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Climax-Scotts '11' Playing for 1 More Run

By Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com

October 16, 2018

CLIMAX — Braden Butler plans to make history twice at Climax-Scotts High School – and he is already halfway there.

Butler and his teammates are part of the last 11-player football team at the school.

Next year, the underclassmen will make their debut in 8-player football, a first for the small school.

With just 148 students in grades 9-12, the Panthers are the smallest public school in Michigan to field an 11-player team.

Only the Detroit Catholic League’s Waterford Our Lady and Clarkston Everest Collegiate have smaller enrollments.

“I’m blessed to be in the position of being on the first 8-man team for next year,” said Butler, who was tagged with the nickname ‘Shakespeare” by coach Kevin Langs after the 20-year coach’s former nickname for him morphed from “2 B” to “2 B or not 2 B.”

“I’m very happy with my teammates, with my coaches, with how we’ve all planned this out. It’s going to be a very eye-opening experience for the rest of my life.”

Although the school is small, it has been successful, qualifying for the playoffs the past 15 years. But Climax-Scotts faces a must-win scenario this week to earn one more trip before next year’s switch.

The Panthers take a 3-4 record into their final regular-season game, a four-plus hour journey to Lincoln Alcona on Friday. With a 4-4 record, the team would have a chance at an at-large playoff berth. The field will be announced Sunday night.

“Fortunately, because of a couple of generous donors, we will travel on a charter bus for that trip,” Langs said.

“If we can get playoffs, our season will go down in history,” Butler said. “We played the top teams in the state, top-ranked teams. We’ve played teams that have gone undefeated until now, and we’ve competed against all of those teams which is honestly the best part of the season.”

The Panthers defeated Martin (26-0), Adrian Lenawee Christian (62-20) and Athens (28-14), and lost to Sand Creek (27-16), Clarkston Everest Collegiate (44-38 in 2OT), Pittsford (17-16) and Breckenridge (19-0). Pittsford and Lenawee Christian joined Climax-Scotts in sharing the Southern Central Athletic Association title, and Breckenridge and Everest Collegiate won their respective leagues as well.

Sand Creek, Martin and Athens can clinch automatic playoff berths with wins this weekend.

Langs, who is also athletic director, said the school has been preparing the athletes and the community for the switch to 8-player for three years.

“It’s been a process,” Langs said. “Twenty-10 was the MHSAA’s first year going 8-man. We’ve been across the state talking to the U.P., all over, trying to see what we could do to save small-school 11-man. And lost that fight.

“About three years ago, we had a community meeting because we could see this coming. We just said, ‘Hey, listen. We’re going to try to hold out through this year, 2018, and after that financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, we’re going to go 8-man.’”

The 18 seniors on this year’s team were a big reason the Panthers kept 11-player this year.

“When you go to 8, you lose six starters,” Langs said “Those are a lot of young men who couldn’t have played. 

“So we were willing to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to do it so these young men still get to play instead of taking their spots away.’”

Senior defensive lineman/fullback Hunter Mejeur has mixed feelings about missing a chance to play next year.

“I think it would be unique to play 8-man,” he said. “I’ve never done it before, but I think it’s cool to leave a legacy as the last 11-man team.”

He said there are both advantages and disadvantages to small school 11-player football.

“There’s no backup really. There’s one backup lineman, a couple running backs,” he said, adding, “The best part is getting to play a lot.”

Butler said going to 8-player will be nothing new for most of the underclassmen.

“Our first year of 8-man in junior varsity, we only lost one game out of eight,” he said. “Hopefully that transitions into varsity so next year we hopefully see the same outcome. I’m really excited for it.”

Climax-Scotts is just one of four teams playing 11-player in the 15-school SCAA.

The others are Athens, Adrian Lenawee Christian and Pittsford.

Switching to 8-player, the Panthers will renew their rivalry with Battle Creek St. Philip.

“They’re our archrivals and we haven’t played them in seven or eight years, so we’re excited to play them again,” Langs said.

With just three league games, Langs had to find six more opponents – resulting in just one home game this season, the win over Lenawee Christian. 

The Panthers suffered a blow during that game.

“(Senior quarterback) Jake Lane, a three-year starter, on a two-point conversion, hurt his shoulder, so he’s out,” Langs said. 

“We lost our center, (senior) Noah Gray, too. It’s like losing your middle infield. Hopefully, it’s like the old saying, ‘Next brother up, next man up.’”

