Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

By Dan Ward

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go

So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why

It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

Senior Night is always a little different. There’s football to be played, but there’s also a chance to stop for a minute and recognize the seniors who have put so much into their teams, their school, and their community. Friday night, the St. Johns Redwings did both, rolling past the Ypsilanti Lincoln Railsplitters 47-9 in front of a home crowd ready to celebrate.

The fall chill was in the air, the stands were full, and the Redwings gave their fans plenty to cheer about. The win also punched their ticket to the playoffs for the third straight year. For the seniors, it was one more chance to take the home field together before the season moves into its next chapter. And for everyone in the stands, it was a reminder that these Friday nights don’t last forever.

Ypsilanti Lincoln Stats

Hot Dog Report

This might be my last home-field hot dog report of the season, so I wasn’t taking any chances: one hot dog and one brat. Once again, the home team came through.

Rating: 5/5. A strong finish to the home-field hot dog season!

Pre-Game

Redwing captains Ian Smith, Lukas Payment, Archer Gurski, and Conner Kurncz headed out for the coin toss. Lincoln won the toss and elected to receive.

Then came the Senior Night introductions. These are the players and cheerleaders who’ve put in the time, made the memories, and helped represent St. Johns. Before the final home game of the regular season, it was their turn to take center stage.

Senior Football Players

• #77 Merlin McNitt: Merlin plans to enter an apprenticeship and become an electrician.
• #74 Gage Rejewski: Gage plans to pursue a career as a firefighter.
• #72 Nathan Hatfield: Nathan plans to work in construction after graduation.
• #65 Bryce Foster: Bryce plans to become a social studies teacher.
• #60 Corwin Sheidler: Corwin plans to attend trade school and become a carpenter.
• #58 Lukas Payment: Lukas plans to study business or sports management while continuing to play football.
• #23 Dru Robertson: Dru plans to make money and have fun after high school.
• #12 Conner Kurncz: Conner plans to attend college, study business, and play football.
• #6 Ian Smith: Ian plans to attend Michigan State University and study mechanical engineering.
• #5 Cody Carn: Cody plans to enter the workforce after graduation.
• #2 Myles Jones: Myles plans to study business at either Central Michigan University or Michigan State University.
• #0 Alex Oberlin: Alex plans to study finance and become a financial advisor.

Senior Cheerleaders

• Amaria Cobb: Amaria plans to pursue a career in early childhood education.
• Harper Grams: Harper plans to attend college and become a teacher.

Foreign Exchange Students

The night also recognized three foreign exchange students who have been part of the St. Johns Cheerleading

• Ana Martin Pardo: Ana will return to Spain and study to become a doctor.
• Chiara Stanko: Chiara plans to study languages.
• Leticia Garcia Paes de Camargo: Leticia is considering a career as a pediatrician.

First Half

With Myles Jones sidelined by an injury, Corwin Sheidler took over kickoff duties. He sent a low squib kick out of bounds at the Lincoln 35, and the game was underway.

Lincoln quickly ran into the Redwing defense, which has allowed more than 14 points only twice all season. The Railsplitters picked up a first down on third-and-eight with a pass from their own 37, but couldn’t get much else going. They eventually punted, giving St. Johns the ball.

The Redwings started at their own 25. Archer Gurski carried to the 34, and Kurncz’s second-down pass fell incomplete. Then Lucas McCastle found a hole and hit the gas. Sixty-six yards later, he was standing in the end zone.

Freshman Elijah Mattern stepped in for Jones on the extra point and knocked it through. With 8:46 left in the first quarter, St. Johns was up 7-0.

The Redwings went right back to the squib kick, pinning Lincoln deep in its own territory. It paid off on the very next play when the Railsplitters mishandled the snap. St. Johns recovered at the Lincoln 9.

One play later, Kurncz found Ian Smith for the touchdown. Mattern added the extra point, and the Redwings led 14-0 before Lincoln could catch its breath.

Lincoln returned the kickoff to its own 32, where Gurski delivered a big hit to stop the return. On first-and-10, McCastle broke through the line and dropped the Lincoln ball carrier for a five-yard loss. The Railsplitters couldn’t recover from that start and punted to the St. Johns 30.

The Redwings put together a promising drive, with Kurncz connecting with Gurski and Smith for three straight first downs. But the drive stalled at the Lincoln 21, and St. Johns turned the ball over on downs.

Lincoln took over at its own 20. A holding penalty pushed the Railsplitters back to the 10, but they worked their way out of trouble and drove to the St. Johns 14 as the second quarter began.

That’s when Alex Oberlin stepped in front of a Lincoln receiver and picked off the pass. He took it all the way to the end zone on a 99-yard return, only to have a holding penalty wipe out the touchdown and bring the ball back to the St. Johns 28.

