Howell coach Brian Lewis tried to warn anybody who’d listen that Friday’s opponent – Traverse City West – was a dangerous team that is going to enjoy a nice season.
So, it did not surprise him that Howell was forced to make spine tingling offensive plays to the very end of a gut wrenching 49-35 non-league home victory Friday night over the Titans. He wasn’t shocked to see West junior quarterback Brayden Tillman, a Jayden Daniel clone, blitz his team for 207 yards passing and four touchdowns. He ran for another185 yards on the ground.
“I tried to tell everyone,” Lewis said. “They are well coached, came in with a great game plan. They were terrific.:”
There was a whole lot of terrific on both sides of the ball. Howell running back Bryce Kish ran for 146 yards and two second half touchdowns as the Highlanders offensive line wore down Traverse City’s defensive front.
Kish clinched the victory with a five-yard touchdown run with 1:01 remaining in the game. Linebacker Alex Adam defensive end Walker Weiss finally finished off the elusive Tillman with sacks in the final minute of the game.
Kish was part of a critical stretch in the third quarter. Howell faced a fourth and two play at its own 38-yard line. Kish ran the ball for three yards and a first down. On the next play he broke a run of 48 yards to the Traverse City one-yard line.
His one-yard dive with 0:35 remaining gave Howell a 35-21 lead. A minute into the fourth quarter Tillman found Aiden Jacobs for a 35-yard touchdown to slice the lead to 35-28. By then West had no answer for Howell’s running attack as the teams exchanged scores.
Tillman is special. He alluded Howell’s pass rush, broke to the outside and either ran for first downs or found his favorite receiver Aiden Jacobs open down field. On defense West linebacker Robert Councilor snuck into Howell’s back field a little too often – especially in the first half.
The Highlanders were also frustrated on special teams. Traverse City kick returner Sawyer Kirschner was a threat every time he touched the ball. Most of his returns went to at least the 40-yard line.
“I told my guys that they are going to get everybody’s best this season,” Lewis said.
Teams want to go big-game hunting against a Highlander team that is 21-3 over the last two seasons and are looking to three-peat in the grand so-long of the KLAA. Howell is also ranked fifth in Division I by the Detroit Free Press and is anchored by the number seven player in the state in Kish.
Howell wants to win a state championship. There are 10 remaining opponents who want to make sure that does not happen.
The triple option offense won this game. West could not stop it even though one of its starters – Christian Farren was a late scratch after being injured in a scrimmage. Arber Korkut got the call and responded with 87 yards rushing.
Howell wins by punishing opponents and often goes entire games without passing the ball. They became “Air Highlanders” by passing the ball three times. Quarterback Palmer VanDeven was 3-for-3 passing for 56 yards and two touchdowns.
“I would say we are terrific,” Kish said. “We have a whole lot to clean up though.”