With an unfilled Week 4, Climax-Scotts will finish the regular season with only eight games.

 “We have been so blessed to have some successful teams over the last 20 years, so people always remember that,” Langs said. “So, when you go to schedule, they’re hesitant, which I understand.

“What happens is, if they’re willing to play you, they’re going to be really, really good or a lot bigger than you, and then they say you’ve got to play us at our place.”

Langs said the team worked hard the last 20 years to become one of the better 11-player programs in the state.

“So now, old dog, new tricks,” he said. “What can we do at 8-man? We don’t know. So we’re going to find out.

“I think the biggest transition is going to be the vertical spacing of the game. There’s a little bit more space for people to run and you can’t cover.”

He compares the change to math.

“For two years I said 11-man is algebra; 8-man is geometry. They’re both math, but there’s a conceptual difference.

“I’ve noticed that I’ve had to get used to that, and we’re slowly starting to figure out the geometry thing a little better.”

Other seniors on the team are Luke Mobley, Brock Borden, Zachary Sleeman, Jordan Tutt, Cole Eshuis, Sabdiel Escobedo, David Arnett, Erik Reyes, Dylan Peck, Alec Roggow, Michael Minne, Cooper Simmons, Jason Myers, Andrew Elenga and Todd Sims.

Juniors include Blake Borden, Lane Glover, Johnny Hunter, Josiah Kenney, Geano Royle, Jackson Ling, Alexandro Rojas and Ethan Huff.

The five sophomores are Ernesto Escobedo, Nathan Peck, Cole Newton, Andrew VanMiddlesworth and Ian Strong. Jackson Lawrence is the lone freshman.

Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Climax-Scotts’ defensive front breaks toward the play during a Week 1 win over Martin. (Middle) From top, coach Kevin Langs, junior Branden Butler and senior Hunter Mejeur. (Below) The Panthers’ offense is on the move against Athens in Week 7. (Action photos by Mary Longman; head shots by Pam Shebest.)

Detroit Country Day football

1st & Goal: 2021 Playoff Week 2 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 8, 2021

As the first leaves begin to turn colors at the start of fall, hardware starts stacking up high at the MHSAA office in East Lansing.

MI Student AidBut now that we're into November, trophies are flying out of here like birds heading south for winter.

In addition to two more sports ending over the weekend and tournaments advancing in one more of the two sports still being played, we saw 72 football trophies find homes over the weekend as 11-player District and 8-player Regional champions were crowned.

Below is a glance at just more than half of those deciding matchups as we move another step closer to awarding the biggest trophies of all.  

11-Player Division 1

HEADLINER Sterling Heights Stevenson 38, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 35 This region’s two District Finals were rematches from the Macomb Area Conference Red regular season, and Stevenson (9-2) managed to hold off a mighty challenge again after also defeating Chippewa Valley 36-32 in Week 6. Jordan Kwiatkowski became the program’s all-time leading tackler, and Kyler Castle drilled the game-winning field goal on the final play. Chippewa Valley finished 7-4, its defeats by a combined 12 points. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.

District Digest Macomb Dakota 35, Romeo 20 On the other side of the bracket from Stevenson, Dakota (8-3) avenged a 14-10 Week 3 loss over the MAC Red co-champion Bulldogs (9-2), claiming its first District title since 2015. Rockford 38, Grandville 7 The Rams (11-0) won decisively this time after needing double overtime to defeat Grandville (7-4) in Week 4. West Bloomfield 35, Detroit Catholic Central 21 The Lakers (10-1) have reached 30 points in six straight games and scored the most – by 18 – that DCC (8-3) had given up since Week 1.

11-Player Division 2

HEADLINER Caledonia 49, Muskegon Mona Shores 12 After five straight sub-.500 seasons, Caledonia has reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2008 with their first District title since 2012. And in the process, the Fighting Scots (10-1) avenged last season’s eight-point District Final loss to Mona Shores (8-3), ending the two-time reigning Division 2 champion’s 18-game winning streak and dealing the Sailors their first playoff exit short of Ford Field since 2017. Click for more from FOX 17.

District Digest South Lyon 34, East Lansing 13 The Lions (11-0) are District champs for the first time since 2004 after holding East Lansing (7-4) to less than half its scoring average of 30 points per game. Livonia Franklin 27, Livonia Churchill 20 Franklin (6-5) may have been one of the teams questioned entering this playoffs at 4-5, but no longer after avenging a 42-14 Week 6 loss to Churchill (8-3) to win a second District title in four seasons. Roseville 41, Port Huron Northern 2 The Panthers (7-4) have outscored their two playoff opponents by a combined 68-2, with top-ranked Warren De La Salle Collegiate up next.

