Albion will play its final home football game of the season at 1 o’clock Saturday against Hope College. Sebastian Tostado, a senior from Mexico, gained the Athlete of the Week award in football after winning four events – the 200-yard medley relay and the 100 backstroke (53.64), 200 backstroke (1:57.75) and 200 individual medley (2:00.12) – in a meet against Ball State University and the Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology last Friday. Tostado was not initially entered to swim the 200 backstroke, but added the event to help the Britons secure a 150-131 victory over Rose-Hulman. “Sebastian was excited for the opportunity to swim against a higher level of competition,” Head Coach Jake Taber said of swimming against…

Lumen defense shuts down Watervliet early as Titans roll to district final

October 31, 2016

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Jackson — The high-powered offense certainly showed up. The only difference, it was wearing green and gold. Lumen Christi welcomed in a Watervliet team Friday night that was averaging more than 55 points per game, and then subsequently put on an offensive show of its own, jumping out to a 35-6 first half lead en route to a 55-28 victory in the opening round of the Division 6 football playoffs. “I thought we played a great football game, other than the last eight minutes of the game,” coach Herb Brogan said. “But overall, this was a great effort. We played great defense against a great offensive team, especially in the first half.” Watervliet’s offensive prowess was well documented, as the team’s nearly 60 point-per-game average was just the starting point. The Panthers were racking up nearly 500 yards of total offense every time out, had scored 60 or more on four separate occasions, and had a quarterback in Cameron Rendo who’d thrown 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. And you would have never known any of that based on the first half. Lumen’s defense seemed to confuse…

Andy Hawley