By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(September 3, 2022 8:00 AM) Most quarterbacks – in general – don’t like to get hit on the football field.
Don’t tell that to Western High School quarterback Caden Oliver.
He wakes up each day thinking of hitting people – between the football lines.
The Jack of all trades is a quarterback, safety, and kick and punt returner for the Panthers.
In game one against St. Johns, Oliver scored on runs of 59 and 14 yards, finished with 103 yards rushing, made 10 tackles on defense, and intercepted a pass.
“This is my senior year … if I have to go out there and take some hits and play hard so be it,” Oliver said. “I love how physical football is.”
Western and Oliver expect to carry on the Panthers’ winning traditions in football. The Panthers have earned playoff spots in each of the last five seasons and have won two district titles.
That wasn’t always the case.
“We take summers very seriously around here … I think the culture has changed,” Oliver said. “It used to be an abnormality if Western won.
“We expect to win now.”
The Panthers won a district title last year with an upset win over Harper Creek – a team that defeated Western earlier in the Interstate-8 Conference season – in the district final.
Western lost 49-13 to St. Joseph in the regional final.
“I think we learned the higher you get (in the playoffs) the harder the competition,” Oliver said. “We have to get to the point where we can play with these guys on every play.”
Along with the culture changing on the sidelines and in the locker room, it has changed in the stands. Western has a large student section, an enthusiastic band, and full stands on the home side.
“Friday nights are crazy,” Oliver said. “We have a great student section, the band is wonderful … the attitude around here has changed.
“Everyone wants to be out here on Friday night.”
If Oliver plays sports in college, it will more than likely be as a baseball player. He has some feelers out hoping to join a college program.
He won’t have problems on the academic side of college as he has a 3.99 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
“I would like to study to be a teacher or go into business,” Oliver said. “I am pretty good at communicating and would love to be a coach someday.”
Oliver said the lessons learned from his coaches will last a lifetime.
“Sports teaches you how to compete in life and create relationships with people,” Oliver said. “You can learn a lot of life lessons from your coaches.”
Featured game of the night
Hanover-Horton 27, Michigan Center 20
Hanover-Horton High School head coach David Messer will remember his first win.
For Michigan Center, it is one to forget.
The Comets scored with 1 second remaining on the clock for a 27-20 win over Michigan Center on the road.
Hanover-Horton improves to 1-1 overall, 1-0 in the Cascades Conference with the victory.
Michigan Center is 0-2 overall, 0-1 in the conference following the loss.
Luke Soper hit Logan Blackledge with a 30-yard touchdown pass with time winding down. The Comets drove 96 yards in under two minutes to pull out the win.
“Dino (Deliyanne) had a 2-minute offense scripted and waiting to go,” Messer said. “I told the kids it looked like we had been practicing that all summer long.”
Hanover-Horton led 7-6 at halftime following an 18-yard touchdown pass from Soper to Craig Foote. Michigan Center scored on a 30-yard pass from Adrien Putnam to Brody Shannon.
The Cardinals took the lead in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Mitchell Corwin.
But Hanover-Horton took a 13-12 lead on a 30-yard run by Graham Gumper.
Kyran Lane intercepted a pass for the Cardinals and later scored on a 72-yard run to begin the fourth quarter giving MCHS a 20-13 lead.
Davon Ackley scored for Hanover-Horton at the 5:55 mark of the fourth quarter, but the 2-point conversion failed.
The Cardinals drove down to the 4-yard-line, but were stopped by the Comets with under two minutes remaining to set up the winning drive.
“This is a huge win for our kids who have been working hard,” Messer said. “They fought back … it’s all about them.”
Ackley finished with 100 rushing yards and Gumper collected 81 yards on the ground. Soper threw for 131 yards for the Comets.
Lane tallied 72 rushing yards for the Cardinals and Putnam finished with 146 passing yards.
Hanover-Horton will travel to Addison on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Michigan Center will travel to Bronson on Friday in non-conference action beginning at 7 p.m.
Manchester 29, Addison 26: The Manchester victory stops a 20-game winning streak in the Cascades Conference by the Panthers with the win. The Flying Dutchmen held Addison scoreless in the second half to secure the victory. Kannon Duffing threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns for Manchester. Jaxon McGuigan caught nine of those passes, good for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Jeff Loomis finished with nine tackles to lead Manchester (2-0 overall, 1-0 Cascades Conference). The Panthers finished with nearly 400 rushing yards led by Spencer Brown with 174 yards and two touchdowns and Keelan Mullin tallying 142 rushing yards. Addison is 1-1 overall, 0-1 in the conference. The Flying Dutchmen will host Napoleon on Saturday at 6 p.m. while Addison will host Hanover-Horton Friday at 7 p.m.
