Adrian, MI – It was a mix of emotions for the four remaining Lenawee County football teams that played over the weekend. A solid season for Siena Heights University (6-4, 3-3 MSFA-Mideast) ended with a close loss to a top-ten team. A forgettable one for Adrian College (1-9, 0-6 MIAA) concluded with a road loss at the University of Olivet. A memorable season for the Clinton Redwolves (10-2, 7-0 LCAA) ended in a 21-14 loss to defending state champion Jackson Lumen Christi (11-1) in a Division 7 Regional Final. The Lenawee Christian Cougars were the lone winners from Lenawee County (in terms of football) this weekend, scoring 42 unanswered points versus Deckerville after trailing 8-0 in the 8-player Division 2 State Semi Final game in Adrian…winning 42-14.
Saints Battle With Top-Ten Team-
Indianapolis, IN – The Siena Heights football team ended its season with a 24-14 loss to seventh-ranked Marian in MSFA Mideast action on Saturday.
Quarterback Elijah Taylor completed 15 of 29 passes for 252 yards for the Saints, including a 49-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Eric Williams II.
Williams finished with five grabs for 129 yards while fellow receiver Credell Prather had six catches for 72. Running back Ethan LoPresto had a touchdown run.
Linebackers Cayden Hankins and Tanner Rubenstein led the defense with 10 tackles apiece. Fellow LB Clarke Hamilton had seven stops.
On the line, Antonio Simley had eight tackles, including two sacks. Joseph Wharton, George Talley III and Jack Fitzgerald also had sacks for the SHU defense. Hamilton and Talley forced fumbles and Hankins had a recovery.
Bulldogs Bounced by Comets in Olivet-
Olivet, MI – The Adrian College football team wrapped up its season on Saturday afternoon at The University of Olivet. The Bulldogs fell to the Comets 32-10 to end the year.
The Bulldogs started the scoring with a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter by Alec Milley to lead 3-0. Olivet went on to score back-to-back touchdowns to lead 14-3 after the first. Olivet added a late second half touchdown to increase their lead to 21-14 at halftime.
Olivet added two points in the third quarter on a safety which was followed by a 1-yard rushing touchdown to open the fourth. Adrian made it a 30-10 game after a 29-yard touchdown pass from Brady Raymond to Cole Seslar with 9:29 to go. Adrian was sacked for another safety later in the quarter to fall 32-10.
Adrian finished the game with 226 total yards of offense while Olivet racked up 502. Raymond led Adrian in passing finishing 4-of-9 for 78 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Poirier finished with 54 yards rushing on 13 attempts while Salvatore Patierno added 50 yards rushing on 13 attempts. Keontae Townsend finished with two receptions for a team-high 35 yards.
Ryker Bidwell led the team with 16 total tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. AJ Pipkins had a day for Adrian where he totaled 12 tackles with two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. Kameruan Smith added 12 tackles while Randall Broome added nine with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Adrian College ends their season with a 1-9 record.
Clinton Takes State Champs Down to the Wire-
The Clinton Redwolves headed north for a Regional Championship game at the defending State Champion’s field, Jackson Lumen Christi. A late comeback bid fell short, and Clinton lost 21-14.
After a scoreless first quarter, Clinton got on the board first with a 1 yard touchdown run by Bryce Randolph. Nik Shadley ran in the two point conversation, making it 8-0 Redwolves. The Titans wasted no time to respond…scoring on their next play from scrimmage, a 54-yard scamper by Kadale Williams. The extra point was good, and made the score 8-7 Clinton. That would be the halftime score, as the defenses shut down the opposing offenses.
Jackson Lumen Christi took the third quarter kickoff and drove the length of the field, and scored on a 16 yard rush by Gabe King. The extra point was good… 14-8 JLC. Neither team scored in the rest of the third quarter. Isaac Rehberg (JLC) scored on a 3 yard rush in the middle of the 4th quarter, and the extra point made it 21-8 JLC. Clinton scored on a 1 yard run by Cole Breitenwischer late in the 4th quarter after a circus-catch by Nik Shadely on a 4th down pass from quarterback Andy Fair. The Redwolves were unsuccessful on their 2-point conversion attempt…and the ensuing onside kick. The Titans were able to pick up one final first down, and run the clock out…winning 21-14.
Shadley finished the game with 12 carries and 80 yards. Randolph had 9 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown. Breitenwischer finished with 6 rushes for 20 yards and a score. Fair was 7-11 for 62 yards for Clinton. Randolph and Jacob Felts led the Clinton defense with 5 tackles each.
The Redwolves’ season ends with a 10-2 record, a district championship, and an outright LCAA championship.
Lenawee Christian Cougars Pounce into the D2 8-Player State Championship Game-
The Lenawee Christian Cougars football team will be playing in a State Championship game for the third time in the last four years after their victory over Deckerville 42-14 in Adrian Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars found themselves down 8-0 in the first after an opening drive score by the Eagles. LCS responded with a 17 yard touchdown pass from Sam Lutz to Easton Boggs. From then on, the Cougars rolled, scoring the next 36 points. LCS scored on passes from Lutz to Drogowski (62 yards), and Boggs (10 yards). Lutz also had three rushing scores on the afternoon (9, 25, and 5 yards). A late score by Deckerville made the score 42-14, which would end-up being the final score.
As an 8-player football program, the Cougars are undefeated in State Championships they have played in (2020 and 2021). LCS lost in the Regional Final in 2022.
Lenawee Christian will play for the 8-player Division 2 State Championship against Marion at 2pm in Marquette on Saturday, November 18th. The game will be carried on 96.5fm The Cave and 965thecave.com with Ian Wendt on the call from Northern Michigan University.