By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Parma — This will be recorded as another win, another small step toward what the Western football team hopes to do in the fall of 2017.
But, really, this was anything but any of the above.
Program defining?
Maybe.
Historic in one sense or another?
Without a doubt.
“I think we probably turned some heads in the conference with this one,” coach Dave Mifsud said bluntly but modestly. “It really is a statement-type win.”
As you know by now, Mifsud was speaking of last Friday’s game against Coldwater.
First things first, though.
Entering the trip to Coldwater, the Panthers were 0-10 all time in the series and 0-4 since Mifsud took over.
The teams played once last year, a 28-14 Cardinals victory.
In 2015, they played twice, with Coldwater winning 34-0 in the regular season and then ending the Panthers’ playoff party with a 31-7 win in the pre-district.
Now to the present, with the game tied 21-21 and overtime all but certain.
Then, a bit of magic, as Landon Raczkowski blocked a Coldwater punt, then promptly scooped the ball and returned it 40-some yards for a game-winning touchdown with just seconds remaining.
Anything but, “just another win.”
“It’s one you hope puts us on the map,” Mifsud said. “We wanted this one.”
The 28-21 victory could be a program turner for the Panthers, who are establishing themselves as a team to keep an eye on moving forward.
The win pushed them to 3-1, halfway to a playoff berth.
It was also the first loss of the season for a Coldwater team many expect to contend for a league crown and go on a playoff run
Now, the goal is avoiding the letdown.
Or, as Mifsud put it, using a win like this to build confidence and gain even more momentum.
Western plays host to Hastings (1-3) Friday night.
“Winning a game like that can be tough to come back from sometimes,” Mifsud said. “You have to avoid that letdown. But for us, this is something we’re going to use to build from. Why not take the confidence from a win like this and get better from it?”
Mifsud said there’s not much looking back needed to keep his guys focused.
Last year Hastings went just 2-7, but beat his team 37-34 on a late field goal.
“The key for us is defending the Wing-T, which we are getting better on every single week,” Mifsud said.
The Panthers, who went 3-6 last year, have a chance to eclipse that win total in just five weeks.
“To look at our record and talk about what we have the chance to do, it feels pretty good,” Mifsud said with a laugh. “I’m not trying to be cliche, but you have to have fun with this.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports.
He’s also a Real Estate agent with Real Estate One, specializing with buyers and sellers throughout Michigan, from the Jackson area to metro Detroit. You can reach him at mmoore@realestateone.com or by calling (313) 770-6365 with any inquiries.
