Two 95+ Kick Return TDs Propel the Comets to Victory

JJ Russ (3) scored two kickoff return TDs to help lead the Comets on Friday. Hanover Horton vs Michigan Center, 9/12/2025, Photos by Karson Durocher & Hannah Tacy, JTV Sports.

Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Friday September 19th

(9-19-2025, 11:30PM): After an explosive 1st quarter, the Comets shut down the Golden Eagle offense and advanced to 3-1 on Friday night.

Columbia Central opened up the game in spectacular fashion. Bauston Pilaczynski scored on the 2nd play of the game with a 78 yard TD run. Hanover Horton quickly responded with J.J. Russ taking the kickoff 98 yards for the touchdown. A failed 2pt conversion left the score at 7-6 in favor of CC. 

On 4th and 5 from the 10, Connor Renfrow threw to Dylan Penix in the back corner of the endzone for a toe tap TD to extend the lead to 8. That was the pair’s second 4th down conversion of the drive. 

The Comets tied up the ball game after Russ took the kickoff back for another touchdown, this time for 96 yards. A successful 2pt try evened the game up at 14. The Golden Eagle defense promptly forced a fumble via a strip sack and recovered to close out the first quarter. 

In the second quarter Kolin Griffiths of Hanover intercepted Renfrow twice.

After only getting one first down in the 1st half, Hanover gets two on the opening drive of the 2nd half and that leads to a 34 yard TD run from Austyn Hocter. Another successful 2pt try gets the Comets their first lead, 22 to 14.

On the next Hanover possession, they made three chunk plays including a 4th and 20 conversion on a Griffiths catch and run, to open up the 4th quarter. That got them all the way to the 5 yard line for a first and goal. There was trouble with the snap and the Golden Eagle defense recovered the fumble.

Griffiths added onto his big night by intercepting Renfrow for the third time, setting up his offense with good field position. He then carried the ball on 4th and 3 and picked up 19 yards, setting up Lukas NaDell for an 8 yard TD on the next play. HH earned a 30-14 conference victory on the road on Friday night.

Kolin Griffiths 3-INT performance, and J.J. Russ’ two 95+ yard kick return TDs propelled the Comets to victory. Hanover Horton advances to 3-1 while Columbia Central falls to 1-3. The Comets will host Jonesville next week, and the Golden Eagles will travel to Addison.

Kolin Griffiths (5) led the Comets defense, intercepting Columbia Central three times. Hanover Horton vs Michigan Center, 9/12/25, Photos by Karson Durocher & Hannah Tacy, JTV Sports.