Western

Mifsud and Western know the challenge and reward possible Saturday against Lumen   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Jackson – If you had asked him Sept. 18 what his team’s chances were heading into one of its biggest obstacles of the season, Dave Mifsud may not have had much of anything to say.   But a lot has changed since the Western football team fell to Coldwater 34-0, dropping to 2-2 on the season after a 2-0 start.   “Our team feels a lot better about itself,” Mifsud said. “We had two tough losses that put us in a funk.”   But then came a 35-0 victory against Charlotte in Week 5, and last week’s 28-25 victory over Harper Creek.   “We bounced back against Charlotte,” Mifsud added. “Then we played a quality game against Harper Creek and really built up the confidence of this group.”   Just in time, too, as the Panthers (4-2) prepare for Saturday night’s tilt with Lumen Christi at 6 p.m. from Withington Stadium at Jackson High.   Western is 1-20 all time against the Titans, but may have its best shot to find a second victory Saturday against a Lumen team that’s dropped…

Western tennis continues to improve as regional round approaches   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Parma – There was an expectation of what to expect, and then the patience needed to see if it all would come to fruition.   Needless to say, Doug Blume didn’t have to wait long at all.   “The fact we’re realizing what we had hoped for is pretty awesome,” the Western tennis coach said earlier this week about his guys. “The kids have been working very hard for this.”   ‘This’ is a season to the tune of an 18-4 overall record as of Friday morning and a 5-1 record in the I-8 conference, the lone loss coming to No. 4-ranked Coldwater.   All four losses on the year have come to ranked teams, Blume explained.   The thing Blume likes the most, he added, was the whole-team effort that’s been required to earn said record.   “We’ve got seniors contributing, some freshmen stepping into some big roles,” he said.   Jonah Engle is serving as the team’s No. 1 singles player for the third year in a row.   “He’s taken some hits in what is a loaded conference, but every time…

Western turns attention to rest of season after shocking and lopsided loss to Marshall  By Mike Moore Staff Writer  Parma – The opportunity was the program’s third 3-0 start to a season ever, a ticket halfway punched to a playoff berth. That was the plan for the Western football team entering Friday night’s home tilt with Marshall. Reality dealt a cold and harsh blow to all that when a 14-6 battle turned into a 41-13 nightmare. “It’s a tough loss. Things kind of avalanched on us in the second half,” Western coach Dave Mifsud said after the loss. “I don’t think that half exemplifies the kind of team we are. Mistakes really crushed our hopes. They’re a good team and they took advantage of it.” Western owned the ball and the first quarter. In two drives the Panthers possessed the ball for more than nine minutes and took a 6-0 lead when Austin Cooper scored on a 1-yard run with just 1:39 to play in the opening frame. It was downhill from there, though. Marshall scored on the first play of the second quarter when Forrest Jackson scampered 45 yards. The teams traded chances and possessions before Brad Heidenreich hit…