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Grayling QB Takes Over at Crunch Time

October 27, 2017

By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half

GRAYLING – For the Grayling Vikings, it was Just-in time.

Propelled by senior quarterback Justin Nicholas, Grayling pulled out victories the last two weeks to secure an eighth MHSAA football playoff berth in the last nine years.

All the first-year starter at quarterback did was complete a staggering 66 of 120 passes for 995 yards and 15 touchdowns over the final eight quarters of the regular season to keep the 6-3 Vikings alive. Grayling travels to 8-1 Reed City tonight for a first-round Division 5 playoff game.

“We knew he had a golden arm,” Grayling coach Tim Sanchez said of Nicholas. “He just needed some reps, some time behind center. For quarterbacks, that first season can be tough. It doesn’t always come easy.

“But,” he added, “Justin’s made it look that way.”

In a wild 58-46 comeback win over Benzie Central in Week 8, Nicholas nearly set several MHSAA records by finishing 39 of 72 for 623 yards and eight scores. The 623 yards? Second to Omar Salih of Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy (674 yards in 2013). His 72 attempts? Second to Grayling’s Jimmy Osga (74 in 2008). His 39 completions? Two off the mark held by Osga, Jenison’s Steve Brander and Detroit Central’s Robert Hunt. The eight touchdowns? Second to Salih (nine in 2013).

It all came as a shock to Nicholas, who was more worried about a win than his stats that night. The Vikings trailed Benzie 46-30 after three quarters.

It was his older brother Darin, who was listening to the game on radio while watching from the stands, who alerted him afterwards.

“It’s still kind of surreal - 623 yards, that’s like video game stats,” Nicholas said. “When I came off the field, my brother said to me, ‘How does it feel to be in the record books?’ I kind of looked at him, not fully aware of what he was talking about. Then he said, ‘You just passed for more than 600 yards.’ I said, ‘C’mon, quit messing with me.’”

He wasn’t messing.

This past Friday, needing that all-important sixth win, Nicholas responded by completing 27 of 48 passes for 372 yards and seven more touchdowns in a 50-33 road triumph over Kalkaska.

“It was either win or go home,” Nicholas said. “We needed those last two games (to qualify), and I didn’t want to let anyone down.”

Grayling started the season 4-0, then lost three in a row to playoff-bound Boyne City (9-0), Traverse City St. Francis (8-1) and Elk Rapids (7-2). In the Week 6 loss to St. Francis, the 6-foot, 230-pound Nicholas suffered a severe ankle sprain during the first half that ended his night. In addition, his go-to receiver, Nick Hunter, broke his right arm in the contest. Up to that point in the season, the junior receiver had hauled in more than 40 passes for close to 600 yards and six touchdowns.

The following Monday, Hunter’s older brother, Chris, another top receiver, started experiencing some pain. He confided in Nicholas, one of his best friends.

“Justin had an appendix scare earlier in the season, just before the Boyne game, and I was telling him my symptoms,” Hunter recalled. “He said, ‘Dude, that’s not good.’ I was like, ‘Nah, it’s probably just cramps.’”

Soon, Hunter said he could barely move. He ended up in the emergency room and had surgery the following morning to have his appendix removed.

Just like that, the spread-oriented Vikings had a quarterback with a bum ankle and were minus their two leading receivers.

But Nicholas did not intend to sit, even though he knew rest would be best.

“I wasn’t going to let my team down,” he said. “If I’m capable of playing, I’m going to play.”

That’s what he told Sanchez at the Sunday film session following the St. Francis loss.

“I said, ‘I don’t know about that,’” Sanchez said. “(His ankle) looked bad. In fact, I thought he broke it at first. But, he said, ‘Nope, I’m playing.’ It was literally a game-time decision.”

Nicholas did not practice all week and with personnel changes at the receiving positions the Vikings struggled in a homecoming loss to Elk Rapids.

“The chemistry was not there,” Sanchez said.

Grayling also missed Nicholas’s ability to run the ball. He had rushed for nearly 400 yards and 11 touchdowns prior to the injury. That put even more emphasis on the passing game.

The backup quarterback, Logan Joseph, became Nicholas’s No. 1 target. In the last three games of the regular season, Joseph caught 34 passes for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns.

Still, the Vikings were on the verge of a fourth consecutive loss in Week 8 when Benzie Central had them on the ropes.

“We were down two scores starting the fourth quarter,” Sanchez said. “A lot of kids/adults put their heads down when adversity hits. But Justin wasn’t done. He led us to four straight touchdowns to keep us alive. That was huge. He carried us.”

Chris Hunter was watching it play out from the sidelines. He sensed the urgency in the fourth quarter when the situation appeared dire.

