No. 2 Colon vs No. 5 Climax-Scotts shows area is among state's best in 8-player football
It might go unnoticed by some, but some of the best football being played in this area is in the 8-player division.
State-ranked teams Colon and Climax-Scotts, along with defending league champion Tekonsha and Battle Creek's own St. Philip, are among the six programs playing in the 8-player division in the Enquirer coverage area.
Across the state, the number grows each year as 88 schools now play 8-player football in Michigan.
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"I say this all the time, 8-player football is here to stay. It is not going away and it's only going to get bigger," said Climax-Scotts head coach Tyler Langs. "It is a great option for smaller schools and it is what Class D football used to be 20 years ago.
"Yeah, the field might be smaller and there might be less players on the field, but it is still football. You still have to block, you still have to tackle."
Two of the best teams in 8-player Division 2 football will match up on Friday with No. 5 Climax-Scotts heading down to play No. 2 Colon.
Colon is in its fifth season playing 8-player football and has advanced to the state finals twice and won a state championship in 2019.
Climax-Scotts is in its fourth year of 8-player football and has been in the postseason, regardless of division, every year since 2003.
It is the second state-ranked team Colon will be facing in three weeks.
"We are in the thick of our schedule. Two weeks ago, we played Lenawee Christian, who hadn't lost a game since they went to 8-man three years ago and were ranked No. 1. We had a good game plan and we came out on top," Colon coach Robbie Hattan said. "This week we have Climax-Scotts and they are ranked in the top 10 just like us and they are having a heckuva season.
"They want to get back to winning conference championships like they used to. They are coming to knock us off, we have a target on our backs and they are coming to take the throne away from us, so we have to be ready for them."
Colon features two of the top players in the division with All-State quarterback Simon Vinson and All-State receiver Justin Wickey. Vinson, passed for 2,440 yards and 34 touchdowns last year and rushed for 1,155 yards and 22 more scores as he helped his team get to the state finals. Wickey already has 54 catches through five games this year with 1,022 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Climax-Scotts can counter with quarterback Daniel Matrau, who is a dual threat with 530 yards rushing and 410 passing as the Panthers feature a balanced attack that is scoring 44 points a game. C-S also spotlights senior running back Davey Cough and 6-foot-6 junior matchup problem Miles Shannon at receiver.
Following the game with Colon, Climax-Scotts will get its own shot against state-ranked Lenawee Christian in Week 8.
"There are a lot of good 8-player teams in this area," Langs said. "We are in a loaded league and we will be seeing some of the best teams in the state in the next few weeks. So I just got done telling our team the other night, they have to be ready."
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: No. 2 Colon vs No. 5 C-S a growing rivalry in 8-player football
