Fenton’s senior football class walked off the field Friday night with arms linked and frivolity and high jinks at a high pitch. They cracked jokes, smacked each other upside the head and enjoyed their final moments on their home field together.
Before taking this walk on the wild side, they walked all over backyard rival Holly in a Division III district semifinal game on Fenton’s home field. The 41-16 pounding sends Fenton on the road next weekend to face Mason (9-1), a team that has pimp slapped the Tigers by a combined score of 92-20 in their last two meetings.
Yet, the Tigers walked off the field with the belief that they can beat Mason, who throttled Dexter 45-21 in another district semifinal.
Why should this game be any different than the poundings of previous years? For one the Tigers have an exciting feature back in Landry LaFontaine who broke off touchdown runs of 68 and 33 yards in the first five minutes of the game.
Then he erupted for a 41-yard blast in the third quarter and ended his evening on a 45-yard touchdown reception from junior quarterback Rhys Shiel. Then there is Shiel, a converted wide receiver, who is taking over the starting quarterback duties from his brother Noah, who graduated last year.
And finally there is a senior offensive line that not only paves holes for LaFontaine and protects Shiel, but gets nasty if an opponent tries to rough up these valuable assets.
Don’t try it or “we will put them in the dirt,” lineman Zach Bujak said.
Fenton is doubted every year and hated every year, but seems to find itself in this position every year. There are always preseason worries about the Tigers.
Why?
This marked the Tigers fifth consecutive district semifinal where they hold a respectable 3-2 record. They have also won five consecutive Flint Metro League Stripes Division championships. This also marked the 19th consecutive victory over Holly, a group of guys who hate Fenton but can do nothing about it.
Holly has yet to win a playoff game mostly because Fenton often stands in the way of the Bronchos.
“It’s the consistency of our program year in and year out,” said Fenton coach Jeff Setzke. “The kids buy in to what we do. They are confident and this is what they are built for all year. To get this far.”
Holly came in with dangerous weapons. Pint-sized running back Braylon Krancevic rushed for over 100 yards and scored an early touchdown that gave Holly a brief 8-6 lead. Holly attempted to catch Fenton off guard with a game-opening onside kick.
But Fenton coaches anticipated the move “because they have nothing to lose.” The Tigers recovered the kick and LaFontaine scored two plays later.
“We just want it more,” LaFontaine said. “We got that grit and heart.”