“I remember looking at Justin and saying, ‘Dude, we’ve got three losses already. This is the season,’’ Hunter said. “He said, ‘I can do it. We’re going to win this game. And he went out and did it.’”

Two weeks after his surgery, Chris Hunter returned to action in the regular season finale at Kalkaska. He caught three passes for 67 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings were back in the playoffs.

“When we won at Kingsford (in last year’s playoffs), that was hands down the most memorable game of our careers,”’ Hunter said. “We wanted another chance to do it again, make another little playoff run.”

For Nicholas, it was icing on the cake. This is his third year on varsity. Although he started at quarterback as a freshman on the JV team, the Vikings were set at that position with Cam Summers, a three-year starter, who earned all-state honors and played in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star game last summer.

Nicholas found other ways to contribute. He played running back, linebacker, safety, defensive end.

“He was our best defensive lineman last year,” Sanchez said. “We played him there this year until he got hurt. He’s a tough, smart kid.”

Concordia University offered him a scholarship to play defensive end after he camped there this summer.

But with Summers graduating, Nicholas slid into the quarterback role and assumed a leadership position, something he had dreamed about since he was a ball boy in elementary school.

“Justin was behind a very good player (Summers), but he never complained,” Sanchez said. “He understood Cam was the guy. So he said, ‘Where else can I play? Where else can I help the team’?

“With Cam gone, Justin seized the opportunity this year.”

Through nine games, Nicholas is 216 of 379 for 2,965 yards and 28 touchdowns.

“I knew he had it in him, but I’d be lying if I told you I knew he would pass for 3,000 yards and almost 30 touchdowns,” Sanchez said. “It would be unfair to expect that from somebody.”

Unless you’re Justin Nicholas.

“It’s kind of our thing at Grayling,” Nicholas said. “We’ll throw the ball until you make us stop.”

Nicholas can rattle off the names of all the Grayling quarterbacks that preceded him – several are in the MHSAA record book.

“I thought those guys were gods,” the 17-year-old said. “I thought, I can’t wait to be there one day and get my chance.”

When it came, he was ready.

“He’s a great kid, a great teammate,” Hunter said. “He’s had a terrific year, maybe one of the top-five years in Michigan.”

Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Grayling quarterback Justin Nicholas surveys his options during a Week 1 win over Roscommon. (Middle) Nicholas prepares to run against Kalkaska last week. (Below) Nicholas unloads a pass during the Week 3 victory over Kingsley. (Photos courtesy of the Grayling football program.)

Drive for Detroit: Week 4 in Review

September 17, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Sometimes the “big games” that everyone’s talking about before Friday night don’t end up meaning as much as some of the surprises that take place during an unpredictable weekend of Michigan high school football. 

That certainly was the case in Week 4, as a decent share of the 45 we chose to break out below probably weren’t on many radars just a few days ago. 

Check out those 45 results and some of what they mean today and could mean down the road as we head into the middle week of the regular season. 

“Drive for Detroit” is powered by MI Student Aid. 

Bay & Thumb

 

HEADLINER: Cass City 36, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 12 The Red Hawks broke their nine-game losing streak to the rival Lakers (3-1) in a big way and after falling to them twice last season. Heading into this season’s midpoint, Cass City (3-1) has a nice edge in the Greater Thumb Conference West race; all four of its final league opponents have at least one conference defeat. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

 

Also of note: Grand Blanc 42, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 14 The Bobcats (4-0) are continuing to impress in their move this fall to the Saginaw Valley League, this time extending a four-game winning streak over Carman-Ainsworth (2-2), last season’s SVL Red co-champion. This season both teams are in the Blue division; Grand Blanc formerly played in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association.

 

Remember this one: Flushing 59, Ortonville Brandon 39 Undefeated Swartz Creek leads the Flint Metro League race all alone with Brandon (3-1) suffering its first loss, and Fenton and Flushing (2-2) are also in the mix with one league defeat apiece. 

 

More shoutouts: Goodrich 34, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 17 The Martians (3-1) added a third win over a 2017 playoff team in handing the Fighting Irish (3-1) their first defeat. Hemlock 42, St. Louis 0 The Huskies (3-1) moved into a tie for third in the Tri-Valley Conference West after knocking St. Louis (3-1) out of a tie for the top spot.


Greater Detroit

 

HEADLINER: Madison Heights Madison 21, Marine City 15 Reigning Macomb Area Conference Silver champion Madison (4-0) has a nice hold on the league lead again with wins over two of three teams tied for second place. Marine City (3-1), last season’s MAC Gold champion, is one of those three second-place teams. After a two-week break in league play, Madison can clinch a share of the title Week 7 against St. Clair Shores South Lake, which is also tied for second. Click for more from C&G Newspapers. 

