Lumen Falls Short in Regional Football Final

Lumen Christi Catholic High School running back Basil Hampton ran for nearly 200 yards in the Titans’ 29-22 regional loss on Saturday.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(January 10, 2020 10:08 AM) Lumen Christi Catholic High School running back Basil Hampton ran wild in the second half of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 7 regional football final against Schoolcraft.

But it wasn’t enough as the Titans lost 29-22 on Saturday at Portage Central High School. Lumen Christi finished the season with a 5-5 record.

The Titans entered the MHSAA playoffs with a 2-4 record, but won three consecutive games to earn a district title.

“It (the season) was certainly one that we won’t forget, but I thought we played well down the stretch,” LCCHS Coach Herb Brogan said. “We could have won the ball game down the stretch but didn’t get it done.”

Both teams struggled in the first half, possible from being away from the sport for nearly two months because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Schoolcraft quarterback Alex Thole scored with nine second remaining in the first half for a 6-0 halftime lead.

“We played great defensively in the first half,” Brogan said. “Offensively we did not execute as well as we could and missed some opportunities.”

When the Titans fumbled the opening kickoff in the second half, Schoolcraft took a 14-0 lead on an 8-yard pass from Thole to Jimmy Downs.

But it didn’t take the Titans long to get back into the football game.

Hampton took the opening play 65 yards for a score to pull the Titans within one score.

Lumen Christi marched 62 yards on a 14-play drive on their next possession to tie the score at 14-all. Hampton scored his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run. He also converted on the 2-point play with 1:07 remaining in the third quarter.

Schoolcraft responded with an eight-play drive on a 29-yard pass from Thole to Harmon DeVries for a 21-14 lead.

But Hampton and the Titans responded with an 80-yard run on their ensuing drive. The running back cut back and forth across the field for the touchdown. His 2-point conversion game the Titans a 22-21 lead with under 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Tagg Gott scored on a 2-yard run for Schoolcraft with less than 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter for a 29-22 lead.

But the Titans drove the ball from their own 18-yard line to Schoolcraft’s 19-yard line late in the game. An interception by Jett Gott of Schoolcraft in the end zone ended the threat.

Hampton, who was limited to nine rushing yards in the first half, finished with 185 rushing yards for the contest.

LCCHS quarterback Teddy Ahlers finished 9-for-13 passing for 109 yards.

Defensively, the Titans held Schoolcraft to 330 total yards.