Western High School running back Landon Raczkowski, center, breaks through the line during a game Friday at Marshall High School. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
The University of Southern California made student body left and student body right running plays famous in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Western High School invented Landon Raczkowski left and right on Friday against Marshall.
It worked as the Panthers defeated the Redhawks 14-13 in a thriller.
With the win, Western earns a Michigan High School Athletic Association playoff spot, a 6-2 overall record, and a 5-2 record in the Interstate-8 Conference – good for third place.
Marshall falls to 4-4 overall, 4-3 in the I-8.
While Raczkowski was carrying the football 46 times, playing quarterback for the first time, and making tackles all over the field, a fresh-face sophomore ended up the hero as time expired for Western.
Junior varsity quarterback Nolan Wheeler – just brought up to the varsity level earlier in the week – threw a touchdown pass to Landon French was no time remaining on the clock. The extra point – not automatic for either of these teams – by Clay Falde gave Western the wild comeback win.
“We knew we had to put the football in Raczkowski’s hands to win,” WHS Coach Dave Misfud said.
But when the Panthers faced passing situations late in the game, Wheeler was their man with all-state caliber quarterback Tyler Pape was injured.
“This was a huge challenge for a junior varsity player,” Misfud said. “We tried to put him into good situations the entire game.”
Raczkowski started at quarterback – or a running back in disguise – to start the contest. As a four-year starter, he has never played the position.
“I became the quarterback two days ago when it was apparent Tyler was not coming back,” Raczkowski said. “Coach asked me if I could do it and I said yes.”
The Panthers started slow going three-and-out to start the game. But they did not let their offensive woes influence their defensive efforts. Western sacked Marshall quarterback Codey Shellenberger a number of times in the contest.
Neither team scored in the first quarter, but Marshall went to the air for the first score. Shellenberger hit a streaking Ezra McAllister for a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The extra point gave the Redhawks a 7-0 lead.
A fumble by Marshall late in the second quarter that was recovered by Wyatt Heavy of Western giving the Panthers hope. They scored on a 1-yard run by Raczkowski with 24 seconds remaining in the quarter for a 7-all tie at halftime.
Marshall scored on its second possession of the third quarter. Thailan Taylor finally broke loose for a 32-yard run for the Redhawks. The extra point was missed by Marshall, giving them a 13-7 lead.
It would stay that way until late in the fourth quarter. A blocked punt by Western with 24 seconds remaining in the game gave them the ball at Marshall’s 27-yard line. Wheeler connected with French for a 14-yard gain with 12 seconds remaining. After an incompletion and a penalty, Western faced second-and-15 at the 19-yard line with only three seconds remaining in the game.
French got behind the defense and Wheeler hit him for a score with no time on the clock.
A procedure call on the extra point moved the ball back five yards. Falde converted the extra point to complete the comeback.
Raczkowski finished with 117 rushing yards and Wheeler threw for 62 yards. Taylor ran for 122 yards for Marshall in the loss.
Western will host Adrian next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