 

Also of note: Warren Michigan Collegiate 34, Harper Woods 33 It was easy to circle Week 6 against River Rouge as the most intriguing date coming up for Harper Woods (3-1) as it opened with three huge wins. But instead, Michigan Collegiate (4-0) earned one of the most impressive victories of its 21-game regular-season winning streak.

 

Remember this one: Riverview 38, Milan 20 Grosse Ile is the only team still undefeated in Huron League play, but reigning champion Riverview (3-1) looks ready to challenge again after taking down the Big Reds (3-1).

 

More shoutouts: South Lyon 31, Birmingham Seaholm 28 Both teams deserve one after both finished 1-8 a year ago; this close win moved South Lyon to 4-0 and left Seaholm at 3-1. Warren DeLaSalle 13, Birmingham Brother Rice 0 Three of the Detroit Catholic League Central’s four teams are 3-1, and reigning champion DeLaSalle has the first hold of first place this fall. 


Mid-Michigan

 

HEADLINER: East Lansing 30, Portage Northern 20 The Trojans (4-0) did everything they could’ve hoped heading into this week’s league showdown with DeWitt. East Lansing went on the road to defeat the Huskies (2-2), looking at this point like one of the better teams from the Kalamazoo area, and put up more points than Portage Northern had given up in its first three games combined (27). Click for more from East Lansing Info. 

 

Also of note: St. Johns 34, Williamston 20 The Redwings (2-2) have come back nicely from an 0-2 start, especially by handing the impressive Hornets (3-1) their first loss. 

 

Remember this one: Carson City-Crystal 14, Merrill 8 The Eagles held on to a share of first place in the Mid-State Activities Conference and continued their best start since enjoying a perfect regular season in 2013, while Merrill’s two losses have been both by six points. 

 

More shoutouts: Haslett 41, Fowlerville 13 The Vikings’ Capital Area Activities Conference Red hopes will rest on back-to-back games against Williamston and St. Johns the next two weeks, but the Gladiators (2-2) were a dangerous spoiler in the making during a mostly even first half. Fowler 25, Laingsburg 21 The Eagles (3-1) kept pace with two other Central Michigan Athletic Conference leaders and after falling to the Wolfpack (1-3) the last two seasons. 



Northern Lower Peninsula

 

HEADLINER: Roscommon 46, Clare 40 It’s a rare occurrence when Clare loses in the Jack Pine Conference – the Pioneers (3-1) were 49-2 in league games this decade before Roscommon (3-1) stirred up the league race, and after trailing by 12 at halftime. It was the Bucks’ first win in this series since 2006. Both teams are among four now tied for second behind league leader Beaverton. 

 

Also of note: Traverse City West 21, Traverse City Central 14 The Titans (2-2) won another “Patriot Game” classic, making it two straight regular-season wins over the Trojans (3-1) while avenging last season’s playoff loss to their rival. 

 

Remember this one: Maple City Glen Lake 28, Frankfort 14 The Lakers and Panthers, both 2-2 overall, have traded league titles the last two seasons, and this puts reigning champion Glen Lake in a nice spot in the Northern Michigan Football League Leaders division. 

 

More shoutouts: Benzie Central 36, Elk Rapids 30 The Huskies (3-1) could benefit in a few ways from this win over the Elks (3-1) as they play for their first playoff berth since 2011. Traverse City St. Francis 43, Kingsley 8 Both were undefeated heading into the weekend, and St. Francis (4-0) earned a nice foothold in the NMFL Legends division. 



Southeast & Border

 

HEADLINER: Ypsilanti Lincoln 26, Chelsea 16 The Railsplitters also defeated Chelsea last season but ended up third in the Southeastern Conference White as Chelsea went on to share the title. Lincoln (3-1) sits in a first-place tie with Jackson this time, while the Bulldogs (3-1) will be ready to pounce at another opening. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

 

Also of note: Blissfield 34, Brooklyn Columbia Central 28 The Royals (3-1) took a key step in what’s stacking up as another competitive Lenawee County Athletic Association race, especially after Columbia Central (3-1) handed Ida a defeat in Week 3. 

 

Remember this one: Ida 20, Dundee 3 Continuing the LCAA conversation, this win over the much-improved Vikings (3-1) could end up being key if the Bluestreaks (3-1) find their way back to the top of the standings.

 

More shoutouts: Adrian Lenawee Christian 16, Detroit Edison 0 The Cougars are 4-0 for the first time in their 11 seasons of varsity football. Pittsford 44, Waterford Our Lady 6 The Wildcats (4-0) have now outscored their opponents by a combined 124-13, and this was arguably their best win yet as Our Lady is 2-2 but riding a six-year playoff streak. 

