Dominant run game leads to back-to-back titles for Jackson Lumen Christi

DETROIT,MI- The game of football has developed into a spread and air raid type of game. This was not the case for the Jackson Lumen Christi Titans as they stuck to the running game in their 40-34 victory over the Ithaca Yellowjackets in the MHSAA division 6 state title game.

The Titans rushed for 514 yards which is the third most in state finals history. Of the 514, 450 came between Sebastian Toland (244) and Kyle Minder (206).

Thunder and lightning backfield

The backfield duo of Toland and Minder was a dangerous one for the Titans as they had the perfect combo of a speed back and a power back.

Toland showed his speed and big play ability when he would break an 80 yard run that would end in a score.

“Toland is probably the fastest back we have probably faced and we have faced a lot of fast backs over the years,” Ithaca head coach Terry Hessbrook said.

Toland averaged 7.4 yards per carry for the game.

When Toland was not called upon it was Minder’s job to pick up the yardage.

When faced with a 4th and 1 less than a minute remaining in the game the Titans turned to Minder to pick up the first down and seal the game. Minder stepped up and gain two yards to seal the victory for the Titans.

“We knew all season that the strength of this team was our offensive line,” Jackson Lumen Christi coach Herb Brogan said. “I feel they really stepped up and took control of the line of scrimmage in the second half.”

Comeback falls short for Ithaca

Trailing 40 to 20 with 6:38 left in the game most teams would accept the fact that they lost the game. For Ithaca that was not an option.

“When you coach a team all you ask of them is for them to play as hard as they can possibly play and my kids do that,” Hessbrook said.

The Yellowjackets would storm back on the arm of Joey Bentley as he would find Colton Campbell for a 29 yard score and Adam Culp for a 17 yard score cutting the the Titan lead to six.

The Yellowjackets could not get a stop on 4th and 1 and the clock would run out on the comeback effort.

“I am sure glad the clock ran out when it did,” Brogan said, “They (Ithaca) are really explosive and our defense played well besides a few mistakes at the end.”

Historical significance

This game was coach Brogan’s 341st career victory and his eighth state title as the head coach at Jackson Lumen Christi. This was the Titans 10th state title as a program.

As for Ithaca this was their second lost in the state finals history, but only their third loss since 2010. For coach Hessbrook this is only his 20th career loss as the head coach at Ithaca.