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Montague Follows QB's Unstoppable Lead
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
January 22, 2021
DETROIT – Montague football coach Patrick Collins was well prepared Friday night.
After a week of getting emotional when asked what it would be like coaching his son, Drew, for the final time in the MHSAA Division 6 Final, he told himself that he wouldn’t cry again if asked the question after the game.
He accomplished that feat, making him perfect on the night.
The Collins family will be celebrating their final game together forever, as they claimed Montague’s third Finals title with a 40-14 victory over Clinton at Ford Field.
“You can’t finish any better than that,” said Patrick Collins, who has been at the helm for all three Montague titles. “How does it get any better? It’s been a phenomenal run. Just pinch me, man. I just can’t believe it. I think all the coaches feel like (the players are) all our sons. We treat them all the same. … It’s special, because we’re tight. There’s a lot of love and a lot of guys playing for each other.”
While the postgame press conference was tear free, the Montague sideline was not as the clock ticked down in the final quarter. A program that had come agonizingly close in each of the past two years – losing in the Final in 2018 and losing a thriller of a Semifinal in 2019 – had broken through for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009.
“Everybody on this football team, coaches, players, trainers – everybody on this football team loves high school football,” said Drew Collins, the Montague senior quarterback who accounted for five touchdowns on the night. “I love high school football. I love these coaches. I love my friends on the team. I love everybody on the team. I love the community. It’s bittersweet when you win a state championship when you’re a senior because it’s all over.”
Drew Collins, who was The Associated Press Division 5-6 Player of the Year, made the most of his final game in a Montague uniform, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-19 passing. He also rushed for 51 yards and two scores.
That led an offensive attack which put up 390 total yards and scored on all but two of its possessions – one of which ended on downs late in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats were attempting to run out the clock.
“I just think they can do it all,” Clinton coach Jeremy Fielder said. “When you look at their team, look at what they have up front, look at the athletes they have in space, then you put a quarterback on that team, and you put a very experienced team out there, as well. That’s a lot to deal with. They’re a great football team, and I give them a lot of credit; they’re a great program.”
All three of Collins’ touchdown passes went to Sam Smith (nine, 44 and 26 yards), who had five receptions for 96 yards total. Tugg Nichols added five catches of his own for 89 yards, while Dylan Everett had 52 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
While Montague’s dynamic offense put on a show, it was the defense’s second-half performance that allowed the Wildcats to pull away. Clinton (10-2) trailed 19-14 at the half but had put together a pair of 80-yard drives. The first finished with an eight-yard George Ames run, and was fueled by a long Brayden Randolph run. The other was a clock-killing masterpiece fullhouse backfields are known for and was closed out with a two-yard Bradyn Lehman run.
Each of those drives followed a Montague drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Collins to Smith. The Wildcats took the halftime lead with Everett’s two-yard touchdown run.
Clinton’s first two drives of the second half, however, ended with turnovers – the first on downs, and the second an interception by Montague’s Trey Mikkelsen. The Wildcats turned both turnovers into touchdowns – Collins’ third TD pass to Smith, and a nine-yard Collins TD rush – and started to put the game away. Collins’ final touchdown run of the game, a 23-yarder in the fourth quarter, erased any doubt.
“I thought the coaches did a great job – our staff is phenomenal,” Patrick Collins said. “We did some adjustments. But really, this team is run by the players, and it starts with the seniors. Their determination is what makes a difference. It was about their heart coming out in the second half and finding the energy to stack up to a great Clinton team, honestly. That Clinton team can bring it, and they brought it today.”
Randolph led the way for Clinton in his final game, rushing for 194 yards on 23 carries. He also had eight tackles, while Lehman led the Clinton defense with nine tackles, and Nik Shadley had six.
“We’re fortunate, we have about 15 or 16 seniors, and at our level, you win with seniors,” Fielder said. “We were able to make some key plays at some key times, and I think it was really big for us, too, when we got shut down (for the statewide pause), we had that senior leadership. We had a group of seniors who had won a wrestling state championship together last year, so they’ve been here before. As a coach, you’re looking at these guys in the huddle, and you’re looking at these guys on the sidelines, you know you’re in pretty good shape. We just ran into a team that was outstanding.”
Izac Jarka and Colton Blankstrom each had eight tackles to lead the Montague defense, while Mikkelsen and Alex Waruszewski each had seven.
PHOTOS: (Top) Montague celebrates its first Football Finals championship Saturday since 2009. (Middle) The Wildcats’ Samuel Smith breaks through an opening as Clinton’s Bradyn Lehman (6) and others close in. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
![Muskegon's Jakob Price (20) finds room to run in his team's win over DeWitt.](/sites/default/files/2022-11/221121_1st%26Goal_2H.png)
1st & Goal: 2022 11-Player Semifinals Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 21, 2022
This season's 11-Player Football Finals field is set. And it's fair to expect phenomenal after how this weekend's Semifinals played out.
