Fenton coach Jeff Setzke ran through the usual check list of things to do as he gathered his team for one last meeting after a very satisfying 40-32 victory over cross freeway rival Linden Friday night at Fenton Stadium.
He wanted his boys to be safe, smart and to remain healthy as they embark on the rest of the football season. Fenton (5-1 overall, 4-0 in the Flint Metro League, Stripes Division) still has a lot of work to do after its biggest win of the year.
Fenton's next opponent Flushing (2-4) does not have a stellar record, but he warned his Tigers that this is a dangerous homecoming opponent. Flushing has plastered 112 points on the score board in consecutive wins over Holly and Swartz Creek.
Before that Flushing took Linden down to the wire before losing 26-21.
“They are coming in here which could be a good thing or a bad thing,” Setzke told his players. “It’s a bad thing for them if you are focused and understand what is at stake. Every win gives you a home playoff game. Keep that in mind.”
Then Setzke turned from mild-mannered coach to wild and crazy guy.
“But enjoy this because you JUST BEAT LINDEN,” he screamed.
The thunder in his voice and the cheers from players told the story of this win. Beating Linden is season altering but it is not season defining. There is more work to be done after this explosion of offense before a packed and entertained crowd.
Blazing Fenton wide receiver Kristian Kilpatrick said the key to the win came on defense. Don’t laugh. Although the teams combined for 72 points and more than 700 yards of offense Fenton’s Charles Weddle and Philip Lamka made key interceptions during Fenton’s fourth quarter rally to keep Linen at bay.
“I think our defense played outstanding,” said Kilpatrick who scored two touchdowns and made a number of clutch catches while outstanding wide out Ja’Hion Bond battled second half leg cramps. “You have to understand that they have a very explosive offense over there.”
The magic number for Fenton is 14. That is the number of games required to win the conference title and a state championship. They are lofty goals but anything is possible. The win over Linden assured that Fenton at least a share of the Stripes Division crown and assured it will face Corunna (6-0) winners of the Stars Division in the Flint Metro League championship game in two weeks.
Corunna will be favorite, however, this game won’t be easy. Fenton averages 39 points a game and has scored 40 points or more in its last four games.
The Linden win came with a bit of early game drama. Linden jumped to an early 14-0 lead, but Fenton somehow prevented the demons of last season’s 35-7 loss from Linden from creeping inside their heads. It had been outscored 49-7 in five quarters of football against Linden but began to get its sea legs on two long touchdown passes from quarterback Noah Dotson to Bond.
Dotson tossed five touchdown passes in total.
“This group of kids are really resilient,” Setzke said. “They know what they are capable of. We really thought (Linden) had some match ups that would be difficult for us and we had math ups we could take advantage of.”