Concord 40, Britton-Deerfield 30: Anthony Evans threw for 256 yards and five touchdowns in the win for Concord. Mekhi Wingfield caught 10 of those passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns and Logan Lamb caught the other two touchdown passes for 59 yards. Collin Thompson rushed for more than 100 yards for Concord and scored on a 61-yard run. Levi Raymond finished with nine tackles and Rollen Smith tallied seven tackles for the Yellow Jackets. Concord will travel to Morenci next Saturday for a 7 p.m. start.
Adrian 33, Columbia Central 6: The Golden Eagles fell to 0-2 with the non-conference loss. Cody Richardson scored the only touchdown for the Golden Eagles on a 90-yard pick-six interception. Ty Farmer finished with 18 tackles on defense and 38 yards receiving and Braiden Berro tallied nine tackles including two for losses. CCHS will host Onsted next Friday beginning at 7 p.m. in Lenawee County Athletic Association action.
Napoleon 41, East Jackson 12: Napoleon High School improved to 2-0 with the road win. Bart Laretz ran for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The Pirates got after it defensively with seven sacks and a pair of defensive touchdowns. Mason Roth returned a fumble 73 yards for Napoleon and big Mike Humphreys intercepted a pass and ran it 24 yards for a pick six for the Pirates. Austin Tingley threw for 120 yards and Caleb Weaver finished with 148 rushing yards and a score for East Jackson (1-1 overall, 0-1 Cascades Conference). Zander Kashat tallied 10 tackles for the Trojans. East Jackson will travel to Grass Lake for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday. Napoleon will travel to Manchester next Saturday for a key Cascades Conference battle beginning at 6 p.m.
Reading 26, Grass Lake 14: Brayden Lape threw for 206 yards and a score for Grass Lake in the non-conference loss. Andrew Stockton caught a 55-yard touchdown pass for the Warriors. Jack Reid and Joseph Pine combined for 21 tackles for Grass Lake (1-1 overall). Grass Lake will host East Jackson next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Grand Ledge 29, Jackson 28, OT: Kyson Cooper ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns for Jackson. The Vikings scored first in overtime on an Aamar Harrell TD, but Grand Ledge scored and converted on a 2-point play to earn the road win. Tavion Tanner finished with nearly 100 yards of offense at quarterback for Jackson (1-1 overall). Jackson will begin Southeastern Conference play on Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Chelsea at home.
Northwest 28, Gabriel Richard 0: Izayiah Hawes ran for 120 yards and two scores as Northwest improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2013. The Mounties ran for 330 yards in the win. Gage Race and JR Morrow scored touchdowns for Northwest. Adam Haselius and Brayden Gariety both finished with five tackles with Haselius intercepting a pass and Gariety registering a sack for Northwest. The Mounties start Interstate-8 Conference play next week with a trip to Harper Creek on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Bronson 43, Springport 6: Springport High School is 0-2 overall, 0-1 in the Big Eight Conference following the loss. Springport will travel to Homer next Friday for a 7 p.m. start.
Detroit Country Day 21, Western 14: The Panthers led 14-7 on a pair of touchdown runs by Mitch Williams. Detroit Country Day scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. Williams finished with 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Western (1-1 overall). Landon Heavy tallied nine tackles and a sack for the Panthers. Western will host Pennfield next Friday at 7 p.m. for Military Appreciation Night.
Berrien Springs 35, Hillsdale 28: Stephen Petersen ran for 143 yard and four touchdowns, but it was not enough for Hillsdale in the loss. Petersen scored on runs of 1, 69, 1, and 3 yards for Hillsdale (1-1). Kodi Zuver tallied nine tackles to lead Hillsdale. Hillsdale will host Hudson next Friday at 7 p.m. in a key Lenawee County Athletic Association contest.
Homer 38, Jonesville 32: Homer High School earned its first win of the season while Jonesville drops to 0-2 on the season. Homer hosts Springport next Friday while Jonesville travels to Union City for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.
Whitmore Lake 52, Leslie 19: Leslie fell to 0-2 with the loss to Whitmore Lake. Leslie will travel to Lakewood next Friday for a 7 p.m. start.
Stockbridge 14, Ypsilanti 13: A safety by Stockbridge High School player Zach Fletcher was the difference in the game. The Panthers scored twice in the first half on touchdown passes from Jalen Rogozinski to Drew Robinson. A safety by Fletcher gave the Panthers a 14-0 halftime lead. Stockbridge held on for its second win of the season. Robinson caught four passes for 79 yards and touchdowns of 36 and 29 yards. Gary Killinger finished with nine tackles and an interception for the Panthers (2-0). Stockbridge will travel to Olivet next Friday for a 7 p.m. start.