Both Division 1 games went to overtime. The Division 5 and Division 8 Semifinals produced Ford Field matchups of undefeated contenders. Three reigning champions advanced, as did two teams that won Semifinals for the first time and two more that won their first during the lifetimes of the players on their rosters this fall.
And that's just a sample of what's to come, as we'll preview all eight matchups Wednesday. For today, we're taking a glance back at all 16 games from a snowy, stormy and mostly frigid but forever memorable Friday and Saturday.
Division 1
SEMIFINAL Belleville 29, Detroit Cass Tech 28 (OT) Arguably the game of the weekend was played Friday night as Belleville took an early 14-0 lead, got behind 21-14, scored with 1:04 left in regulation to force overtime, then answered Cass Tech’s overtime touchdown with a score and game-winning 2-point conversion. The reigning Division 1 champion Tigers improved to 13-0, while the Technicians finished 9-4. Click for more from MLive-Detroit.
Belleville sophomore Bryce Underwood with the game-winning 2-point conversion in OT as the Tigers beat Cass Tech 29-28 in the Division 1 Semifinal. Powered by @LTUAthletics @BryceUnderwoo16 | @BellevilleFB | @BHSBelleville pic.twitter.com/nweEl5iffn
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
SEMIFINAL Caledonia 21, Clarkston 0 An anticipated offense back-and-forth turned into one of the most impressive defensive performances in the state this season as Caledonia shut out a Clarkston offense averaging nearly 41 points per game. The Fighting Scots (12-1) will be playing in their first Final since winning the Division 3 title in 2005. Clarkston finished 10-3. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Caledonia celebrates after beating Clarkston 21-0 in the Division 1 Semifinal. Powered by @USNRecruiter pic.twitter.com/YM6zg2PTl9
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
Division 2
SEMIFINAL Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 20, Dexter 17 (2OT) A Forest Hills Central defense that has been a big part of the story all season showed well again as the Rangers (13-0) advanced to their first Final since 1994. Quarterback Mason McDonald certainly did his part as well, and especially at crunch time, with a game-tying touchdown pass on the last play of regulation and the game-winning scoring run. Dexter finished its first Semifinal season at 12-1. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Highlights of the Forest Hills Central vs. Dexter - Division 2 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@fhcsportsreport | @Coachtimrogers | @rheathorntontv pic.twitter.com/kvWJDKNiYV
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Warren De La Salle Collegiate 43, Birmingham Groves 15 The reigning champion Pilots (12-1) once again followed quarterback Brady Drogosh, who scored four touchdowns, while the defense took care of their side with a ninth-straight game of allowing 18 or fewer points. Groves finished 9-4, an excellent comeback from finishing 2-7 last season. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.
Here are the highlights of our Anvil Award candidate and Illinois commit Mason Muragin (@MMuragin) from De La Salle in their Division 2 Semifinal win over Groves. Delivered by @hungryhowies @DLSFootball_MI | @DLSBroZone | @DeLaSalleAD | @illinifootball pic.twitter.com/5SHl6ZW46B
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 3
SEMIFINAL Muskegon 49, DeWitt 21 After two seasons away, Muskegon (11-2) will return to Ford Field for the fifth time in seven years. Quarterback M’Khi Guy showed the way scoring six touchdowns on the ground and throwing for a seventh. DeWitt, last season’s Division 3 runner-up, finished 9-4. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
Highlights of the Muskegon vs. DeWitt - Division 3 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@MuskCoFootball | @OnMuskegon | @jhutt5 pic.twitter.com/uEEO12WBWV
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Detroit Martin Luther King 52, Mason 17 The reigning champion Crusaders (9-3) also are headed back to the Finals, for the sixth time in eight seasons after shutting down a Mason offense averaging 45 points per game. Dante Moore also offered a few more highlights as his career draws to a close, throwing four touchdown passes. Mason finished a second-straight Semifinal run at 12-1. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Our Mr. Football candidate and Oregon commit Dante Moore from Detroit King threw 4 TDs in their 52-17 win over Mason in the Division 3 Semifinal. Delivered by @hungryhowies @dantemoore05 | @oregonfootball | @DetKingFootball | @TheRealSterl | @J2Croft pic.twitter.com/FtdAA3fLdD
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 4
SEMIFINAL Grand Rapids South Christian 26, Edwardsburg 20 The Sailors improved to 13-0 and earned their first Finals trip since 2014 by handing Edwardsburg its first loss since the season opener. The Eddies (11-2) pulled within a score late, but South Christian held them off the rest of the way. Click for more from FOX 17.
