Clinton closes strong, defeats Michigan Collegiate in regional game
Michigan Collegiate’s big plays weren’t enough to overcome key mistakes.
Bradyn Lehman ran five yards for a touchdown with 1:29 left to lift host Clinton to a 31-30 victory over the Cougars, who led 24-6 early in the third quarter of the Division 6 regional football championship game Friday night.
Sophomore quarterback Andy Fair threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Nik Shadley and Lehman booted the PAT with 5:01 to play as the Redwolves pulled to within 30-25, and Clinton had to drive only 33 yards for the winning score after a high snap from punt formation kept Michigan Collegiate from getting away a kick on fourth down.
“The team came together,” said Fair, who cranked up the Redwolves’ passing game in the second half. “We went into the locker room down at halftime. We all just dug deep and got it done.”
Teshawn Thomas ran for two long touchdowns and Jailin Spikes returned a fumble for a score for the Cougars, but Michigan Collegiate lost two fourthquarter fumbles against the undefeated Redwolves (12-0).
“In a game like this, with that crowd, it’s hard. You have to play flawless, and we didn’t do that,” Michigan Collegiate coach John Guth said after his team fell to 10-2. “You can’t turn the ball over.
“They changed some things up, but it should have been easy for us
to defend.”
Starting their last possession on their 22 with 1:24 left, the Cougars threw three incomplete passes and had a run stopped on fourth down to turn the ball back to the Redwolves, who took a knee on the closing snaps to run out the clock.
Guth said the ball was supposed to be pitched on fourth down.
“I know some people are going to complain about that call,” he said. “We were trying to get the first down, and they were playing 15 yards deep. The kids have got
to understand that, although it’s hard for them to understand.
“Life’s full of surprises. I hope these kids learned and understood some things that we tried teaching them. It isn’t about just one play call. It’s about the entire team, it’s about the entire program. It’s about learning and building and getting better. Hopefully we did that.”
It was the Redwolves’ second one-point regional victory in three years over the Cougars.
Darmarion Johnson intercepted Fair’s pass in the end zone with 5:13 to play and the Cougars
leading 30-18, but Michigan Collegiate fumbled on the first snap of the ensuing possession. One play later, Fair connected with Shadley for a touchdown.
The Cougars also lost a fumble at the Redwolves’ eight on the first play of the fourth quarter. Clinton then drove 92 yards, scoring when Fair passed 18 yards to Lehman to make it 24-18 with 10:22 left.
Alfonso Gray III intercepted Fair with 8:21 to play, but the Cougars had to punt after running three plays.
Thomas’ second touchdown, from 65 yards out, gave Michigan
Collegiate a 30-18 lead with 9:31 left. His 56-yard run on the third play of the second half boosted the Cougars’ lead to 24-6.
Spikes’ 79-yard fumble return and the Cougars’ conversion run put the visitors ahead 16-0 in the second quarter.
Mik’quan McClain’s threeyard run and a 2-point conversion opened the scoring in the first quarter.
Cole Breitenwischer’s one-yard plunge cut the Cougars’ lead to 16-6, which was the halftime score. Lehman’s one-yard run pulled the Lenawee County Athletic Association champions to within 24-12 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
Clinton plays Grand Rapids West Catholic in a state semifinal game next week. West Catholic advanced with a 37-7 victory over Lansing Catholic, which defeated Michigan Collegiate in the 2021 state final.
Clinton lost to Montague in the 2020 title game.
Michigan Collegiate was one of five Macomb County teams playing in regional title games. De La Salle Collegiate defeated L’Anse Creuse in Division 2; Dakota lost to Cass Tech in Division 1, and Parkway Christian lost to Clarkston Everest Collegiate in Division 8.