www.mybaycity.com November 8, 2008
Sports Article 3260

Cougars Capture District Title Over Mio 34-30

All Saints wins in the longest 43 seconds ever!

November 8, 2008
By: Kevin Kula




2008 District Champions Bay City All Saints!
(MyBayCity Photos by Kevin Kula)

"The Eye of the Tiger", that's what the All Saints Cougars would need to win their clash with the Mio Thunderbolts. The Cougars won the coin toss, but decided to start out the night with their seasoned defense. The Cougar defenders took up their positions without question, each one ready to defend their home field, and keep their dreams of winning the coveted District title.

As it would turn out, the Cougars wouldn't be on defense for long. On the second play of the Thunderbolts drive the ball was intercepted by none other than #85 BJ Weaver.




BJ Weaver with this interception set the tone of the 1st quarter.

With the ball back in Cougar hands, it was time to do some damage; and who better to do that damage than #24 Aaron Janer? Once the Cougars pushed the ball up to the second yard line, it was an elementary task for Janer to score the first touchdown of the night. Seconds later #32 "Brettman" Campbell tacked on the extra points to give the Cougars the upper hand 7-0.



Supertoe Brett Campbell tacks on the PAT.


With the momentum building for All Saints, the Cougar defenders hit the field with everything they had. After quickly shutting down the Thunderbolts stunned offense the Cougars were back on offense.




The Janer Brothers, Aaron and Drew keep this Mio ball carrier from going anywhere.

Thanks to some decisive first downs the Cougars would force the ball back towards the goal line. Less than two minutes after scoring his last touchdown, Aaron Janer smashed through the Bolts defensive line and rushed 38 yards to add another 6 points to the Cougars early lead. Once Campbell added another point on with a flawless kick the Cougars held the initiative and the lead 14-0.




Kevin Bisel gets a Cougar First Down!



It's another Janer TOUCHDOWN!

But the determined Thunderbolts weren't about to go down without a fight. Mio turned up the heat and worked the ball slowly deep into Cougar territory. The Thunderbolts would push the ball to the sixth yard line before the first quarter would expire.



Mio's QB M. Kososky on the keeper gets brought down by Cougar #33 Drew Janer.

The second quarter started off on a sour note for the Cougars when the Thunderbolts added their first touchdown to the board. After a successful two-point-conversion the Cougars would cling to a six point lead 14-8.




The Bolts M. Kososky scores.

Unfortunately the Cougars let their early momentum slip away, and would lose the ball on downs to put the ball back into Thunderbolt hands. The Bolts would move the ball down the field and slam in another touchdown and two-point-conversion to take the lead 16-14.

The Cougar offense fought relentlessly to score another touchdown, but the Thunderbolts' defenders held firm and forced the Cougars to give the ball up on downs. For the remainder of the first half, the Bolts would force the ball back down the field to the Cougar's 10 yard line where they were finally stopped by the Cougar defense and the clock. Despite not connecting on another touchdown, the Thunderbolts held the lead at the end of the first half, 16-14.



Cougars Sutton and Bisel team up to bring down Kososky.

Once the halftime break was over, the Bolts would kick off the ball to the Cougars who would start out their drive back in their own territory. Key 1st downs by the Cougars advanced the ball down the field, and at the six yard line Mio's defense broke and allowed #11 Kevin Bisel to recapture the lead for All Saints with a touchdown. Rather than kick another extra point, the Cougars decided to go for a two-point-conversion. QB Josh Sutton would punch in the extra two points to make the score 22-16 with little under nine minutes to go in the third.



Senior Kevin Bisel scores!

From there the Cougars owned the third quarter. Easily shutting down the Thunderbolts' offensive attacks, the Cougars brushed them off and retook possession of the ball. After successfully moving the ball down the field, it was #11 Bisel who again scored another Cougar touchdown, this time from the four yard line. With the score now 28-16 the Cougars were looking pretty good, but the night was far from over.



Yet another Bisel Touchdown!

The fourth quarter was a nightmarishly long, yet Aaron Janer would say later that he thought the Cougars played "really intense in the fourth". It's a good thing they did because the Cougars literally were only seconds away from defeat, more than once.




Aaron Janer shows his intensity!

Despite the Cougars' stubborn defense, the Thunderbolts managed to get the ball to the goal line with several passes and some well executed plays. The Thunderbolts would score a touchdown and another killer two-point-conversion to keep them in the game 28-24.

The Cougars went to work on offense trying to wear down the clock on the Bolts, but with nearly three minutes left on the clock it was up to the Cougar defenders to hold off the desperate Thunderbolts. Despite the Cougar defensemen's best efforts the Bolts were finally able to score the knockout touchdown.

Down by two points, with only 43 seconds left in the game most fans would have given up hope and went home, but the All Saints fans aren't "most fans". Despite the daunting task at hand, everyone was on their feet cheering on the Cougars, who refused to give up.



Cheering Cougar Fans!!

In their most defining moment of the 2008 season, the Cougars fought back. On the second play of the Cougars desperate drive, Josh Sutton threw the pass of his life 50 yards down field where it was caught by Aaron Janer who ran it in for the most incredible touchdown of the season. While most All Saints fans screamed "go Janer!", others were simply speechless; but what is certain is that everyone there to witness that play will ever forget it.

Below: All Saints Senior Aaron Janer easily the Cougars MVP of the night! .(Left) Janer open...(Right)...and smiles after his winning Touchdown.



Sadly the Cougars weren't out of the woods yet. There were still 20 nail-biting seconds left, and Mio was going to use them. Passing the ball deep down the field, the Thunderbolts reach the ten yard line with 5 seconds to go. The Cougars dream of the District Title hinged on this next play. The Thunderbolts passed the ball to the end zone where it was broken up by #85 BJ Weaver. To the cheers from their fans, the Cougars achieved the most memorable victory of this season over Mio 34-30.



The Scoreboard behind #54 Bryce Wilcox tells spells Victory for the Cougars!

Coach Bisel would admit that they "underestimated them (the Thunderbolts)", and that the Cougars "were fortunate" to pull off their win. The star of this epic game; Aaron Janer, would say the game was "the most exhilarating game I've ever played in"!

The Cougars are now District Champs and will travel next Saturday to take on Frankfort in the Regionals.



Lift that District Trophy high!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Fans (including Juniors Julie Spyhalski and Stephine Herman) celebrate this big victory!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Coach Herek gets the victory shower!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




ASC Quarterback Josh Sutton lead his team to the District Championship.

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Bryce Wilcox, Justin Gielda (Seniors) and Jacob Lesniak (Junior) know who's #1 in Bay City!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




All Saints Seniors with that District Trophy. (Front: Mario Walker,Josh Sutton, Drew Bauer Back: Brett Campbell, Kevin Bisel,Aaron Janer, BJ Weaver).

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)



Below: (Left) BJ Weaver makes off with the Trophy! (Right) Aaron Janer shows off the prize!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)










What would we do without Supertoe "Brettman" Campbell?!?!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Justin Mika, Justin Gielda, Drew Bauer and Bryce Wilcox show off the hardware!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Principal and Athletic Director JB Watters awards Brett Campbell his District Medal.

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




These are some really happy guys!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Coach Jeff Bisel with Aaron Janer and Josh Sutton!

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)




Even I get my hands on the Trophy!

(MyBayCity Photo by Bryce Wilcox)

Hope to see all you crazy Cougars fans next week for the Regional Finals! If not be sure to check here at MyBayCity.com for the very best coverage of All Saints Football!



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