Raiders title hopes end in triple OT

Jackson Lumen Christi edges Almont in semifinals, 25-19

 

ALMONT — Second-ranked Almont was outlasted, 25-19, by top-rated Jackson Lumen Christi in a Division 6 football semifinal battle that required three overtimes to determine a victor last Saturday afternoon.

Novi High School is where the action unfolded.

With the outcome, Jackson Lumen Christi (10-3) advances to this Friday’s state championship clash where it will square off versus Kingsley (11-2). That matchup lists a 4 p.m. starting time. Almont watches an outstanding 12-1 campaign draw to a close.

“The semifinal was everything we expected it would be,” Almont Coach James Leusby commented. “Unfortunately, we came out on the wrong side of the battle,” he noted.

“I could not be more proud of the our boys and the effort they gave from start to finish. Our coaching staff put together an excellent game plan and the players executed it to perfection. This felt like a championship-level matchup, one worthy of being played at Ford Field in the finals. This is a special group of players who gave everything they had to represent their school and community, and for that, I could not be more pleased with their performance against a state powerhouse program.”

In Saturday’s battle, Almont and Jackson Lumen Christi ended the opening quarter scoreless.

Quarter two saw Almont generate six points as did Jackson Lumen Christi.

When the action resumed, Almont struck with a 7-0 third quarter edge. That staked the Raiders to a 13-6 advantage at the time.

Jackson Lumen Christi then countered with a touchdown and a successful extra point kick during quarter number four, those points coming with 7:29 remaining. That enabled the Titans to tie the score at 13 points per side. The next seven minutes-plus would prove scoreless. It was on to overtime.

In the extra session, Jackson Lumen Christi won the coin toss and elected to put their defense on the field first.

Almont set up at the 10-yard line, looking to produce the go-ahead score. Three plays and nine yards later, the Raiders looked to be on the verge of doing just that.

However, the rushing attempt which followed was stopped inches from attaining that goal.

Jackson Lumen Christi then took the field, hoping to generate the game-winning points.

It was there they ran a play, getting a few yards closer to the end zone.

Jackson Lumen Christi then tried to score via a rushing attempt again, only to fumble. Alertly Almont landed on the miscue, extending the contest a bit longer.

Overtime two saw Jackson Lumen Christi get the ball first. It was there the Titans moved the ball to the one-yard line where a fourth-and-goal situation arose.

Their next offensive play would result in a touchdown. The Titans then tried to add to their lead with a successful PAT pass, but to no avail.

Jackson Lumen Christi now owned a 19-13 lead.

Almont then answered with a three-play drive, culminating in a touchdown run by Jacob Stewart from two yards out.

They then lined up for a potential game-winning extra point kick which split the uprights, only to see the result wiped off the scoreboard when it was ruled Jackson Lumen Christi had jumped offside prior to the snap.

The penalty was assessed and Almont lined up for the potential game-winner again, but this time the effort did not connect.

It was on to overtime three with the score 19-19. There Almont was denied in their pursuit of points.

Jackson Lumen Christi then moved the ball to the one-yard line where they faced a third-and-goal situation.

On their next play, Jackson Lumen Christi punched it in with a tote from one yard out. That put an end to things, enabling the Titans to pull out a 25-19 victory.

Almont produced their 19-point total aided by a Blake Lane to Logan Schapman two-yard touchdown pass; a Jacob Stewart 15-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Sean O’Neil); and a Stewart two-yard touchdown run.

For the afternoon, Lane completed two of six pass plays for 55 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw one interception along the way.

His successful tosses went to two different targets. Their ranks consisted of Rian O’Neil (one catch for 53 yards) and Schapman (one reception for two yards).

The Almont ground attack wound up with 238 yards on 43 totes.

Individually, Matthew Bacholzky (12 rushes for 104 yards) and Stewart (59 yards on 13 totes) paced Almont. They were backed by Brody Corneau (10 rushes for 40 yards) and Lane (35 yards on eight totes).

Colten Karbel (four solos and 15 assists) and Cohen Ferqueron (three solos and 12 assists) posted Almont’s top tackle totals. Bacholzky (one solo and eight assists), Dominic Medley (two solos and six assists), Ryder Baker, Stewart and Corneau (two solos and five assists each), Dustin Claeys (one solo and five assists), Aiden DeSano (one solo and three assists) made their presence felt as well.

Gordon Stolecki and Baker (a fumble recovery apiece) provided Almont’s takeaways.

Almont also received a blocked extra point courtesy of Dalton Oliphant.