It was still a huge play for the Redwings. They took over at their own 28, and this time Gurski did the heavy lifting. He carried to the Lincoln 30, then picked up more yards on his next run to the 24. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Lincoln moved the ball to the 13.

Gurski finished the drive with a touchdown. Jeremiah Goben came on for the extra point but missed, leaving St. Johns with a 20-0 lead.

Lincoln finally put together a solid drive. After returning the kickoff to the St. Johns 45, the Railsplitters worked their way down to the 10 before settling for a field goal. With 5:34 left in the half, Lincoln was on the board, 20-3.

St. Johns started its next possession at the 27. McCastle carried to the 36, and Kurncz found Tyler Priest to move the ball to the Lincoln 47. A false start pushed the Redwings back, but they weren’t done yet.

On first-and-10 from the Lincoln 23, Kurncz delivered a strike to Conner Barber for another Redwing touchdown. Goben made the extra point, and St. Johns led 27-3 with 2:50 remaining.

Lincoln returned the kickoff to its own 32 and moved the ball to the 49 before being forced to punt. The kick sent Gurski back to the St. Johns 10, but he found a seam and returned it all the way to the Lincoln 46.

Kurncz took matters into his own hands, running up the middle to the Lincoln 20. With no timeouts left, the Redwings hurried to the line. Kurncz spiked the ball to stop the clock, but his next pass fell incomplete. That left St. Johns with third-and-10 from the 20 and just five seconds on the clock.

One play left. Plenty of room for something memorable.

Kurncz took the snap and somehow found Brody Pratl in a crowd of players for a touchdown as time expired. The extra point was no good, but the Redwings headed into the locker room up 40-3.

That’s one way to close out a half!

Halftime

Senior Night wasn’t just about football. The St. Johns Dance Team took the floor for a routine to Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart,” led by seniors Olivia Lorraine, Chloe Nobach, Bella Payment, and Madi Wheeler.

Next up was the Redwing Marching Band with its Classic Rock Rewind show. The band seniors were recognized as part of the night’s festivities, including the release of the traditional red and black balloons.

Following the performance, the band honored Connie Eldred, a longtime supporter of the program, by naming her an Honorary Redwing. It’s a fitting recognition for someone who’s given so much support to the marching band over the years.

Second Half

The Redwings came out for the second half with a running clock. Under MHSAA rules, the clock continues to run in the second half when one team leads by 35 points or more, with stops for certain timeouts, official stoppages, injuries, and scores.

Lincoln kicked off to start the half, giving several Redwings who don’t always see as much playing time a chance to get on the field. Jack Crowley returned the kick to the St. Johns 33.

Roman Berkhousen, Truman Davis, and Hunter Swift got their opportunities on offense. On second-and-three from the Lincoln 23, Berkhousen took the ball into the end zone for the Redwings’ final touchdown of the night. Goben added the extra point to make it 47-3.

Lincoln found the end zone early in the fourth quarter, but the Railsplitters’ two-point conversion attempt was stopped. With 10:40 remaining, the score stood at 47-9.

St. Johns used its final possession to run out the clock. Berkhousen, Swift, and Chase Lockwood carried the ball from the Redwings’ 32 to the Lincoln 22. St. Johns then took a knee and let the final two minutes tick away.

After the game, Coach Schmitt was happy with the team’s effort and the chance to get more players involved.

“I’m proud of how our guys came ready to play tonight. We had a few more penalties than normal, which we’ll need to get cleaned up for next week. We were able to get a lot of guys playing time tonight, so it was a great night overall for the Redwings!”

With the regular season behind them, the Redwings can turn their attention to the playoffs.

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

I titled this article Good Riddance as a bit of a joke. Green Day wrote the song with some irony, but its message fits a night like Senior Night. Time moves on whether we’re ready for it or not. Sometimes you don’t realize how good you’ve had it until a chapter of your life comes to an end.

Some of you might know me as a youth football coach, an assistant wrestling coach, a proud parent of a graduate and a middle schooler, a proud St. Johns alum, a former teammate, or just someone who’s been around Redwing sports for a long time. From August through March, I’m at the high school so often that my wife can probably find me there more easily than at home.

I’ve had the chance to watch many young athletes grow up through these programs. I’ve seen the hard work, the friendships, the wins, the losses, and everything that happens in between. So, especially for the seniors, here’s my advice: enjoy this time while you’re living it.

The school year goes by fast. Before you know it, you’ll be walking across the stage at graduation and moving on to whatever comes next. Take time to appreciate the people around you and the experiences you share. Enjoy the practices, the bus rides, the locker room, and those Friday nights under the lights. Even the little things that seem routine now might be the things you remember most years from now.

Eventually, you’ll graduate, start working, go to college, or take whatever path you’ve chosen. For many of you, this will be the end of your time playing sports at St. Johns. Someday, you’ll look back and realize these years were about much more than football. They were about the people you met, the lessons you learned, and the memories you made along the way.

