COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Cardinal football team picked up one of its biggest wins in program history, defeating Jackson Lumen Christi for the first time ever in 28 attempts by a score of 26-7 in front of an overflow Homecoming crowd Friday night at Cardinal Field. Although Coldwater never trailed, they took a shaky 12-7 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to three fumbles, only one of which the Titans were able to convert into a score. The Cardinal defense pitched a shutout in the second half to help keep Coldwater undefeated on the season at 6-0 overall, and in sole possession of first place in the Interstate 8 at 5-0. Sam DeMeester was Coldwater’s leading rusher, with 20 carries for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. Spencer Burns had 7 carries for 130 yards and a score, and quarterback Luke Beckhusen had 6 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. Our McDonald’s Players of the Game were the boys who make Coldwater’s wing-T offense work – starting offensive linemen Colin Klein, Jordan Weaver, Dominick Clark, Baylee Hoag, and Brayton Rzepka, along with tight ends Brandon Lewis and Jake Beckhusen. Jesse Miller had a game-high 13 tackles to lead the Cardinal defense, while Luke Beckhusen added 10.
Congratulations go out to Nolan Duda and Amanda Daoud, who were named Coldwater Homecoming King and Queen, respectively, at halftime.
Last year, Quincy claimed the Victory Bell, symbol of the Orioles’ rivalry with the Reading Rangers, for the first time in 8 years. Last night, the Rangers reclaimed the Bell. Quincy’s second-half comeback attempt fell short in a 16-14 loss at Reading, dropping the Orioles to 3-3 overall, 2-3 in the Big 8.
Union City also fell to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big 8 after losing a shootout at Jonesville, 54-42, on Homecoming night for the Comets. Austin Mosher had 6 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers, while Thomas Anderson had 2 receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown from 16 yards out along with two kickoff returns of 81 and 90 yards for touchdowns. Brandon Powell led the defense with 13 tackles.
Bronson is still looking for its first win against Mendon since 2006, as the Hornets beat the visiting Vikings 42-6. Bronson’s lone score came in the third quarter, on a 25-yard pass from Noah Roberts to Mykal Kline. Noah Roberts finished the night 6-for-17 passing for 64 yards and the score, while Kyle Roberts had 5 carries for 40 yards and Kline had 2 receptions for 25 yards. The Vikings drop to 2-4 overall, 1-1 in the BCS Red Division.
In 8-man football, Tekonsha lost at undefeated Waldron 64-28. The Indians are now 2-4 overall, 0-2 in the Southern Michigan 8-Man Football League.
Coldwater’s boys tennis team won the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament played at Lumen Christi and Parma Western. Western took second place, while Harper Creek finished third. The Cardinals took first in six flights: Nate Waterbury at #2 singles, Kumaran Arivoli at #3 singles, Porter Skidmore at #4 singles, Nolan Duda and Austin Butler at #1 doubles, Shane O’Grady and Kameron Miller at #2 doubles, and Evan Henry and Mitchell Duda at #4 doubles. Javier Perez-Marsa finished runner-up at #1 singles, behind his counterpart from Charlotte, while the #3 doubles team of Nick Galliers and Christian Pine finished third.
On today’s schedule: in volleyball, Coldwater is at the Harper Creek Invitational, Bronson hosts its annual Polish Classic Tournament, and Union City is at the Concord Invitational, while Coldwater’s JV team hosts its annual Lady Cardinal JV Invitational. In boys soccer, Quincy hosts an invitational tournament with Blissfield and Bellevue among the teams competing. In cross country, Coldwater and Bronson run at the Otsego Bulldog Invitational. And in boys tennis, Bronson is at the BCS Tournament at Bridgman.
