A cold, driving rain did not stop the celebration between Fowlerville football players, their fans, family and military veterans that came to be honored on Military Appreciation Night at Fowlerville High School.
This moment, following a 47-14 home-opening win over Marshall was too special. It came a week after a close but no cigar eye-opening season opening 21-14 loss at Division 5 state runner up Corunna. And the celebration came after quarterback Wyatt Soli tossed three touchdown passes and ran for two more. It came after the Gladiators forced five turnovers and their tiny but relentless pass rush caused havoc for Marshall quarterback Austin Miller.
“We are not very big up front,” beamed coach Matt Copeland. “But we are fast, quick and relentless.”
Although Soli passed for 220 yards and manufactured five touchdowns this was hardly a one-man show. Fowlerville brought the heat from a number of people and from a number of angles. Junior Landon Aeschliman caught his first varsity touchdown pass and followed that up with his first varsity interception.
Cody Cruz blitzed a number of times and was part of a relentless defense and sack crew that made the Gladiators so deadly. Linebacker Brayden Packer could not be stopped from visits into the back field either.
Here is the dangerous thing for opponents. Aeschliman, Packer and Cruz are juniors and expected to return next season along with junior quarterback Sam Shrader, the younger brother of senior Will Shrader who is often the heart and soul of this team.
Fowlerville (1-1) hasn’t had a winning season since 2020, having gone 13-22 the previous four seasons. The revival began with a three-game winning streak at the end of the 2023 season that led to a spectacular game against Corunna.(2-0).
“Every player that comes through Fowlerville is special,” Copeland said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys who pick each other up and care about each other.”