By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(September 17, 2022 7:55 AM) There is a sign in front of Concord High School that reads “Small School, Big Opportunities.”
There should be a photo of Anthony Evans above it.
The Albion native is taking advantage of sports opportunities at the small school.
Last year he joined the baseball team for the first time since sixth grade. He was an all-conference and all-district player for the Yellow Jackets.
This year when Concord needed a quarterback, Evans stood up despite not having played the position.
And he is playing at a high level.
Last week Evans threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the Yellow Jackets defeated Morenci 44-14, improving to 2-1 on the season.
He finished with 202 passing yards, 167 rushing yards, and five touchdowns.
“We had some complications in the summer and the coach asked me to be the guy to step up,” Evans said about the transition in mid-July. “I would rather take the responsibilities and put it on myself.
“You have to be the guy to get it right on every play.”
Evans said Coach Max Clark is really good at breaking down defenses, making things easier for the quarterback.
It helps when the Yellow Jackets have receiver Mekhi Wingfield to throw the ball to.
“I love throwing the football to Mekhi,” Evans said.
Evans played defensive back for the Yellow Jackets in 2021 before a knee injury sidelined him after three games.
He had three interceptions in two-and-a-half games as a defensive back.
“It is hard being a defensive back/safety in 8-man football,” Evans said. “Everyone runs a jet sweep and it is hard to contain that play.”
Evans said that Coach Clark was out last game against Morenci with COVID, but watched the game via livestream and relayed some plays via texting.
“He saw that Morenci was following Mekhi all over the field, so he told me to fake a handoff (to Wingfield) and take it,” Evans said. “I trusted my blockers on the play and ran for a touchdown.”
After the game, Concord players sang the Concord fight song in front of Clark’s home.
“I think it made his night … maybe his weekend,” Evan said.
Evans said he “struggled” as a freshman academically because of COVID, but has improved his grade point average in the last two years.
He would like to attend a junior college playing either football or baseball.
The senior is appreciative of the opportunities at Concord.
“I have learned to do what is best for the team,” Evans said. “In sports, you learn to build friendships through your teams.
“Playing sports in high school is a great experience … I love it.”
Highlight game
Northwest 34, B.C. Pennfield 22
It appeared as if the last team to have the football was going to win this Interstate-8 Conference game at Northwest.
But NWHS Coach Stafford Newsome rolled the dice on the opening kickoff of the second half and it paid off for the Mounties.
Nearly 350 rushing yards and a dominant offensive line didn’t hurt.
The Mounties recovered an onside kick to begin the second half and controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football to earn a 34-22 homecoming win over Pennfield on Friday night.
With the win, the Mounties improve to 3-1 overall, and 1-1 in the I-8.
“We had great blocking by Thomas Dodson, Easton Craig, Ryan Kosmet, J.J. Miller, David Pritchard, and Mason Colestock,” Coach Newsome said. “That is our first homecoming win in more than 15 years.”
Pennfield led 22-21 at halftime before the onside kick recovery turned the tables. The Mounties scored midway through the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Izayiah Hawes to regain the lead at 27-22.
Adam Haselius scored the final touchdown for Northwest at the 6-minute mark in the fourth quarter.
Northwest stopped Pennfield on all three of its possessions in the second half.
“We made a few changes … all things that we have practiced during the week,” Newsome said. “The guys were dialed in tonight.”
Hawes finished with 217 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Charles Simpkins ran for 75 yards and one score, and Eason Neitzke caught a touchdown pass from JR Morrow.
Defensively, Kaden Gattshall recorded 11 tackles, Haselius added nine tackles, and Brayden Gariety created seven tackles and an interception.
The Mounties will host Western next Friday at 7 p.m. in a key I-8 matchup of one-loss teams in the conference race.
Other games
Clinton 54, Columbia Central 0: The Golden Eagles fell to 1-3 with the road loss in the Lenawee County Athletic Association. Clinton is ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll in Division 6. Dundee will travel to CCHS next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Concord 18, Maple Valley 16: Concord High School earned a hard-fought home win against Vermontville Maple Valley on Friday. The Yellow Jackets scored the final two scores to pull out the win against Maple Valley – just named to enter the Big Eight Conference in 2023. Collin Thompson blocked a punt and Alex Winters recovered it for a touchdown. Logan Lamb scored on a 47-yard run in the third quarter to pull Concord within 16-12. Mekhi Wingfield scored on a 26-yard pass from Anthony Evans for the final score. Evans threw for 195 yards and ran for another 76 yards for Concord (3-1). Concord will host Vandercook Lake next Saturday at 5 p.m.
