Running backs Levi Curtin, Justin Jones and Aiden Horvath gather most of the headlines and pats on the back around Howell High School.
They are the men that churn for all the tough yards and bone crunching touchdowns. However, the captains of this ship are the bruisers on the offensive line. The men in the trenches are the ones who pound on the opposition for every play and in every way.
Howell rarely passes the ball. The Highlanders often go for it in fourth down, no matter the place on the field or the place on the time clock.
Guys like Chris Ogden, Jack Schaufele, Bobby Kanka, Will Stewart and Brody Stack are leading men who stand in the background on the offensive line. They played their best game of the season Friday night, powering Howell to a stunning and well-deserved 43-7 victory over Brighton (4-4) for the battle of the Little Brown Jug.
It was the road team’s fourth straight win in this series and sixth in the last eight outings.
It’s been a tough road for Howell (3-5) this season. Injuries crippled the team. The Highlanders often played with third and fourth string quarterbacks. Sometimes when the engine began to hum turnovers shut things down.
That was not the case against Brighton. Howell did not turn the ball over. The Bulldog coughed it up six times (three interceptions, one fumble and twice on downs). That was the story of this game that finished in a steady rain and with armed police patrolling atop the press box to ensure no attacks on this Brighton homecoming crowd in the aftermath of the terrorists’ attacks in Israel.
“At Howell. They (the offensive linemen) are not unsung,” said Howell coach Brian Lewis. “We let them know that. They are the engine that runs the ship. They are the motor. They are the ones that get it done. They are the pistons, the whole deal. Those guys, we treat them well because they are the deal.”
Howell earns its living the hard way. The Highlanders pound, pound and pound again. Justin Jones was the main beneficiary, rushing for 227 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns. The men who called the game for WHMI 93.5 FM called it a stunner.
Lewis joked afterwards: “What do you mean?”
He mentioned the adversity this team went through this season and begged his players to remember this moment.
“This is a moment I will remember the rest of my life,” Jones said.
So will Curtin who returned to action for the first time since he broke his ankle and dislocated his foot in the season-opening game against Hudsonville. He rushed for two touchdowns and churned for 75 yards on 12 carries.
Defensively Gavin Nastewski and Kanka punished Brighton’s offense line and placed heat on Bulldog quarterback Grant Heatherton. He threw three interceptions, often under duress. They were the setup men for Jesse Klasko, Gavigan Walraven and Jones (two) who all had interceptions.
“You deserved this,” Lewis told his team after the game. “Remember all the adversity, the hardship. Remember the people who battled through.
“We got a little tougher each time. It scars you. Like I said the greatest warriors got scars man. That is how they became great. Looked what happened tonight. We put it all together. What a butt whupping.”
The Warriors cheer and had a good night.