Highlights of the South Christian vs. Edwardsburg - Division 4 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@RemiMonaghan | @sailorsports | @SCsailorFB pic.twitter.com/sWAUcleWm4
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2022
SEMIFINAL Goodrich 51, Riverview 26 The Martians (12-1) are headed to the season’s final weekend for the first time after piling up their second-most points in a game this season and handing Riverview (12-1) its lone defeat. Jace Simerson ran for five touchdowns to lead the way. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
Goodrich senior @JaceSimerson scored five rushing touchdowns in their Division 4 Semifinal win over Riverview. Powered by @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/RZtyS9m6cp
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 5
SEMIFINAL Gladwin 28, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 21 Arguably the stunner of the playoffs goes to the Flying G’s, which is saying a lot since they remain undefeated at 13-0 but also ended Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s three-season Finals streak a win short of extending it to four. The Cougars (11-2) pulled within the final margin late and had the ball, but a Gladwin interception sealed the program’s first trip to the Finals. Click for more from the Bay City Times.
Here are the highlights of Gladwin's win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Division 5 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹https://t.co/duQnD6Kq0j@GladwinFootball pic.twitter.com/9MxZdN3gEF
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Frankenmuth 38, Detroit Country Day 0 The Eagles (13-0) earned their second trip to Ford Field in three seasons with arguably the finest defensive effort of a season full of them as they didn’t allow a first down while posting their fifth shutout. Aidan Hoard threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score. Country Day finished 8-4. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Frankenmuth celebrates after beating Country Day 38-0 in the Division 5 Semifinal on Saturday. Powered by @MIArmyGuard @FrankenmuthF | @FMuthAthletics pic.twitter.com/wdZyCSRggU
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
Division 6
SEMIFINAL Negaunee 13, Reed City 12 The Miners emerged from one of the snowiest Semifinals by twice coming back, the second time with the eventual game-winning touchdown run by Kai Lacar. The Negaunee (13-0) also reached its first Finals since 2002 by continuing a run of allowing no more than 15 points in a game this season, and even though Reed City (11-2) averaged 44 per game entering the day. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Highlights of the Negaunee vs. Reed City - Division 6 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹 WJMN-TV pic.twitter.com/P6H47zX9lT
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Grand Rapids West Catholic 33, Clinton 14 The Falcons are headed back to the Finals for the first time since 2017 by handing Clinton its only defeat and holding the Redwolves (12-1) to their fewest points scoring this fall. Tim Kloska ran for 349 yards and five more touchdowns for West Catholic (12-1). Click for more from FOX 17.
Highlights of the West Catholic vs. Clinton - Division 6 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@wcathleticspage | @CoachLGrove | @GRWCFootball | @jhutt5 pic.twitter.com/v1vBXkbjlv
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 7
SEMIFINAL Traverse City St. Francis 53, New Lothrop 8 The Gladiators’ dominance seems to become more extraordinary every week as they’re 13-0 for the first time since 2009 and have now won their last two games by a combined 116-8. St. Francis led 20-0 after the first quarter in this one. New Lothrop finished 10-3. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Highlights of the Division 7 @MHSAA Semifinal between Traverse City St. Francis and New Lothrop
📹 WPBN-TV@TCSFFootball | @HarrisonBeeby pic.twitter.com/nBx0oMtUIN
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Jackson Lumen Christi 20, Napoleon 7 The Titans (10-3) earned a rematch with one of the opponents that contributed to their 0-3 start this season. Lumen Christi relied on a steady defense that held Napoleon to its fewest points scored in a game this fall. Napoleon also finished its first Semifinal season at 12-1. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Congratulations to Jackson Lumen Christi. 20-7 win over Napoleon on Saturday in the Division 7 @MHSAA Semifinal. First trip back to the State Finals since 2019. pic.twitter.com/ygnHI7SoeJ
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 8
SEMIFINAL Ubly 41, Iron Mountain 14 The Bearcats have equaled St. Francis’ mastery so far, with this their closest game this season. Ubly (13-0) will return to Ford Field for the second time in three seasons after holding Iron Mountain to its fewest points since a Week 1 defeat to Negaunee and scoring the most the Mountaineers (11-2) gave up this season. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Here are the highlights of Ubly's win over Iron Mountain in the Division 8 @MHSAA semifinal. 📹 https://t.co/duQnD6sOBJ pic.twitter.com/6TTWtadwg5
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 22, 2022
SEMIFINAL Ottawa Lake Whiteford 44, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 6 The Bobcats also are headed back to the Finals for the first time since 2017 after defeating Everest (9-4) in the playoffs for the second-straight season. Quarterback Shea Ruddy ran for four scores for Whiteford (13-0). Click for more from the Monroe News.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford senior quarterback Shea Ruddy (@shea_ruddy) had four touchdown runs in their win over Clarkston Everest in the Division 8 Semifinal. Powered by @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/DxBJniKJur
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
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PHOTO Muskegon's Jakob Price (20) finds room to run in his team's win over DeWitt. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)