Page 26 - SFM DEC 2019 .indd

Those Who Stay… by Matt Fields

“Those who stay will be champions”. Those famous words by legendary Michigan Wol-
verine football coach Bo Schembechler can sometimes be hard to believe, especially in the
face of adversity. Those words rang true for fifteen Kingston Cardinal football players. Hav-
ing nearly forty players between JV and varsity the previous two years, head varsity football
coach Brandon Jones was alarmed when only eighteen total players showed up on the first
practice. “If I said that I wasn’t a little frazzled and concerned that first night of practice, I
would be lying - Coach Jones”

“Championships” were really in question after dropping their season opening game 42-0
to the defending state champions, Morrice. The numbers continued to drop and only fifteen
players remained, many of whom were freshmen and sophomores. The Cardinals would
have to rely heavily on their seven seniors. Great teams though, have a resilience to adver-
sity.

The Cardinals were able to find their identity as a downhill, power I running team be-
hind TSA Thumb Lineman of the Year Tristen Skinner, and a pair of 1000 yard rushers in
Jake DeLong and Caleb Goss. This physical brand of football allowed Kingston to rip off 6
straight wins, and climb from a fifth place league ranking in the TSA to third place. Coach
Jones noted “I felt like week 5 at North Huron was when we really turned the corner”. The
Cardinals dropped the next game to league rival Deckerville 34-42, but were able to bounce
back and knock off second ranked Mayville 40-22. This decisive win earned home field play-
off advantage against Mesick whom the Cardinals disposed of in convincing fashion, 58-22.
The Cardinals now had to travel north to face a 9-1 Mio team that boasted a dynamic pass-
ing attack, something the Cardinals struggled to defend throughout the season. After trail-
ing for 47 minutes and 57 seconds, the Cardinals fought their way into the Mio red zone to
setup a potential walk-off winning score in the final seconds. Coach Jones had his team
prepared and called an unusual spread offense formation that allowed guard, Caleb Goss,
to be an eligible receiver. Quarterback Aaron Koehler was able to convert the pass to Goss
as time expired and the Kingston fans stormed the field to celebrate with their Cardinals in
a thrilling 50-48 regional championship victory. “I could coach for 40 more years, and prob-
ably will never get to experience a finish like the one at Mio” - Coach Jones.

All fairy tale seasons must come to an end, and for the Cardinals, that end came in the
state semi-final game against Suttons Bay. Following the game, you did not see players
hanging their heads. You saw a group of fifteen young men walk out of the locker room, with
a season full of memories that will last a lifetime, and an unbreakable bond between team-
mates that stuck together through adversity, and went home as champions.

Your Local Family
Healthcare Team

Jabir Akhtar, MD
Board Certified Family Medicine
Kari Beth-Hinderliter, MSN, FNP-BC
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Schedule Your Annual Wellness Visit!

Call 989-683-2221

ma5rl9e8tt8erSetagitoenSatlrheoestp, iKtainl.ogrsgton, MI

26 • Sports Finest Magazine DEC 2019 sportsfinestMagzine.com 989 545 0735 kelly@sportsfinestmagazine.com