By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(September 24, 2022 4:56 AM) Football has taught Manchester High School athlete Jaxon McGuigan to work his way up from the bottom and about not giving up.
Case in point, the Flying Dutchmen were behind by two touchdowns against Addison earlier in the 2022 season.
Coach Ben Pack gave a speech that stuck with McGuigan and a number of seniors who have played at the varsity level for three years.
“Coach Pack talked about going into the darkness and being scared,” McGuigan said. “He said you don’t want to back away because that isn’t how life works.
“You go into the darkness and battle through your fears and don’t worry about what you can’t do.”
Manchester stopped Addison inches short of the goal line late in the game to preserve a 29-26 win – breaking the Panthers’ 20-game winning streak in the Cascades Conference.
McGuigan and a number of juniors and seniors have been at the varsity level for three years. In his sophomore year, Manchester won only two games.
Last year the Flying Dutchmen were 3-6 for the season.
The bonds built through the tough years are working for Manchester as they are 3-1 to start the season.
“We got through it together (in 2020) as much of our team was freshmen and sophomore,” McGuigan said. “Now, we see it from the other side.
“When you are in such a small school, it gives you a chance to connect to one another with a friendship that will last a long time.”
McGuigan is enjoying the fruits of his labor. He just broke the school record for receiving yards in a career with just over 1,500 yards. Going into Friday’s game against Quincy, McGuigan was 10 receptions short of the career record for most catches.
He caught 52 passes for more than 700 yards last season. He is on pace to catch more than 70 passes and perhaps eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in receptions this season.
“When I was younger and went to the football games, I used to dream of being a player who could help the team and win a championship,” McGuigan said. “Setting records is just an honor.”
McGuigan may be better at the sport of baseball. He hit nearly .500 a year ago with more than 20 stolen bases.
“I am keeping my options open as far as college,” McGuigan said.
He shouldn’t have any trouble with academics in college as he has a 4.2 grade point average on a weighted scale.
He would like to study to be an engineer or physical therapist.
McGuigan is also a National Honor Society member, part of the DECA program, and Link Crew – a peer mentoring group.
Either way, he will remember the bonds created on the 100-yard football field and living in small-town America.
Highlighted game
Grass Lake 36, Michigan Center 29
There were probably few people in the stands laughing when Grass Lake High School running back Andrew Stockton took the football 96 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The run gave the Warriors the lead for good.
Stockton proclaimed himself as “The Joker” during JTV Media Days. The senior running back got the last laugh in the Warriors’ 36-29 come-from-behind win.
Grass Lake improves to 3-2 overall, 2-1 in the Cascades Conference, and keeps its hopes alive for a conference title. The Warriors have Napoleon, Addison, and Manchester to close out the conference season.
Michigan Center is 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the conference. The Cardinals have lost three games by a touchdown or less in the last four weeks.
The Warriors led 21-15 at halftime, but the Cardinals took the lead on a 20-yard pick-six interception by Kyran Lane. Michigan Center led 22-21 at that points.
Brayden Lape gave the Warriors the lead at 28-22 as he scampered into the end zone on a 16-yard run late in the third quarter.
Michigan Center wasted no time taking back the lead on an 11-yard run by Lane at the 1:24 mark of the third quarter. The Cardinals led 29-28 heading into the final quarter.
Stockton took the ball in the backfield and ran 96 yards for a score at the 9:02 mark of the fourth quarter. The running back finished with 246 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns. Lape threw for 130 yards including a touchdown pass to Jack Reid.
Robert Anderson was the hero for GLHS on defense with a pair of interceptions. Reid tallied nine tackles on the night for Grass Lake.
Michigan Center was led by Kyran Lane with 148 rushing yards and Adrien Putnam with 213 passing yards. Receiver Lukas Howard caught eight of those passes for 124 yards.
Lane caught four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Grass Lake will host Napoleon next Friday for a 7 p.m. and Michigan Center will travel to Manchester for a Cascades Conference matchup.
Other games
Dundee 9, Columbia Central 7: At 4-0, Dundee High School looked like a lock against Columbia Central on the road in the Lenawee County Athletic Association on Friday. But that is why they play the game. The Vikings could only muster three field goals in a win to improve to 5-0. The Golden Eagles are 1-4 following the tough loss. Columbia Central will host Hillsdale next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Addison 40, East Jackson 22: Addison improved to 4-1 overall, 2-1 in the Cascades Conference with the victory. East Jackson is 1-4 overall, 0-4 in the conference. Spencer Brown ran for 118 yards and one touchdown for Addison. Joe Clark ran for 71 yards and two scores and Keelan Mullin rushed for 69 yards and one score. Addison quarterback Dylan Sawdey was 1-for-1 passing for 33 yards and one touchdown pass to Byron Creech. Austin Tingley threw for more than 200 yards for East Jackson and Caleb Weaver rushed for 85 yards with two scores. The Trojans will travel to Hanover-Horton next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff while the Panthers will host Union City at the same time.
