Highlight Reel: Saturday Football Finals
November 28, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The final day of the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field in Detroit – powered by the Michigan Army National Guard – produced a first-time gridiron champion and a game-winning play that will be talked about for a long time.
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia 28, Detroit Loyola 14
Logan & Lehman Go Long - The Pewamo-Westphalia combo of quarterback Jimmy Lehman and receiver Logan Hengesbach connected for two touchdowns in the Division 7 title game against Detroit Loyola. Here's the second TD in the third quarter, with Hengesbach winning the jump ball to complete a 37-yard scoring play.
Johnson Powers Into the End Zone - Detroit Loyola gets on the board midway through the fourth quarter, when TE Keith Johnson makes a great play to catch a pass from Price Watkins and then power into the end zone to complete the 18-yard score.
Division 1
Detroit Cass Tech 49, Detroit Catholic Central 20
CC Takes the Early Lead - Detroit Catholic Central led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, taking the lead on this 35-yard pass interception return by Jack Morris.
The Peoples' Choice for Cass Tech - Detroit Cass Tech QB Rodney Hall tied a Finals record with five touchdown passes against Detroit Catholic Central - two going to Donovan Peoples-Jones, including this 49-yarder in the third quarter.
Division 5
Grand Rapids West Catholic 43, Menominee 7
Meyers Off to the Races - Grand Rapids West Catholic scored its first TD against Menominee on a pitch and catch from Gaetano Vallone to Brett Meyers covering 91 yards.
Hass Records a Finals First - Menominee uses special teams to get on the board in the third quarter. Sam Larson blocks the West Catholic field goal attempt, and Hunter Hass returns it 76 yards for a TD – the first time in Finals history a blocked field goal has been returned for a score.
Division 3
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 29, Muskegon 28
Pimpleton's Second Score - Lined up in the slot, Muskegon's Kalil Pimpleton gets his second 18-yard rushing touchdown of the Division 3 Final against Orchard Lake St. Mary's on the end-around to give his team a 21-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.
A Catch for the Ages - In the closing seconds of the Division 3 Final, Orchard Lake St. Mary's QB Caden Prieskorn hits Ky’ren Cunningham in the end zone with an 18-yard touchdown strike to give the Eaglets the win.
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTO: Orchard Lake St. Mary's Chris Bean celebrates during Saturday's Division 3 Final.
Broncos, Panthers Rally for Vulcans Hero
September 21, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Both North Branch football coach Patrick Forster and Birch Run coach Chris Gilliam remember facing Travis Mills when he suited up for the opposing Vassar Vulcans as a talented running back just short of a decade ago.
And that made them more than glad to help out the U.S. Army Staff Sergeant as he recovers from serious injuries sustained during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.
The Broncos and Panthers and their respective communities have been raising money to assist Mills, a 2005 Vassar High School graduate who according to the web site TravisMills.org, is only the fourth quadruple amputee from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive those injuries.
Mills' parents Dennis and Cheri will be presented with a donation during a brief ceremony at halftime of tonight's Panthers/Broncos football game at North Branch High School.
Mills currently is out of state, but according to a recent Tuscola County Advertiser report will be moving back to Vassar on Oct. 3, and will attend the school's Homecoming game two days. His incredible story and recovery have made national news, links to which can be found on his update web site along with donation directions and information.
For additional media coverage heading into tonight's event, click WJRT-12 and Lapeer Area Review.
PHOTO courtesy of TravisMills.org.