Manchester 49, East Jackson 36: The game was tied late in the contest until Manchester pulled away. Austin Tingley threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns and Caleb Weaver ran for 204 yards and two scores for the Trojans. Wyatt Carson rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns and Jaxon McGuigan had 106 receiving yards and two scores for Manchester. The Flying Dutchmen improve to 3-1 on the season while the Trojans are 1-3. Quincy will travel to Manchester for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday while East Jackson will travel to Addison for a Cascades Conference matchup the same night.
Hanover-Horton 24, Grass Lake 7: Graham Gumper scored on an 85 yard kickoff and Brady Tamblyn added two touchdowns for Hanover-Horton (2-2). Tamblyn finished with 89 yards rushing on 10 carries for the Comets. Robert Anderson caught six passes for 87 yards for Grass Lake (2-2). The Warriors will travel to Michigan Center for a 7 p.m. kickoff next Friday while the Comets will travel to Napoleon.
Jackson 43, Ypsilanti 7: Jackson High School improved to 2-2 with a road win at Ypsilanti. The Vikings will travel to Pinckney next Friday for an SEC matchup at 7 p.m.
Lumen Christi 19, Western 14: After a scoreless first half, both teams found some offense in the second half of the Interstate-8 Conference game. The Titans took a 13-0 lead in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard touchdown run by Devian Franklin and a 68-yard touchdown pass to Britton Hampton from Gabe King. Alex Trudell scored on runs of 57 and 17 yards for Western. The Titans took the lead for good on a 4-yard run by Joe Lathers with under three minutes remaining in the game. Lathers finished with 81 rushing yards and 52 passing yards for the Titans. Trudell ran for 76 yards on only four carries for Western. Landon Heavy finished with 10 tackles for the Panthers. The Titans are 1-3 with the win and Western fall to 2-2 on the season. The Titans will travel to Coldwater for a 7 p.m. kickoff next Friday while Western will travel to Northwest for an Interstate-8 Conference contest at 7 p.m.
Addison 42, Michigan Center 40: Addison and Michigan Center high schools were involved in another high-scoring affair. Addison improves to 3-1 overall while the Cardinals are 1-3. Michigan Center will host Grass Lake next Friday for a Cascades Conference matchup beginning at 7 p.m. Addison will host East Jackson at the same time on Friday.
Napoleon 54, Springport 0: Bart Laretz ran for 101 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns for the Pirates. Holden Van Poppel had a 75-yard kick return and Trent Jester picked off a pass and returned it 80 yards to set up another touchdown for the Pirates. Kayden Fowler finished with seven tackles and an interception for Napoleon. The Spartans will host Jonesville for homecoming on Friday at 7 p.m. while Napoleon will host its homecoming game against Hanover-Horton the same night and time.
Hillsdale 35, Blissfield 16: Kodi Zuver ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns as Hillsdale improved to 2-2 on the season. Peter Moore scored on a 40-yard pick six for the Hornets. Hillsdale will travel to Ida next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff in the LCAA.
Homer 56, Quincy 18: The Trojans have ripped off three consecutive wins, including an easy win against Quincy. Homer will be on the road next Friday for a game at Union City at 7 p.m.
Jonesville 51, Bronson 0: The Comets earned its first win of the season with a whitewash against Bronson. The Comets will travel to Springport next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Olivet 48, Leslie 7: Jayden Colby threw for 146 yards and a touchdown for Leslie. The Blackhawks will travel to Stockbridge next Friday at 7 p.m. for a rivalry game.
Stockbridge 62, Lincoln 14: Zac Rogozinski ran for more than 100 yards and four touchdowns as Stockbridge improved to 3-1 on the season. Drew Robinson also scored three times for the Panthers. Stockbridge will host Leslie next Friday at 7 p.m.