 

Southwest Corridor

 

HEADLINER: Schoolcraft 49, Saugatuck 48 (2OT) Schoolcraft stopped Saugatuck on a 2-point conversion attempt to seal perhaps the most intriguing back-and-forth game in the state Friday night. The teams were tied 14-14 at halftime. Both are 3-1 and possible champions of their respective divisions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette and see below for highlights from JoeInsider.com.

Also of note: Fennville 34, Watervliet 30 The Blackhawks are 3-1 for the first time since 2008 after holding Watervliet (2-2) to its fewest regular-season points in two years. 

 

Remember this one: Stevensville Lakeshore 13, St. Joseph 10 (OT) If Lakeshore (2-2) comes back from an 0-2 start to make the playoffs for the 21ststraight season, this victory will almost assuredly be a major reason why. The Bears also are 2-2, with those two defeats by a combined 10 points. 

 

More shoutouts: Portage Central 45, Battle Creek Central 35 These two, both 3-1 overall, are possible champs in their respective Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference divisions. Edwardsburg 51, Dowagiac 7 The Eddies (4-0) may have given up their first points of the season, but will take it after coming out on top of a much closer meeting with the Chieftains (2-2) in 2017. 



Upper Peninsula

 

HEADLINER: Ishpeming 44, Ishpeming Westwood 36 These teams are in different divisions of the newly-aligned Western Peninsula Athletic Conference, but this rivalry game has more relevance these days than perhaps ever – this was the closest game between the neighbors since 2009. Both are league title contenders, and they’ve also met for playoff rematches four of the last nine seasons. Ishpeming is 4-0; Westwood is 2-2. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.

 

Also of note: Marquette 36, Escanaba 35 (OT) The Upper Peninsula definitely led the way in Week 4 rivalry excitement, with Marquette (2-2) holding on to beat the Eskymos (2-2) for the first time since 2015.

 

Remember this one: Calumet 43, Iron River West Iron County 6 The Copper Kings (4-0) avenged a 33-point loss to the Wykons (3-1) from a year ago. 

 

More shoutouts: Gwinn 22, Hancock 21 The Modeltowners (4-0) have more wins than all of last season with their best start since 1998; Hancock fell to 2-2. Iron Mountain 35, Norway 7 The Mountaineers (3-1) also enjoyed a nice bounce-back after falling to Norway (2-2) last season by 36. 

 

West Michigan

 

HEADLINER: East Kentwood 56, Holland West Ottawa 7 The Panthers (3-1) were one of the stories of the first third of the regular season; it’s time to make room for the Falcons (3-1). They now share the early lead in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red with Hudsonville and with their only loss to undefeated Muskegon Mona Shores in Week 1. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press and see highlights below from FOX 17. 

Also of note: Muskegon Oakridge 42, Whitehall 14 Oakridge (4-0) held on to its share of first place in the West Michigan Conference by avenging last season’s 14-point loss to the Vikings (3-1). 

 

Remember this one: Grand Rapids Christian 30, Grand Rapids West Catholic 14 The Falcons’ 15-year playoff streak is on the line with a 1-3 start, while the Eagles (3-1) definitely will enjoy a boost heading into the rest of the O-K Gold schedule.

 

More shoutouts: Muskegon Mona Shores 33, Rockford 14 The Sailors (4-0) made it three wins in four years over the Rams (1-3), who must win out to guarantee adding to a 23-year playoff streak. Zeeland West 46, Lowell 7 The Dux (3-1) had their best defensive game bottling up the Red Arrows (0-4), who must win out to have any at-large chance at making the playoffs for the 20thstraight season. 

 

8-player

 

HEADLINER: Crystal Falls Forest Park 48, Stephenson 40 This was a much-needed stunner for the reigning 8-player Division 2 champion. The Trojans fell by 26 to Stephenson a year ago and were facing a possible 1-3 start. Instead, Forest Park (2-2) handed the Eagles (3-1) their lone loss in the first Great Lakes Conference West game for both. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

 

Also of Note: Bellevue 35, Camden-Frontier 12 In three seasons of 8-player, Camden-Frontier (3-1) has lost only two regular-season games. Bellevue (3-1) did give the Redskins the latter’s closest win a year ago before taking the next step Friday. 

 

Remember this one: AuGres-Sims 50, Hillman 12 AuGres-Sims (4-0) won the last two in 11-player between these old North Star League rivals, and extended the streak by handing the Tigers (3-1) their first 8-player defeat. 

 

More shoutouts: Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 38, Suttons Bay 27 The Defenders (4-0) started league play with their closest game this fall, but against a Regional finalist from a year ago that also was off to a perfect start. Colon 43, Battle Creek St. Philip 12 The Magi (4-0), in their first season of 8-player, have doubled their win total of a year ago and now handed three opponents their first losses of this season. 

 

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PHOTO: Ishpeming players raise their helmets during the postgame huddle after Friday's win over rival Westwood. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)