Noah Shiels was the quarterback.
Twin brother Rory the star wide receiver.
Combined, they were nearly unstoppable and helped define what Fenton Tigers football was all about. Their run is over with Fenton football. The next stop is the baseball fields next spring and then Hope College.
They have yet to decide whether to play baseball or football there.
After the loss to DeWitt head coach Jeff Setzke asked under classmen to shake hands with seniors to thank them for setting a good foundation for the program. Fenton is 29-14 the last four years and has won its last 18 games in the Flint Metro League Stripes Division. The Tigers were 15-7 overall, 10-0 in league play the last two seasons.
Setzke believes the best is yet to come. Noah Shiel agrees.
“This program will never go away,” Noah Shiel said after the DeWitt loss. “Coach Setzke and the other coaches, they are all great coaches. We are looking to make a run.”
Fenton has plenty returning next season, especially on the offensive line. The Tigers should be led by All Conference linemen Owen Raymond, Cooper Ford and Hunter Anderson. Noah Shiels’ second favorite target Landon Becker also returns at wide receiver along with running back Landry LaFontaine.
Younger brother Rhys was an All-Conference kicker as a sophomore, but he could replace Noah at quarterback or Rory at wide receiver and defensive back.
Each of the younger classmen marched by Noah to pay their respects. It meant a lot to him.
“I hope I inspired a lot of young kids,” Noah said. “At the end of the day I wanted to win a state championship. I’m mad, you know. But just being inspiring to the younger kids coming up. Passing along the banner and I hope they can inspire others to be great.”