HORTON, MI (WTVB) – An improbable 70-yard touchdown pass and a 66-yard interception return for a score, all in the final minute of regulation, allowed the Hanover-Horton Comets to snatch a 20-12 victory away from the visiting Bronson Vikings in an MHSAA Division 7 Football District Final Friday night.
The Comets got on the board first, on an 85-yard pick-six by Austyn Hocter that ended Bronson’s first drive. The Vikings tied the game late in the second quarter on a 39-yard pass from Spencer Losinski to Dalton Hoard. Losinski’s one-yard quarterback keeper on the first drive of the third quarter gave Bronson a 12-6 lead that held until the final minute of the game.
The Vikings had pinned Hanover-Horton at their own 5-yard line following a punt with 1:53 left. The Comets inserted Hocter at quarterback; he completed a 10-yard pass for a first down, followed by two incompletions. On 3rd and 10, Bronson was called for pass interference, putting the ball at the Comet 30. Hocter, facing pressure from the defense, threw a desperation heave down the right sideline to an open Kolin Griffiths, who somehow was able to weave his way through the secondary for a 70-yard score to tie the game. The Comets brought back their starting QB, Devin Bevier, for the 2-point conversion try. Bevier, who had not attempted a pass all evening, found AJ Fielder in the end zone to gave Hanover-Horton a 2-point advantage with 58 seconds left.
On the ensuing kickoff, Aiden Whittaker had a 28-yard return to put the ball on the Viking 48. Losinski threw two incomplete passes, then was intercepted by Hocter for the second time; his 66-yard pick-six with 14 seconds left sealed the deal for Hanover-Horton, who won their first District title in program history.
The Vikings outplayed the Comets throughout most of the game, as Bronson had 17 first downs compared to Hanover-Horton’s 7. Bronson also finished with a 113-32 edge in rushing yards and a 271-112 advantage in total yards. But the Comet pass defense was able to force Losinski to throw four interceptions.
Losinski finished 13/28 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown; he also had 8 carries for a net of 7 yards and a rushing score. Reid Stukey led the ground game with 14 carries for 59 yards. Devin Stuart had 4 catches for 59 yards, and Dalton Hoard had 3 receptions for 56 yards and a score. Aiden Whittaker had 120 all-purpose yards, finishing with 9 carries for 45 yards, 4 receptions for 24 yards, and 2 kickoff returns for 51 yards. Caleb Harvey led the defense with 8 tackles, 4 for loss, while Karsen Scare had 7 tackles.
Bronson concluded the season with am 8-3 record. Hanover-Horton improved to 9-2 and will host Schoolcraft next week in a Division 7 Regional Final. The Eagles advanced by blanking Lawton 26-0.
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OTHER DISTRICT FINAL (& 8-PLAYER REGIONAL FINAL) SCORES
Division 2
- R1-D2: Portage Central 34, Byron Center 7
Division 3
- R2-D1: Zeeland West 48, St Joseph 24
- R2-D2: Lowell 28, Thornapple Kellogg 21
Division 4
- R2-D1: Portland 28, Grand Rapids Christian 0
- R2-D2: Vicksburg 21, Three Rivers 17
Division 5
- R2-D2: Kalamazoo United 21, Berrien Springs 6
- R3-D1: Michigan Center 35, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 18
Division 6
- R3-D1 Jackson Lumen Christi 44, Napoleon 0
Division 7
- R3-D1: Schoolcraft 26, Lawton 0
- R3-D2: Hanover-Horton 20, Bronson 12
Division 8
- R3-D1: Hudson 50, White Pigeon 20
- R3-D2: Springport 35, New Lothrop 13
8-Player Division 1
- R3: Martin 36, Climax-Scotts 20
8-Player Division 2
- R3: Mendon (10-0) at Portland St Patrick (10-0), 3 p.m. Saturday at Portland HS
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