By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(August 26, 2023 9:08 AM ET) Mother Nature was in control of local football Thursday, Friday, and now Saturday.
Elevated temperatures caused the movement of a number of games from Thursday to Friday.
A storm around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night postponed a game.
And the storm knocked out the power to a number of areas east of Jackson causing havoc for a number of teams.
But it appears as if week one will be completed at some point this weekend.
Here are highlights from a crazy week of ups and downs.
Thursday games
Addison 50, Detroit Voyageur 14: The Panthers took advantage of a number of turnovers in the first quarter by Detroit Voyageur scoring 28 points in the first eight minutes of the contest. Brandon Pepper of Addison lived a lineman’s dream with a scoop and score for a touchdown on Detroit’s first possession. Touchdown runs by Spencer Brown, Michael Trumble, and Alex Cubberly gave the Panthers a 28-8 lead in the first quarter. Cubberly led Addison with 68 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Addison will travel to East Jackson Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Napoleon 14, Onsted 8: The game was postponed at halftime due to storms in the area. It was set to resume Friday at 4 p.m. The Pirates used the long ball for its two scores. NHS quarterback Grant Bradley hit Cooper Wyers with a 68-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Holden VanPoppel scored the second touchdown on a 20-yard pass he turned into a 74-yard gallop for a score. Onsted scored on a touchdown pass from Hunter Kelley to Joey Denkins with 52 seconds remaining in the half. Napoleon drove down the field but was denied on the final play of the half from the 1-yard line. The game was completed Friday at Onsted due to a power outage in Napoleon. Bradley finished with a school record 351 passing yards and three touchdown passes and one running score. Wyers caught two touchdown passes in the contest for 121 yards. Van Poppel caught 168 yards worth of passes for the Pirates. Defensively, Zack Bamm tallied 10.5 tackles for Napoleon in the non-conference win. Napoleon will travel to Columbia Central on Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Western 21, Divine Child 7: Reed Myers passed for 47 yards and scored all three rushing touchdowns for Western in the road non-conference win. Alex Trudell was the workhorse on offense with 138 yards on 22 carries. The defense ruled the night was Luke Teachout finished with eight tackles and Landon Heavy tallied six stops. Western continues its beefed up schedule with a home contest against Detroit Country Day Thursday at 7 p.m.
Manchester 42, Whitmore Lake 6: The Flying Dutchmen scored early and often in the non-conference kickoff game. Blake Sloan carried the football 11 times for 218 yards and Kannon Duffing was 5-for-5 passing for 106 yards and three touchdowns. “We did very well in executing and knew our assignments,” Coach Ben Pack said. Tommy Johnson had two touchdown catches and Jeff Sangster and Lydia Bennett combined for 5-for-5 kicking extra points. Phoenix Hulswitt made seven tackles and broke up two passes on the defensive side of the football. Manchester will travel to Homer next Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Monroe 24, Jackson 6: Turnovers proved to be the difference in the non-conference battle at Monroe. Jackson turned the ball over three times – twice at key points in the game. Defensively, the Vikings played well holding Monroe to minus-1 yard rushing in the third quarter. Jackson scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Connor Bush to Koronnis Davis in the first quarter. Two more drives were stopped due to turnovers – one inside the 10-yard line. “If we score with nine minutes to go in the game, it is a different contest, JHS Coach Antonio Parker said. Kardiair Sumner had a big game defensively for the Vikings. The game was switched to Monroe following a large fire behind Jackson High School due to contamination concerns. To add insult to injury, it took Jackson more than two hours to return home after the game due to a large storm. Jackson will travel to Waverly next Thursday for a non-league matchup beginning at 7 p.m.
Friday games
Lumen Christi 41, Michigan Center 0: The Titans looked like they are ready to defend their state title with a workman like win at Michigan Center Friday. Kadale Williams scored three touchdowns on runs of 34 and 3 yards, and a 63 yard pass for Lumen Christi. Timmy Crowley threw a pair of touchdown passes to Gabe King (10 yards) and Charlie Saunders (2 yards). Crowley was 6-for-6 for 142 yards. Owen Matthews scored the other touchdown run for the Titans on an 8-yard run. Williams and Britton Hampton both finished with interceptions on defense and Pierre Gray finished with seven tackles for LCCHS. The Titans will host Decatur Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff for Hall of Fame Night. Michigan Center will host Jonesville Thursday for a 7 p.m. start.
Columbia Central 40, Madison 32: The Golden Eagles used a superior line to run for nearly 350 yards in the non-conference win. Braden Ellison (224 yards and three touchdowns) and Bauston Pilaczynski (121 yards and one score) did most of the damage for CCHS. Ben O’Neil was efficient in the passing game as he finished 10-for-16 for 165 yards and two passing touchdowns. Brendon Bernstein caught six passes for 104 yards and one touchdown and Mason Czubachowski caught three passes for 55 yards and one score. Colton Plate led the defense with 10 tackles. Columbia Central will host Napoleon Thursday at 7 p.m. in a crosstown rivalry game – now a Cascades Conference tilt.
Tecumseh 40, Northwest 21: The Mounties had a solid night on the ground but could not keep up with Tecumseh. Nathan Latoszewski finished with 92 rushing yards, Gabe Christner scored two touchdowns on only five attempts, and Douglas Putnam finished with 81 rushing yards and one touchdown for Northwest. The Mounties will host Adrian Madison Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Hudson 50, Hanover-Horton 20: Luke Soper threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns for the Comets in the non-conference loss. Logan Blackledge caught 11 of those passes for 146 yards and two scores. Hanover-Horton scored the first touchdown of the game, but Hudson scored the next four scores to pull away. The Comets travel to Grass Lake Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Stockbridge 38, Springport 0: Drew Robinson was a one-man band for Stockbridge with four touchdowns and 115 rushing yards for the Panthers. Jalen Rogozinski threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns for Stockbridge. The Panthers’ defense held Springport to under 100 offensive yards in the non-conference victory. Gary Killinger finished with six tackles and Brock Rochow intercepted two passes for the Panthers. Trace Thompson finished with 67 passing yards for Springport. The Spartans travel to Union City next Thursday for a 7 p.m. game while Stockbridge will seek revenge for a rivalry loss to Leslie last year next Thursday on the road.
East Jackson 41, Lutheran Westland 13: Austin Tingley lit it up with 300 passing yards for the Trojans. Tingley was 11-for-16 passing with Caleb Weaver catching four passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Weaver also ran for 96 yards and one score. Amarr Hunter led the Trojans with eight tackles including one for a loss. East Jackson will host Addison Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Bridgman 28, Concord 12: Bridgman jumped out to a 28-0 lead on the Yellow Jackets Friday night. Gavin Riske threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jordan Medellin (9 yards) and T.J. Allen (20 yards). Riske finished the night with 200 yards passing led by Mekhi Wingfield with eight receptions. Allen and Collin Thompson led Concord with 11 tackles apiece. Concord will travel to Toledo Christian Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Hillsdale 40, Jonesville 8: Hillsdale earned a rivalry win over Jonesville to open the season. Jace Lennox of Hillsdale ran for 146 yards and three scores in the contest. John Milks led Jonesville with 107 yards on 20 carries. Hillsdale will host Lake Fenton Thursday at 7 p.m. while Jonesville travel to Michigan Center on the same night at 7 p.m.
Ithaca 63, Homer 6: The Trojans trailed 63-0 at halftime in the non-conference contest. Homer will travel to Manchester Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Leslie 49, Dansville 6: Leslie will host Stockbridge next Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Saturday game
Royal Oak Shrine at Grass Lake (due to no power Friday) 7 p.m.