FRANKFORT -- Lockhart Field was operating with reduced power Friday night.
It didn't affect the Frankfort offense, though.
The Panthers scored on their first six possessions en route to a 42-30 win over Manistee Catholic in a Division 8 district football final.
It was Frankfort's seventh consecutive district title.
"It feels great." Panther quarterback Dan Nugent said. "We came into the season under the radar, but we definitely felt we had the pieces to make a good run. And I feel like we've still got a lot left in us."
Frankfort (9-2) will travel to Johannesburg-Lewiston (10-1) next weekend in the regional final.
A year ago, the Panthers beat Bay City All Saints for the regional crown before losing to Crystal Falls Forest Park in the semifinals.
Frankfort was hit hard by graduation, and that made Friday night's win even sweeter for coach Matt Stapleton.
"Any time you graduate nine starters on both sides of the ball, there's a lot of question marks," Stapleton said. "All year long we've been trying to find an identity and get some consistency. I think we're playing our best ball at the right time. We're peaking in the playoffs and our guys are really starting to play together. To win a seventh straight district title, I couldn't be prouder. These guys put in the time and the effort. It's their turn."
Nugent, who played halfback last season, was one of the few experienced players returning.
"We feel like we're in the history books now," he said. "We got this (district) done. The seniors have definitely stepped up. We had some big roles to fill, but I feel we've done a great job so far. And, like I said, I don't feel like we're done yet."
Frankfort led 28-6 at half, then held off a determined Sabers squad in a high-scoring second half.
"We've got scrappy kids," Manistee Catholic coach Dave Russell said. "They came back (in the second half) and played well.
"Coach Stapleton runs a class program. But at the same time I'm very proud of our kids."
Frankfort kept the ball on the ground Friday, only attempting three passes. The Panthers finished with 299 rushing yards in 47 attempts. Poom Hang led the attack with 107 yards on 19 carries. Nugent added 85 yards and Nick Tondu 75. Nugent scored three touchdowns, Hang two and Tondu one.
Hang's 25-yard scamper on the opening drive gave the Panthers a quick 7-0 lead.
Frankfort then took advantage of a high snap that was mishandled on a Catholic punt attempt, giving the Panthers the ball at the Sabers 40. Nugent capped the drive with a one-yard scoring run.
That was the first of four relatively short scoring drives -- 40, 39, 54 and 46 yards -- for the Panthers.
Catholic got on the board late in the first quarter on a 65-yard march. Nick Doyle scored from a yard out.
Frankfort came right back. Nugent hit Alex Hallan on a 54-yard pass -- his only completion of the night -- to setup a third Panther score. Hang took it in from seven yards.
Following a short Sabers punt into the wind, Frankfort went 39 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-6 at the break.
The teams swapped touchdowns throughout the second half, but the Sabers could get no closer than 12.
Catholic finished with 232 yards on the ground. Nick Kolanowski led the way with 100 yards in 16 carries, Nick Niesen added 69 in five attempts and Doyle 66 in 18 trips. In the second half, Kolanowski scored on a one-yard run, quarterback Garrett Owens connected with Nathan Miller on a 40-yard touchdown strike and Doyle ran in his second score of the game.
Frankfort, keeping the ball on the ground, countered with touchdowns on its first two possessions, then fumbled trying to run out the clock late.
"We're pretty boring to watch sometimes because we like to grind it out," Stapleton said. "Tonight what we needed to do was control the ball and minimize our mistakes. Up until that last drive we finished every drive. That was our goal -- keep it on the ground, keep the clock moving, keep it out their hands because they have a dangerous team."
It was hard to keep track of time because a transformer went out, knocking out power to the scoreboards and press box.
Nonetheless, Stapleton was glad to walk away a winner.
"Coach Russell does a great job with those kids," he said. "They have 58 kids (in the school). It's a great example for all schools. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the fight in the dog. Those kids showed up. They played their hearts out."
Nugent agreed.
"My heart goes out to those guys," he said. "They worked hard all season and they deserved to be here, but luckily we're moving on."
Nugent said the Panthers will need to pick it up defensively next week.
"Our defense has to step it up a little more if we want to continue this run," he said.
Print this story
E-mail this story
