By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson — A total of 16 teams remain.
It is, without question, a select group of the finest football teams the 2016 season could produce.
And for the first time since 2009, Lumen Christi finds itself as part of the party.
“Really, our goal from the start of the season was to start winning and not stop,” coach Herb Brogan said simply.
To Brogan’s point, this was, you may remember, a team that started the season with two losses in its first three games.
Since then, the Titans are 10-0 and on quite the roll right now.
“Everyone says these guys are on a mission, and I don’t know if that’s really the case or not,” Brogan said. “What I see, is we have a team that’s improved one week to the next. We’ve gotten better, and because of it, played better every time out.”
There’s only one more chance to do that this fall, on the biggest of stages and under the brightest of lights, Friday at 4:30 p.m. in a Division 6 state final against Maple City Glen Lake at Ford Field.
“Very strong team,” Brogan said of Glen Lake. “They have a four-year varsity guy and some three-year guys. They are very experienced and not going to make any silly mistakes. Nothing is going to come easy.”
Nor should it at this stage of the season, Brogan added.
Lumen (11-2) hasn’t lost since Week 3, and in the playoffs, has had a solid balance of offense and defense guiding its journey to Detroit.
In the past two weeks, for example, the Titans have allowed a total of 13 points.
Their hands will be full again, though, as the Lakers (11-2) are led by dual-threat quarterback Cade Peterson and are averaging 34 points per game this year.
In a 34-20 win last week over LeRoy Pine River, Peterson accounted for 213 yards of total offense.
Peterson carried the ball 29 times for 179 yards and three touchdowns in a snowy semifinal.
“Defensively, you have to play assignment football,” Brogan said. “They have a lot of run-pass options. Our guys have to be in the right spot and play physical football.”
Glen Lake’s defense isn’t too shabby, either. The team held Pine River to 137 total yards last week, has two shutouts so far in the postseason and has allowed just 32 total points in the past four weeks.
“It comes down to our offensive line, as it has all year,” Brogan said. “If we can block people and get kids in space, Bo (Bell) can do damage. It’s worked for us. Teams have put eight or nine guys in the box, but we’ve been able to run the ball.”
Brogan said he won’t be afraid to air it out either, if needed.
“Going into the game, we’re hoping to run the ball like we do every week,” he said. “If we do that successfully, it will open some passing lanes for us.”
The Titans are seeking their first state title since winning it all in the D-5 final in 2009.
The Lakers haven’t been this far in the postseason since falling in the Class DD final in 1996.
The program’s only state title was a 20-10 victory over Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes in the 1994 Class DD final.
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.
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