The Climax-Scotts JV and varsity volleyball teams returned to action September 5 at Burr Oak after the two squads had a home match against North Adams-Jerome postponed August 27.

The North Adams-Jerome match has been rescheduled for September 16, beginning with the JV match at 5:30 p.m.
The JVs and varsity will host Athens September 10, beginning with the JV match at 5:30 p.m.

C-S cross country program small on
numbers but athletes have potential

By Bruce Rolfe

Unless more runners join the Climax-Scotts cross country program, there won’t be enough team members to score as a team at both the high school and junior high levels, but both squads are dotted with hard working athletes that bring good potential.

The lone returner from the Jr. High squad now on the high school squad is freshman Dalyn Bogard. She was all-conference last year in Jr. High and C-S coach Dave Lodes feels she has the “potential to be all-conference in high school if she works hard in practice.”

Sophomore Zach Roebuck, entering his first year of cross country, is the other runner on the high school squad. “I’ve been impressed so far with his work ethic in practice,” observed Lodes, in his 17th year as cross country coach at C-S.

Looking at the Jr. High squad, Blake Morrison returns as one of the top runners in the league last year as a 6th grader. Lodes feels the Panther seventh grader should have another strong season this year. “His goal is to be in the mix for the top spot. He has the talent to achieve that if he pushes himself in practice,” said the Panther coach.

Sixth grader Jaxon Marlowe is the other member of the Jr. High team.

By Bruce Rolfe

There will be a number of things Climax-Scotts varsity football coach Tyler Langs will be looking for his team to improve entering a September 7, 4 p.m. clash against Newberry at Gaylord St. Mary’s following a 32-24 loss to Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian August 29 in the season opener at NorthPointe Christian.

A reduction of turnovers will likely be at the top of the list.

C-S lost possession on three fumbles, threw one interception, and lost the ball another time when a NorthPointe player stripped the ball out of a C-S ball carrier’s hands. The Panthers also recovered two of their own fumbles.

Missed tackles and an aggressive pursuit to the ball are also areas Langs will like to see improvement in against Newberry.

“Trying to find some kids that can make some plays for us. At some point there can only be so many Xs and Os, or schemes. Somebody’s got to make a play. And so we’re hoping that somebody will step up and make some of those big plays for us at the right time,” said Langs.

C-S will be striving to reduce its mistakes against a Newberry team that dropped a 37-6 decision in its season opener to C-S’ 2004 state finals opponent Crystal Falls Forrest Park. Newberry finished with a 7-3 record last season and has qualified for the playoffs the last four years.

“A lot of our mistakes were senior led. The good news is, this group of seniors is a group of guys that will bounce back and take us into week two. It’s a hard working group so I expect nothing else,” adds the Panther coach.

While there were mistakes in other areas, C-S did move the ball well on some drives, finishing with 268 yards on the ground. Panther quarterback Logan Gilbert attempted two passes and both throws were incomplete.

The Panthers knotted the score 24-24 just three seconds into the fourth quarter when Luke Lawrence scored from the one-yard line and followed with the two-point conversion.

C-S seized momentum when Cole Curtis recovered a fumble on the kickoff following Lawrence’s touchdown on the NorthPointe Christian 37-yard line.

But the Panthers managed just a four yard pickup on a fourth and 12 play and the Mustangs started the deciding drive on their own 36-yard line with 9:41 left in the fourth quarter.

NorthPointe senior quarter Logan Hedlund skillfully led his team down field and he scored the deciding touchdown from the six-yard line with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Mustang senior then ran in the two-point conversion for the final score.

C-S was deprived of one final possession and attempt to tie the game when the Panthers fumbled and lost the ball on the kickoff following Hedlund’s score with 47 seconds left in the game. The Mustangs ran out the clock.

The Mustangs opened the scoring at the 8:54 mark when senior Caden Trathen scored on a one yard run. Jacob Brown ran in the two-point conversion and the Mustangs led by a 8-0 count after one quarter.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard when Luke Lawrence, who received a key block up front from Sam Bleeker, swept around the left side and scored on a 20-yard touchdown run with 8:14 left in the second quarter. Lawrence added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8.

The Mustangs responded with a touchdown 11 seconds later when Caden Trathen broke loose for a 61-yard burst at the 8:03 mark. Maverick Caudle scored on the two-point conversion, giving the home team a 16-8 halftime lead.

C-S answered when Jackson Bagwell scored on a 31-yard touchdown run with 5:49 left in the third quarter and Lawrence ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game again, this time at 16-16.

NorthPointe Christian captured the lead again with 3:56 left in the third frame when Trathen scored on a four-yard run. Hedlund ran in the two-point conversion, giving the Mustangs a 24-16 lead, setting up a thrilling fourth quarter.

Jackson Bagwell had 135 yards on 21 carries, while Lawrence added 83 yards on 14 carries to lead the C-S ground game.

NorthPointe had 244 yards rushing.

Gabe Walliczek and Lawrence each had nine tackles, Jackson Bagwell and Liam LaSala each had seven tackles and Chase VanMiddlesworth added five tackles.

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