Most of the attention this week goes to the big showdown game between Brighton (7-0 overall, 5-1 in the KLAA) who travels to Howell (7-0, 6-0) for the right to represent the KLAA West Division in the KLAA championship game.
However, the third member of this Livingston County trio of rivals promises to make noise again next season. Hartland (2-5) is on a three-game losing skid with double digit losses to Brighton and Howell. However, the future looks bright.
Junior quarterback Michael Elliot took over the starting job last week against Northville where he passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was another junior, who is expected to return – wide receiver Parker Sundman who caught six passes for 80 yards.
Sundman is also one of the top basketball players in Livingston County.
The other good news is a junior varsity team that failed to win a game as freshmen is unbeaten and ready to join the varsity squad next season.
I don’t like to brag (well actually I do) but I picked Howell and Brighton to play for all the marbles before the season began. Maybe next year it might be Brighton and Hartland or Howell and Hartland fighting for the crown.
“I think we are in a pretty good spot,” Hartland coach Thomas Stevenson said.
It also looks like Hartland might send another kicker to Division I football. Nathan Dibert kicks for LSU. Hartland junior Alex Hernandez lined up for a school record 54 yard field goal against Northville but sent the ball wide left and a few feet short. Stevenson said he won’t hesitate to send Hernandez out for anything that is 53 yards and in.
Additionally junior linebacker Jack Lansing leads the county in tackles (59) and should be back along with sophomore wide receiver Coen Chwalek (17 catches, 220 yards and two touchdowns).