I hope you’ll remember two things when that day comes.

First, don’t think that once you graduate, you’re forgotten and the next group simply takes your place. That’s not how it works. Every senior class leaves something behind. How you compete, how you treat your teammates, and the effort you put into representing St. Johns become part of this program’s history. The kids who come after you will learn from the example you set, whether you realize it or not.

You have a chance to leave a legacy that lasts long after you’ve played your final game.

Second, when you get the chance, give something back.

Think about the people who helped you get where you are today. Your parents, coaches, teachers, school staff, the fans in the stands, and the people around town who showed up to support you. They gave their time because they cared about you and wanted to see you succeed.

Someday, you’ll have the chance to do the same for someone else. Volunteer. Coach a youth team. Help a young player who needs some advice. Be someone a kid can look up to. You don’t have to do anything extraordinary. Sometimes, simply showing up and taking an interest in a young person can make a bigger difference than you’ll ever know.

And finally, thank you.

Thank you for the time and effort you’ve given to your teams, your school, and this community. Thank you for the memories and for letting us be part of your journey. It’s been a privilege to watch you grow, compete, and represent St. Johns.

One day, you’ll be the ones looking back on these years. I hope you remember the good times, learn from the tough ones, and appreciate the people who were there along the way.

And I hope you can look back and say it was worth it.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind

Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial

For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

Next Up: The Road to Round Two

The Redwings are headed to the playoffs for the third straight year, and this time they’ll get to do it at home!

Coach Schmitt was excited about the opportunity, saying, “It feels good to be hosting a playoff game again! It has been since 2015 since we have hosted a playoff game. Our guys were excited to see our logo on the screen tonight during the selection show again for the third straight year. We are excited to get to work tomorrow (Monday)!”

St. Johns will host the Ortonville Brandon Blackhawks on Friday night. Brandon enters the matchup with a 6-3 record, but the Blackhawks haven’t beaten a winning team this season.

Their wins came against Fraser (1-8), Corunna (4-5), Lake Fenton (4-5), Clio (4-5), Owosso (3-6), and Pontiac (0-9). They lost to Shepherd (6-3), Goodrich (9-0), and Linden (6-3). Shepherd, Corunna, Goodrich, and Linden also qualified for the playoffs.

The regular season is over. Records reset, and now it’s win-or-go-home. The Redwings have earned the chance to play in front of their home crowd, and they’ll need that crowd behind them as they look to keep the season going.

Friday night. Playoff football. St. Johns.

Come out, fill the stands, and help the Redwings take that first step toward the second round!

Around the Program

Here’s how the rest of the St. Johns football teams wrapped up their week.

• JV B: Defeated Lincoln 32-14 to finish the season at 8-1.
• JV A: Defeated Lincoln 42-0 to finish the season undefeated at 9-0.

Coach Parker had this to say about the JV A team’s undefeated season:

“The 9-0 season was a result of the tremendous amount of work this group put in over the offseason. Their attendance and work ethic in the weight room, summer camps, and at 7-on-7s were exceptional and set them up to dominate every team on the schedule. The improvements made by individuals over the past 9 months created a great amount of depth on the roster and enabled us to overcome a number of key injuries. Each week, new guys stepped up to replace those who were missing, and we never missed a beat as we won each game going away. It really was a great TEAM effort that created a special undefeated season.”

• 4th Grade: Finished undefeated, winning 44-0 over Grand Ledge.

Coach Ryan Swartz had this comment on an outstanding first season for the Redwings: “On behalf of the 4th grade football staff, it was an honor for us to represent the St Johns community and coach this outstanding group of players! Thanks to the parents and the community for your continued support throughout the season! Congratulations to the players for an undefeated season and building a TEAM UP ENVIRONMENT! Special thanks to an amazing coaching staff that was dedicated to our team philosophy, player development, and leading by example each day! Gregg Becker, Rob Miller, Ryan Robinson, Andy Schmitt, Aaron Shank, and Matt Woodhams. Thanks for donating your time and knowledge!”

Congratulations to all the players and coaches on another successful season. Going undefeated takes a lot of work, and these young Redwings have earned the chance to celebrate it.

This Week’s Schedule

Friday night: Playoff football at home!

The St. Johns Redwings host the Ortonville Brandon Blackhawks as they begin their postseason run. Come out to the game, wear Red and Black, and make some noise. These players have earned the opportunity, and now it’s time to show them what a home playoff crowd can do.

The sixth graders also have a special trip this week. They’ll head to the Big House on Tuesday, October 27, for a scrimmage against Holt. Taking the field at Michigan Stadium is an experience these young Redwings won’t soon forget.

It’s a big week for Redwing football, from the sixth graders at the Big House to the varsity squad chasing a playoff win. Let’s keep the momentum going and give every team our support!