Lumen Christi Catholic High School running back Johnny Teachout scored a pair of touchdowns in the Titans’ 42-14 Division 7 district win over Homer at home on Friday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Lumen Christi Catholic High School captain Keegan Smith reminded his teammates that Clinton High School was 9-0 coming into the playoffs this week.
And the Redskins lost in the first round to Riverview Gabriel Richard.
In other words, nothing is guaranteed for the three-time defending state champions from Lumen Christi.
The Titans opened defense of their state title with a 42-14 win against Homer to open the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 7 playoffs. Lumen Christi is playing one division lower this season – based on the number of students enrolled in their schools.
The Titans improved to 9-0 and Homer fell to 7-3 with the loss.
But LCCHS Coach Herb Brogan knows the road ahead will not be easy.
“You have to be ready to play every week,” Brogan said. “There are a lot of good teams in Division 7.”
The Titans were dominant in the first half, rushing for more than 250 yards in the first half and building a 35-0 halftime lead.
Homer received a heavy dose of Walker Plate in the Titans’ first series. The running back ran the football all eight plays for 65 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Salazar made the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Fullback Johnny Teachout scored on the Titans’ next possession on a 33-yard touchdown run up the middle.
A big sack by Ben Lefere put Homer in a hole giving the Titans excellent field position at their own 49 on the next possession. Plate scored his second touchdown of the game on a 35-yard run for a 21-0 lead.
Teachout scored his second touchdown of the game on a 34-yard run up the middle giving the Titans a 28-0 lead the first play of the second quarter.
Lumen Christi scored on a 2-yard run by Basil Hampton right before halftime for a 35-0 lead.
A running clock quickened the pace in the second half. Homer scored at the 5:18 mark of the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Wilson to Lowyind Pullen. The 6-foot, 3-inch wide receiver used his height to catch the fourth-down pass.
Lumen wasted little time in scoring on a five-play 73-yard drive. The big play was a 40-yard run by Hampton setting up his second touchdown of the game at 2:14.
Homer went back to their favorite play – a jump pass to Pullen – for another score with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Titans nearly had three runners with 100 or more rushing yards. Hampton finished with 132 rushing yards, Plate rushed for 100 yards, and Teachout finished with 90 rushing yards.
The Titans will host Riverview Gabriel Richard next week with the time and date to be decided.
