DeWitt Caps Finals with 1st Title Celebration
January 23, 2021
By Jason Schmitt
Special for Second Half
DETROIT – DeWitt head football coach Rob Zimmerman had every right to talk about how good it felt to capture his school’s first-ever MHSAA Finals football championship Saturday night at Ford Field.
But all he wanted to talk about after DeWitt’s 40-30 victory over River Rouge in the Division 3 Final was the character and drive of his players. That’s what was first and foremost on his mind.
“It’s unbelievable, but I think the greatest part of it all is this is such a great group of kids,” said the veteran coach, who previously has coached four Finals runners-up, the most recent in 2013. “I’ve been saying it all year long, but their character is unbelievable – the motivation, the drive, the leadership. If there’s a group of kids who deserve to win a state championship, it’s this group. I’m so happy for them.”
Total, the program was making its sixth championship game appearance, seeking its first title.
And it didn’t take long Saturday for Zimmerman and his group to take steps toward earning it.
Junior quarterback Tyler Holtz broke open a scoreless game at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter, connecting with senior Blake Beachnau for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
River Rouge would answer back early in the second quarter, as senior Mareyohn Hrabowski would find junior Jalen Holly for a 52-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion pass from Hrabowski to freshman Nicholas Marsh gave Rouge an 8-7 lead.
But it was at that point that the DeWitt defense stepped things up. And it also was the point when Holtz began to take over the game. The Associated Press’ Player of the Year in Divisions 3 and 4 threw two more touchdown passes before halftime, then added another midway through the third quarter to help his team to a 27-8 lead. All three scores went to different receivers – eight yards to senior Andrew Debri, 35 yards to senior Nick Flegler and 25 yards to junior Thomas McIntosh.
“That’s why he’s the player of the year,” Zimmerman said of his junior signal caller. “He was front and center today, and his composure was unbelievable. He’s just off the charts, and he was the difference-maker in this game.
“We felt that we had the matchup advantage in the passing game going into this because our receivers are very good. We felt like we could throw the ball, too. We just had to mix in the run enough to take some shots without them just playing pass the whole time like they did against (Detroit Martin Luther) King (in the Regional Final).”
Holtz finished the game 12-of-16 passing for 177 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 15 times for a game-high 118 yards – and another score. River Rouge head coach Corey Parker admitted his team couldn’t find a way to stop Holtz.
“(Holtz) is able to throw the ball on the run, and that creates threats to a defense like no other,” Parker said. “Throwing the ball on the run, that’s truly a dual-threat guy. He didn’t really run the ball on the perimeter, he ran the ball on the interior and he was able to throw the ball real well.”
Hrabowski did his best to keep his team in the game. A four-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Marsh early in the fourth helped keep it a two-touchdown game. He also added a three-yard touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion to cap off a game in which he threw for 227 yards and ran for another 94, while accounting for all of his team’s touchdowns.
“They didn’t give up. Their kids played hard,” Zimmerman said of Rouge (9-2). “They’re the defending state champs so we knew they weren’t going to go easy. We kept scoring and they kept coming back. I’m just so proud of our kids.”
Rouge defeated Muskegon, 30-7, in last year’s Division 3 Final. Hrabowski returned this season, but many of the players on this year’s roster were new.
“Our goal is to get here (every year),” Parker said. “If you’ve got young guys making plays like that, you know exactly what your future looks like, so I’m pretty excited about what we’re going to do moving forward.”
DeWitt (12-0) capped off a magical season which saw its offense put up nearly 500 points in 11 games played, while its defense was dominant, allowing just 78, including Saturday’s Final. Flegler and fellow seniors Grant Uyl and Cooper Brumfield all led the team with 10 tackles each.
“We have unity, no matter what, on defense,” said Flegler, who also handled all the kicking duties for the team. “Our mindset is always, ‘What the next play? What’s the next play?’ We don’t linger on failure and we’re always looking to improve on the next play, and I think that’s what brings us success.”
PHOTOS: (Top) DeWitt junior Thomas McIntosh (10) looks back to see if defenders are closing in as he makes his way toward the end zone Saturday. (Middle) DeWitt quarterback Tyler Holtz breaks into the open. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
1st & Goal: 2024 Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 29, 2024
The captivating West Michigan sunset seen through the camera lens above is characteristic of the first few weeks of Michigan high school football season, when games begin in daylight before “Friday Night Lights” bring a later-night glow to communities all over both peninsulas.
That enchantment returns this weekend with 249 season openers tonight, 58 more Friday and one Saturday for the 603 varsity football teams set to play in our state this season.
More than 225 of those varsity games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend on MHSAA.tv, including all four being played at Wayne State as part of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic and all four of the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic being played at Grand Blanc High School today or Kettering University on Friday. Click the names of the events for specific broadcast landing pages for those showcases.
As you’ll find at the start of every football weekend, below are glances at several matchups across the state that are most intriguing. All games are tonight unless noted, and follow the MHSAA Scores page all weekend for scores as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Goodrich (11-2) at Frankenmuth (11-2) WATCH
This is a rematch of last season’s 14-8 Goodrich win, clinched on a score with 18 seconds to play. It was Frankenmuth’s only loss until the Division 5 Semifinals, and the Martians went on to make the Semifinals in Division 4. Big things are expected of both again, as both are ranked No. 3 in their respective divisions in preseason polls by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Harbor Beach (9-2) at Cass City (8-3) WATCH, Ogemaw Heights (9-2) at Ubly (14-0) WATCH, Muskegon Mona Shores (7-4) vs. Grand Blanc (6-5) WATCH, Almont (12-2) at Marysville (8-3).
