The Montague Wildcats will take their fifth trip to the home of the Lions on the season’s final weekend, with an opportunity to capture a State Championship. This afternoon, Montague dominated Grayling 49-14 to punch that ticket.
Grayling started the scoring with a three-yard touchdown by David Millikin. Montague would respond to even the first quarter scoring with a twenty-seven yard touchdown run by Dylan Everett.
In the second quarter, Montague created a lead. Dylan Everett’s second touchdown, a run of three yards, pushed the Wildcats in front by seven. They would extend their lead to fourteen when Drew Collins found Owen Petersen from thirteen yards out. Montague took this 21-7 edge into the locker room.
The third quarter saw Montague’s lead blossom to a level that could not be reached. Dylan Everett’s third touchdown got things going, as he rumbled into the end zone from fifteen yards out. Owen Petersen crossed the goal line for a second time, but this time, it was on defense. He stepped in front of a Grayling pass and ran sixty yards for an interception. At the end of the quarter, Drew Collins paired up with Andrew Kooi on a thirty-five yard passing play, moving the score to 42-7.
Zach Nelson scored Montague’s final touchdown on a short run in the fourth quarter. Although Grayling would tack on one touchdown to narrow the gap, it was not nearly enough.
Drew Collins finished 12/16 for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Tugg Nichols gained the most yards off of Collins’ passes (94), and he was tied by Andrew Kooi for the most receptions (three).
Dylan Everett finished the game with 100 yards and three touchdowns on eleven carries. Izac Jarka led Montague with ten tackles, and Owen Petersen had two interceptions to lead the defense.
Next Friday, Montague will take on Clinton in the Division 6 State Championship game. The Wildcats are 2-2 all-time in State Championship games. They lost in 1992 against Detroit St. Martin dePorres, topped Leslie in 2008, bested Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in 2009, and lost in their most recent trip against Jackson Lumen Christi in 2018. Clinton has been in two title games, falling to Ithaca in both 2013 and 2015.