11-Player Division 3

HEADLINER Cedar Springs 21, Muskegon 14 The Red Hawks’ first District title since 2018 coincided with Muskegon’s earliest playoff exit since 2011, as the Big Reds (9-2) had eliminated Cedar Springs (9-2) the last three seasons (including in a Regional Final in 2018). The Red Hawks scored first this time, then first again to break a halftime tie and then one more time early in the fourth quarter to go ahead 14. Ryan West scored both second-half touchdowns. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

District Digest DeWitt 50, Mount Pleasant 26 The Panthers (10-1) ran their District title streak to six while dealing Mount Pleasant (10-1) its only defeat. Detroit Martin Luther King 33, River Rouge 12 The Crusaders (10-1) stopped another high-powered offense, as reigning Division 3 runner-up River Rouge (7-3) entered averaging 42 points per game. District Semifinal opponent Warren Fitzgerald was averaging 50 and also scored only 12 against King two weeks ago. Parma Western 41, Battle Creek Harper Creek 28 The Panthers (8-3) pulled off a major reversal against the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference co-champion Beavers (7-4), avenging a 50-22 Week 3 loss.

11-Player Division 4

HEADLINER Freeland 37, Lake Fenton 6 The Falcons (10-1) finishes a sweep of Flint Metro League Stars champions over the last two weeks, adding this victory to its District Semifinal win over Goodrich. The District title was Freeland’s third straight and continued a strong defensive showing, as the Falcons have given up only six points per game on average since their lone loss Week 5. Lake Fenton finished its winningest season since 2006 at 9-2. Click for more from the Midland Daily News.

District Digest Chelsea 49, Milan 12 The Bulldogs (11-0) clinched their fourth-straight District championship by locking down a Milan offense that had scored 35 points per game. Grand Rapids South Christian 38, Hastings 14 The Sailors (8-3) repeated as District champions, ending I8AC co-champion Hastings’ winningest season since 1990 at 9-2. Detroit Country Day 49, Livonia Clarenceville 8 The reigning champion Yellowjackets (7-3) are on playoff stride again, tying their most points in a game this season to up their scoring margin over the last two weeks to a combined 84-14.

11-Player Division 5

HEADLINER Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44, Grand Rapids West Catholic 6 The John Passinault to Nolan Ziegler passing connection did some major damage early with three first-half touchdowns as GRCC (11-0) ran its District championship streak to six seasons. West Catholic finished 9-2, both defeats coming to teams that remain unbeaten. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

District Digest Kalamazoo United 21, Berrien Springs 14 The Shamrocks (10-0) hadn’t given up more than 19 points in a game heading into the weekend, and United (8-3) also held Berrien Springs to 26 points below their season scoring average. Kingsley 32, Clare 6 The Stags (10-1) made it six opponents held to single-digit scoring this season as they won their third District title in four years. Corunna 20, Armada 8 The Cavaliers (7-4) clinched their first District title since 2016 by ending Armada’s first winning season since 2012 and best season since 2004 at 7-4.

11-Player Division 6

HEADLINER Lansing Catholic 28, Millington 8 The Cougars (10-1) scored 21 unanswered points over the final three quarters to hand Millington (10-1) its lone loss and clinch a third-straight District championship. The Cardinals entered the game scoring 38 points per, but Lansing Catholic has won its two playoff games by a combined 65-14. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

District Digest Michigan Center 28, Constantine 18 The Cardinals (10-1) eliminated their second undefeated league champion in two weeks, adding Constantine (10-1) to Jonesville on the way to repeating as District champs. Montague 35, Reed City 22 The reigning Division 7 champion Wildcats (8-3) may have closed the regular season with two losses, but will have a big say in this playoff bracket after also knocking off a league champion in the Coyotes (9-2). Calumet 24, Negaunee 19 The Copper Kings (9-2) avenged their 35-21 Week 2 loss that eventually led to a shared Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper championship between these two and Ishpeming Westwood, and after also falling to Negaunee by a point in last year’s District Final.

