DeWitt football finds a way in season-opening victory over rival Haslett
ANN ARBOR − Rob Zimmerman had his concerns.
With his DeWitt football team losing a large portion of its offensive production from last season with standouts like Tyler Holtz, Tommy McIntosh, Bryce Debri and Nick Flegler all graduated, the veteran coach knew some young and inexperienced players would need to step up and limit mistakes if the Panthers were to continue their winning ways.
And that happened despite an effort that was far from their best.
Sophomore Abram Larner had the go-ahead touchdown run in the early stages of the fourth quarter to help DeWitt open its season with a 21-14 win over rival Haslett on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium as part of the Battle at the Big House.
The meeting was the first between the programs since both were part of the CAAC Red in 2017.
"We found a way to get it done and overcome 500 million mistakes that we made, so I give our kids credit from that standpoint." Zimmerman said. "We kept fighting. We just have to clean up the mental mistakes that we made."
Blake Haller had the other touchdown run and rushed for 103 yards for DeWitt, which is ranked No. 2 in Division 3 in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association's preseason poll. Haller and Larner were big components on offense and appear to be players the Panthers will turn to while replacing its graduated stars. Larner had 68 yards rushing and 40 yards receiving on four catches.
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Larner knows the Panthers have plenty to clean up offensively as it looks to the challenges ahead.
"Offense, I think we can do better mentally," Larner said. "If we put those pieces together, I think we can be pretty good and be pretty solid this season."
Defense delivers for Panthers
While the offensive showing was far from smooth, DeWitt had plenty to like from its defense. The Panthers got a defensive touchdown in the second quarter on a fumble return from Jonathan Warner that gave it a 14-7 lead into halftime.
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And the unit prevented Haslett from finding the end zone while giving the Panthers their 18th consecutive win in the rivalry. Both touchdowns for the Vikings came on special teams.
"I thought we played well defensively," Zimmerman said. "Their two scores were obviously off special teams and our poor coverage. Defensively we did a great job. We moved the ball extremely well offensively, too, but we just kept shooting ourselves in the foot with mistakes.
"Hopefully we grow up and our young guys learn from this and next week we execute a heck of a lot better."
"He's special'
Haslett showed plenty while giving itself an opportunity to knock off DeWitt for the first time since 2006. And junior Nakai Amachree was a big reason why the Vikings found themselves in a tight game with last year's Division 3 state runner-up.
Amachree opened the game by returning a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. He made another big play in the third quarter when he returned a punt 75 yards for a score, prompting plenty of shouts from the sidelines with someone on the Haslett sideline yelling, "He's special."
"It's really all my blockers to be honest," said Amachree, who said Thursday marked the first time he had returned a kick and a punt for a TD in the same game. "They were setting me good blocks and all I got to do behind them. It's easy when you got a good team that plays hard."
Haslett coach Brad Thomas said Amachree's opening score was a huge momentum swing and let the Vikings know it could hang with DeWitt.
"(He is) super explosive," Thomas said. "We knew if we get the ball in space with him, generally he's got the speed and can make one guy miss. He was able to do that. He was a huge spark on special teams. I'm proud of him for his effort. He did a helluva job."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: DeWitt football edges rival Haslett at Battle at the Big House