Napoleon 35, Hanover-Horton 7: Napoleon High School celebrated its fall homecoming with a Cascades Conference win over the Comets. The Pirates are now 5-0 on the season, 3-0 in the conference, while Hanover-Horton falls to 2-3 overall, 2-2 in the conference. Grant Bradley accounted for three of the scores with touchdown passes to Kayden Fowler and Trent Jester. He also ran for a score and was 9-for-11 passing for 161 yards. Bart Laretz continued his solid season with 171 rushing yards on 34 carries. Max Gamez led Napoleon with seven tackles on defense. Hanover-Horton scored late in the first half on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Luke Soper to Graham Gumper. Soper finished the night with 85 passing yards for Hanover-Horton. The Comets will host East Jackson next Friday for a 7 p.m. homecoming kickoff and the Pirates will travel to Grass Lake.
Jackson 40, Pinckney 14: Tavion Tanner ran for nearly 200 yards and scored one touchdown as the Vikings improved to 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Milan Weatherspoon ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns and Julio Pizano and Kyson Cooper scored for Jackson. The Vikings will host Tecumseh next Friday for its annual homecoming game beginning at 7 p.m.
Lumen Christi 41, Coldwater 0: The Titans are digging themselves out of an 0-3 start with its second consecutive win – this time on the road at Coldwater. Lumen Christi is now 2-3 overall, 2-1 in the Interstate-8 Conference. Devian Franklin scored on a 2-yard run and a 28-yard pass from Joe Lathers in the win. Derrick Walker ran for 76 yards and one score. Lathers was 4-for-4 passing for 85 yards and ran for another score. Also scoring for the Tians were Kadale Williams on a 55-yard run and Xavier Gallant on a 20-yard run. Williams finished the night with 98 rushing yards. Garrett Slider led the Titans with five tackles. The Titans will host Northwest next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Western 27, Northwest 7: Both teams are now 3-2 overall following the road loss by Western at Northwest. Northwest will travel to Lumen Christi for a 7 p.m. kickoff next Friday while Western hosts Harper Creek in Interstate-8 Conference play.
Jonesville 67, Springport 8: The offense is coming alive for the Jonesville Comets with 118 points in the last two weeks. The Comets are now 2-2 in the Big Eight Conference while Springport falls to 0-5 overall, 0-3 in the conference. The Comets will travel to Reading for a 7 p.m. kickoff next Friday while Springport will travel to Quincy in Big Eight Conference play.
Union City 20, Homer 14: Homer High School’s modest three-game winning streak came to an end at Union City. The Trojans are now 3-2 overall, 3-1 in the Big Eight Conference. Homer will host Bronson for its annual homecoming game next Friday beginning at 7 p.m.
Leslie 7, Stockbridge 6: Leslie High School earned its first win of the season with an upset victory over their rivals from Stockbridge. Jayden Colby threw for 154 yards and one score to Max Fourman for the only score of the game for the Blackhawks. Fourman had nearly 100 yards receiving for Leslie. Stockbridge (3-2 overall) was held to less than 200 yards of offense in the game. Leslie (1-4) will travel to Perry for a 7 p.m. game next Friday while Stockbridge will travel to Lakewood.
Ida 27, Hillsdale 14: Ida High School entered the game at 0-4, but surprised Hillsdale in a Lenawee County Athletic Association contest. The Bluestreaks took a 24-0 lead before the Hornets could get on the scoreboard. Jack Bowles passed to Peter Moore for a 5-yard touchdown and Moore scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Bluestreaks rushed for more than 350 yards in the contest while Hillsdale ran for 199. Hillsdale is now 2-3 overall, 2-2 in the LCAA following the loss and will travel to Columbia Central for a 7 p.m. kickoff next Friday.
Manchester 40, Quincy 12: Kannon Duffing threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns for Manchester High School. Jaxon McGuigan caught five of those passes for 121 yards and two scores. Wyatt Carson, Blake Sloan, and Gunner Carson also ran for scores for Manchester (4-1 overall, 2-1 Cascades Conference). Bubba Duffing led the defensive charge for Manchester with 11 tackles. The Flying Dutchmen will host Michigan Center next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.