Greater Detroit
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (11-3) vs. Davison (12-1) at Wayne State WATCH
This is another rematch from a year ago and the premier clash at the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic. Last time, Davison trailed 14-0 at halftime before winning 31-26 – and the Cardinals weren’t stopped until the Division 1 Semifinals. De La Salle bounced back to take its season even farther, finishing at Ford Field for the fourth straight and this time as Division 2 runner-up. The Pilots are the favorites in the MHSFCA Division 2 poll, and Davison is ranked No. 5 in Division 1.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (9-3) at West Bloomfield (10-3) WATCH. FRIDAY Belleville (13-1) vs. Clarkston (6-6) at Wayne State WATCH, Redford Union (7-3) at Harper Woods (11-3), Dexter (7-4) at Livonia Franklin (6-4) WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
North Muskegon (12-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (10-2) WATCH
North Muskegon set the tone for its winningest season all-time last fall with a 17-14 win over the Pirates in the opener, and the Norsemen set the record with a 28-27 victory over P-W in a Division 7 Regional Final rematch before ending their run the next week. Those, of course, were the Pirates’ only losses of 2023, and they enter this fall No. 3 in Division 7 while North Muskegon is unranked.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Portage Central (8-2) at East Lansing (10-3) WATCH, Hudson (8-3) at Fowler (8-2), Lansing Sexton (8-2) at Lansing Everett (5-5) WATCH, DeWitt (7-3) at Haslett (8-4).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Reed City (9-4) at Kingsley (12-2)
Kingsley started its 2023 season with a 46-12 win over Reed City and ended the fall as Division 6 champion – a week after defeating Reed City again in a Semifinal 37-7. That alone should have the Coyotes revved for a big start this time, and after also closing last year with eight wins over their last nine games. Kingsley is ranked No. 2 and Reed City No. 8 heading into this meeting.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Gaylord (11-1) at Traverse City West (4-5) WATCH, Manistee (8-3) at Kalkaska (4-5). FRIDAY Elk Rapids (4-5) at Benzie Central (5-5), Charlevoix (9-2) at Traverse City St. Francis (4-5) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Gibraltar Carlson (10-2) at Carleton Airport (10-2)
After losing to Airport 31-10 in their season opener a year ago, Carlson went on to win its next 10 games and set a program record for victories to go with league and District titles. Airport’s finish, meanwhile, was its best since 2003 and included a District title as well. The winner tonight could attract some attention quickly; both enter this fall unranked by the MHSFCA.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Adrian (6-4) at Ann Arbor Pioneer (6-4) WATCH, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (6-5) at Clinton (10-2), Michigan Center (7-3) at Jackson Lumen Christi (13-1), Brighton (5-5) at Saline (9-2) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
Niles (10-2) at St. Joseph (6-4), Friday WATCH
The Vikings’ 55-0 win over St. Joseph to begin last season set the pace for a record-setting run as well as they reached double-digit wins for the first time – and with their lone losses of 2023 by a combined eight points. Niles enters this season No. 6 in Division 4, but the unranked Bears no doubt would love to spoil things after rebounding from last year’s defeat to extend their playoff streak to nine straight seasons.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Battle Creek Harper Creek (6-4) at Battle Creek Lakeview (3-6) WATCH, Saugatuck (8-3) at Buchanan (7-4) WATCH, Union City (6-4) at Centreville (5-5) WATCH, Berrien Springs (6-4) at Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (5-5).
Upper Peninsula
Gladstone (9-3) at Marquette (5-4)
These longtime past Great Northern Conference foes went their separate ways again a year ago, but met for a nonconference opener won by Gladstone 36-7 – and that gave Gladstone back-to-back wins in the near-annual series for the first time since 2008 and 2009. Although neither is ranked at the start of this season, both always are expected to be near the top in the Upper Peninsula.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Ishpeming Westwood (1-8) at Bark River-Harris (5-4) WATCH, Escanaba (2-7) at Kingsford (10-2) WATCH, Iron Mountain (11-1) at Houghton (3-6). FRIDAY Marinette, Wis. (3-6) at Menominee (11-3).
West Michigan
Detroit Cass Tech (7-4) at Rockford (11-1) WATCH
This is another of the most anticipated matchups statewide this week, and this is the first time these teams will meet despite both being Division I championship contenders most of the last two decades. Rockford is ranked No. 2 in Division 1 after suffering its only loss last season against Davison in a Regional Final. Cass Tech is ranked No. 4 after ending last year’s run with a District Final loss to eventual champion Southfield Arts & Technology.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Paw Paw (9-2) at Big Rapids (10-2) WATCH, East Grand Rapids (7-3) at Lowell (6-4) WATCH, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (7-3) at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-1). FRIDAY Zeeland West (9-4) at Muskegon (12-2).
8-Player
Au Gres-Sims (7-3) at Alcona (8-2) WATCH
Alcona ended a two-game losing streak against the Wolverines last season while in the midst of a perfect run to the North Star League Big Dipper title. On the other sideline, that 42-12 loss was Au Gres-Sims’ first of the fall and started a 1-3 run to close the Wolverines’ season as they finished second in the NSL Little Dipper. They remain in different divisions and could both emerge as league champions over the next two months.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Gobles (8-3) at Colon (4-5), Gaylord St. Mary (6-3) at Rudyard (6-4), Climax-Scotts (10-1) at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (6-3). FRIDAY Crystal Falls Forest Park (7-3) at Newberry (7-3).
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(PHOTO by Tim Reilly.)