By Terry Foster
WHMI.com

The ritual is the same following every Howell football victory. Highlanders coach Brian Lewis makes a mad dash from the 40-yard line and dives headfirst into a pile of celebrating players near the goal line.
That got delayed following Howell’s gritty 14-13 win over Brighton Friday night where for the second straight week victory was decided by the right-clubbed hand of linebacker Blocks Kish.
Following the game Lewis took his spot at the 40, but held up. Running back Arber Korkut and linebacker Alex Adam were being interviewed at midfield by a reporter from State Champs Network.
Lewis waited. He wanted his guys to get their props statewide.
These days, more eyes are on the Highlanders (7-0) who are ranked fourth in the Detroit News Division I state rankings and sixth in the Free Press. The Howell-Brighton game was the WXYZ Channel 7 Game of the Week. Channel 4 gave the game coverage as did old standby WHMI 93.5 FM.
There was even a pregame fly by from the United States Army.
After the interview, Lewis told his players to join their huddled teammates.
“I can’t jump without you two guys,” Lewis said.
The ritual began late, but had the same enthusiasm as celebrations in the past.
No man is left behind in Howell. They do everything as a team. Eat. Play. Jump. Camp. Celebrate. Block field goals.
When Kish blocked an extra point that would have tied the game, he said he could not have done it without his coaches and teammates encouraging him to make a big play. Running back Arber Korkut (94 yards on 17 carries and an interception) stepped in for injured Christian Farren, who has made a big impact in the running game this season.
Korkut credited his offensive line for his success.
When Howell’s offense is rolling as it was in the first half, it is 11 minds and bodies working as one. It can be a slow agonizing death for opponents. However, the Highlanders could not sustain it while facing a bitter rival for the second consecutive week.
The big men up front grew tired and that allowed Brighton (4-3) to slow Howell’s devastating Power T ground attack. It appeared Brighton was on the verge of tying the game at 14-14 when quarterback Dom D’Agosta fired a 59-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Ciponaer in the third quarter. However, the extra point was blocked by Kish and Howell maintained a 14-13 lead.
Last week Kish blocked an extra point in overtime to preserve a 28-27 victory over Hartland.
The near misses allowed the Highlanders to pack away knowledge and life lessons to use for the upcoming playoffs.
“Every play matters in Howell,” Lewis said.
Howell controlled the clock in the first half. It only had the ball twice, scoring once on a 12-play, 80-yard drive and then again on a 17-play, 75 yard drive with Korkut scoring on a two-yard dive with no time remaining that broke a 7-7 tie.
“He is phenomenal,” Kish said. “He proved he can do it as well as anyone.”