Battle Creek, Michigan- The Harper Creek Beavers have been looking for respect all year. Friday night they got it.
The Beavers gave arguably the top team in Division-5 their toughest test and fell in the waning moments to Jackson Lumen Christi 26 – 21 on a blustery homecoming night. Lumen Christi had outscored its opponents coming into tonight 234 to 49.
Owen's scrambles (Photo courtesy of HCBeavers.com)
But the Titians (#2, Div-4) would find themselves trailing for most of the game until connecting on a game winning 68-yard touchdown pass with 1:26 remaining. Cory Sullivan pulled in a perfectly thrown ball from quarterback Michael Lathers to take the lead and secure the victory.
After a scoreless first quarter, Harper Creek drove 82 yards in 11 plays to grab a 7-0 lead on a Zach Johnson 1 yard run. But Lumen answered right back going 76 yards themselves; scoring on a Lathers-to-Sullivan 36-yard touchdown pass.
But Harper Creek answered right back. The Beavers ran the ball up to their own 43 yard line when quarterback Dennis Mott threw a backwards pass to senior wide out Mike McKenzie. McKenzie caught the Titans off-guard by pulling up and lofting a 57 yard touchdown pass to a wide open and Taylor Rowe to make the score 14-7.
To the dismay of the home crowd, Lumen Christi’s kick returner Maurice Jones fielded the ensuing kickoff at the Titan 15, side-stepped a couple of would-be Beaver tacklers, and scampered on an 85 yard touchdown return. The run tied the score 14-14 in time for homecoming festivities.
The second half began with a scoreless third period. But the Beavers had initiated another long 16-play drive as the quarter ended and began the fourth with a Dennis Mott 1-yard touchdown. The 66-yard possession would give Harper Creek a 21-14 lead.
Marshall Lantz intercepted a Lumen Christi pass to slow the comeback, but the Beavers were forced to punt with 5:20 to play in the game.
The Titans scored twice in these final five minutes to secure at least a share of the SW Michigan Athletic Conference East Title.
It took the Titans only 2:07 to march 79 yards for what looked like a game tying score. But Lumen Christi jumped offside on the extra point and missed the attempt from 5-yards further out.
The Beavers were unable to garner a first down, however, and were forced to punt to Lumen Christi who proceeded to execute the game-saving pass play.
Harper Creek falls to 4-1, 5-2 while Lumen Christi moves to 5-0, 6-1.
The Beavers gained 230 yards rushing and controlled the ball for 30:11. Jeff Holm led the Beavers with 78 yards on 16 carries while Johnson had 70-yards on 19 carries. Tom Rowe had three receptions for 68 yards.
For the Titans, Sullivan had 94-yards on 14 carries and three receptions for 105 yards; and Lathers was four-of-five passing for 125 yards.
On the defensive side, Chris Wesolowski and Tom Hunter led the Beavers with 17 tackles between them and Tom Blattner led the Titans with nine tackles.
Harper Creek travels next week to Marshall while Lumen Christi hosts Sturgis.
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