MHSAA Football Playoffs
State Semifinals
Division 6
Warren Collegiate 36, Michigan Center 29: Warren Collegiate scored with 40 seconds remaining in the game to pull out the win in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 6 state semifinal at Ypsilanti Consolidated on Saturday. The game was a back-and-forth battle between a pair of solid offenses. Collegiate took a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter following a blocked punt. Michigan Center tied the game at 6-all on a two-yard run by Kaydin Hiland. After Collegiate scored, the Cardinals tied the game at 14-all on a 14-yard pass from Lukas Howard to Carter McBride on a trick play. The game was tied at halftime. Collegiate scored to start the third quarter, but the Cardinals put together a long drive to tie the game at 22-all. Hiland scored on a 4-yard run and hit Avery Nahal for the two-point conversion. Warren Collegiate took a 28-22 lead on a 46-yard run by Teshawn Thomas. But the Cardinals were fortunate on a 38-yard touchdown pass to Howard with under four minutes remaining in the game. The pass from Hiland was tipped and it ended in the arms of Howard. The extra point by Reid Schaife gave MCHS a 29-28 lead. Collegiate marched down the field and quarterback Deion Black hit Tre’von Redding with a 24-yard pass with 41 seconds remaining in the game. Redding beat two MCHS defenders for the touchdown. Michigan Center (11-2) was led by Hiland with 46 yards rushing and Howard with 38 yards receiving. “The kids kept fighting for it and the game came down to one play,” Coach Troy Allen said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time our kids make that play.” Warren Collegiate (11-2) will face Lansing Catholic (12-1) next Friday for the Division 6 title at Ford Field.
Division 7
Lawton 21, Lumen Christi 20: Lumen Christi Catholic High School found itself down 13-0, but rebounded to take a 14-13 lead at halftime of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 7 state semifinals at Harper Creek High School. Derrick Walker scored on runs of 27 and 65 yards. The Titans took a 20-14 lead on a 73 yard fumble recovery by Ralph Golden midway through the fourth quarter. But Lawton scored with less than one minute remaining in the game and converted on the 2-point conversion for the win. Walker finished with 121 rushing yards and Cooper Keene caught four passes for 62 yards for Lumen Christi (11-2). Cole Simpson intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble for the Titans. Colin Morrow finished with 17 tackles, Logan Decker recorded 12 tackles, and Devian Franklin tallied 10 tackles for Lumen Christi. Lawton (13-0) will face Pewamo-Westphalia (13-0) in the Division 7 state finals next Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ford Field.
Hockey
Kalamazoo Eagles 2, Jackson United 0: Kalamazoo scored two goals in a 36 second span at the end of the second period. Jackson outshot Kalamazoo 28-25. Easton Craig stopped 23 shots for Jackson (0-2). JU lost to Okemos 6-0 to open the season on Friday night. “We have to figure out a way to get the puck in the back of the net,” Jackson Coach Matt Grimes said.
Jackson United Hockey player Jake Bishop (10) attempts to get past a Kalamazoo player during a home game Saturday night. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.