Ishpeming Westwood football

11-Player Division 7

HEADLINER Pewamo-Westphalia 53, New Lothrop 21 The Pirates won their 10th District title over the last 11 years in one of their most impressive fashions, putting out their best offensive performance since mid-September while holding the reigning Division 7 champion to nearly half of its average of 39 points scored per game. P-W (11-0) improved to 3-1 in their last four meetings with the Hornets (7-4). Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

District Digest Ishpeming Westwood 30, Charlevoix 28 The Patriots (10-1) claimed their first District championship, after putting together a double-digit lead and needing every point to hold off the Rayders (8-2) as they too were pursuing a first District title. Detroit Loyola 18, Detroit Central 14 The Bulldogs (6-4) defeated a second league champion in as many weeks, this time also handing Central (10-1) its only loss. Jackson Lumen Christi 21, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 12 In this repeat of last season’s District Final, Lumen Christi (10-1) was victorious again to advance to Regionals for the eighth-straight season.

11-Player Division 8

HEADLINER Hudson 28, Addison 8 Everyone knew this District featuring these two, Centreville and Reading would be one of the most competitive in any division with all four teams ranked among the top 14. Hudson (11-0) emerged as the champion, outscoring its two opponents by a combined 50-8. A defense giving up only seven points per game was nearly unbeatable again facing an Addison offense scoring 42 points per game entering the day. The Panthers finished 9-2. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

District Digest Breckenridge 41, Fowler 32 The Huskies (9-2) scored 20 unanswered points over the final 10 minutes to get past the Eagles (7-4). Carson City-Crystal 35, Muskegon Heights Academy 26 This was much closer than the Eagles’ 41-14 Week 8 win over the Tigers (6-5), but Carson City-Crystal (10-1) held on to repeat as a District champion. Ottawa Lake Whiteford 54, Sand Creek 14 This playoffs that has seen its share of rematches go the other way, but Tri-County Conference champ Whiteford (10-1) finished a season sweep of league runner-up Sand Creek (7-4).

Breckenridge football

8-Player Division 1

HEADLINER Suttons Bay 53, Indian River Inland Lakes 18 Among a season of dominating performances, this one is shining brightest for Suttons Bay as both entered this Regional Final undefeated. The Norseman (11-0) tied the score 12-12 midway through the second quarter and by the end of the first half were up double digits. Inland Lakes (10-1) was averaging 58 points per game entering the day. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Regional Roundup Rudyard 28, Newberry 0 The top four from the Great Lakes Eight Conference East were part of the same Regional, and Rudyard avenged a Week 5 loss to Newberry (8-3) to emerge as champion after both had been among three league runners-up. Martin 41, Mendon 22 The top two finishers in the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League Tier 1 met again, with Martin (11-0) adding to its 28-20 Week 7 victory over the Hornets (8-3). Adrian Lenawee Christian 41, Britton Deerfield 0 The Cougars (11-0) have opened the playoffs with two shutouts, their third and fourth over their last five games. Deerfield finished 9-2, its only losses to Lenawee Christian twice over the last three weeks.

8-Player Division 2

HEADLINER Colon 29, Morrice 22 The Magi (10-1) are rumbling through undefeated opponents this playoffs, this time handing Morrice (10-1) its lone loss after doing the same to Portland St. Patrick in the Regional Semifinal. The Orioles led most of the game and 22-8 with a quarter to play before Colon surged to lock up its third Regional title in four seasons. Click for more from JoeInsider.com.

Regional Roundup Powers North Central 65, Crystal Falls Forest Park 8 Reigning Division 2 champion North Central (11-0) downed the rival Trojans (8-3) for the second time in three weeks to return to the Semifinals. Marion 54, Hillman 0 The Eagles (10-1) also will be returning to the Semifinals for a rematch with the Jets after defeating Hillman (7-4) for the second-straight playoffs. Au Gres-Sims 48, Kinde North Huron 42 The Wolverines (11-0) will return to the Semifinals for the second time in four seasons after holding off North Huron (10-1) right to the end of a matchup of undefeated league champions.

Second Half’s weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS [1] Detroit Country Day’s Parker Yearego (3) reaches for the end zone during his team’s win over Livonia Clarenceville. [2] Ishpeming Westwood's Zach Carlson (2) gains several yards before being tackled by Charlevoix's Landon Swanson (21). [3] Breckenridge’s Luke Saunders (12) breaks into the open against Fowler.(Photos by Doug Bargerstock [1], Cara Kamps [2] and High School Sports Scene [3].)