Tougher Than the Rest

By Dan Ward

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Football has a funny way of settling arguments. You can talk about who is faster, who is stronger, and who is tougher, but eventually you have to strap on the pads and prove it.

On Friday night, the St. Johns Redwings took that challenge into Lansing and left little doubt about the answer. From the opening whistle, St. Johns played like a team determined to establish who was tougher, dominating the Lansing Eastern Quakers on both sides of the ball on the way to a convincing 38–0 shutout.

Lansing Eastern football has been down for a few years now. In 2022 and 2023, the Quakers didn’t win a game. In 2024, they picked up one victory, and last season they won twice. This year, Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame inductee Dan Boggan took over the program. While the Quakers entered Friday night 0–3, the team looked noticeably different. Eastern is much improved, and St. Johns couldn’t afford to overlook them.

Hot Dog Report

I missed the coin toss.

St. Johns was receiving the opening kickoff while I was standing in line for my weekly hot dog. I’m a big fan of hot dogs, especially at football stadiums. There’s just something about a hot dog at a game. 

Dog: 3/5- Eastern boils or steams their dogs. Not as bad as roller dogs, but still…

Bun: N/A — I don’t eat bread

Toppings: 2/5 — Ketchup and mustard

Value: 3/5 — Average price

Game-Day Factor: 3/5

Overall:  3/5 — “It’s not going to change your life, but it’s not going to ruin your day either.”

First Half

Once I got away from the hot dog line, I didn’t have to wait long to see the Redwings get to work.

St. Johns received the opening kickoff and put together an impressive drive. Facing fourth-and-9 from the Quaker 39, Conner Kurncz found Ian Smith for a 35-yard completion. One play later, Kurncz took it in himself for the touchdown. Myles Jones added the extra point, and with 8:48 left in the first quarter, St. Johns had a 7–0 lead.

Jones then boomed another kickoff through the end zone, giving Eastern the ball at its own 20-yard line.

In the past, that might have been the start of a long night for the Quakers, but this isn’t the same Eastern team we’ve seen in recent years. Facing third-and-9 from their own 21, the Quakers completed a pass all the way to the St. Johns 45. Eastern continued moving the ball and worked its way toward the red zone before the Redwing defense finally slammed the door.

Jones broke up a pass attempt, and Maddox Munger came up with a huge tackle for loss on fourth-and-4 from the St. Johns 27. The Quakers turned the ball over on downs, and St. Johns took over at its own 29.

It didn’t take long.

On second-and-8 from the 38, Archer Gurski found an opening and was gone, racing 62 yards for the touchdown. Jones added the extra point, and with 3:14 left in the opening quarter, St. Johns had doubled its lead to 14–0.

Jones once again put the kickoff through the end zone, and Eastern started another possession at its own 20. The Quakers gained just six yards before being forced to punt.

Gurski fielded the punt and ran like he was determined to bump into all eleven Quakers, pinballing his way into Eastern territory and setting St. Johns up with a first-and-10 from the Quaker 38.

The second quarter started with St. Johns facing second-and-7 from the Eastern 22. Kurncz scooped up a low snap and quickly found Cody Carn for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Of course, Jones added the extra point, and just nine seconds into the second quarter, St. Johns had stretched its lead to 21–0.

Jones’ next kickoff was shorter, giving Eastern a chance to return it. The Quakers moved the ball out to their own 47 before Conner Barber broke up a pass on second-and-10.

On third-and-10 from the 47, Ian Smith stepped in front of an Eastern pass and came away with the interception.

St. Johns went right back to work.

Lucas McCastle ripped off a big run from the St. Johns 21 all the way to the Eastern 35. Kurncz then found McCastle for a four-yard completion before Conner Barber found Tyler Priest, who picked up a strong run to move the ball to the Quaker 11.

Kurncz finished the drive by finding Myles Jones for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Jones added the extra point, pushing the lead to 28–0.

Eastern’s next kickoff return reached the 50-yard line, but a block-in-the-back penalty moved the Quakers back to their own 20. With just 31 seconds left in the half, Logan Finn came up with a sack, forcing Eastern to punt once again.

Gurski fielded the punt near the St. Johns 2-yard line and took off. Eighty-three yards later, he had flipped the field and put the Redwings in position for another score.

That set up Myles Jones for a 27-yard field goal as time expired, sending St. Johns into the locker room with a commanding 31–0 lead.

Second Half

St. Johns kicked to open the second half, and the Quakers came out determined to put together another respectable drive. Eastern moved the ball to midfield before the Redwing defense forced another punt.

McCastle came up with a strong 20-yard punt return, setting St. Johns up with a first-and-10 from its own 40.

The Redwings moved the ball down the field, but the drive ultimately came to an end when McCastle was hit and fumbled. The Quakers recovered, giving Eastern another opportunity.

It was a short-lived opportunity.

On second-and-9 from their own 15, an Eastern pass was tipped, and Myles Jones was right there to make the interception.

McCastle would get his redemption late in the third quarter.

With just over a minute remaining, he broke loose for a two-yard touchdown run. Jones added the extra point, and St. Johns had pushed its lead to 38–0 with about 1:15 left in the quarter.

One of the best things about a big lead is the opportunity it creates for the younger players.

There is a massive step up from playing JV football to playing varsity, and the more varsity experience those younger players get, the better your program is going to be in the long run. These are the guys who are at practice every day, working just as hard as the starters, waiting for their opportunity.

The fourth quarter gave them that opportunity.

Hunter Swift, Johnny Infante and Roman Berkhousen all put together strong runs, while Brody Kurncz got a couple of passing attempts. The Redwings eventually closed out the night in victory formation.

Coach Schmitt echoed the importance of getting those players on the field when I talked with him Saturday. We talked about how important it is to get the younger players and backups into games because they work every day just as hard as the starters.

“Our guys came out and played well from the start,” Schmitt said. “We talked about needing to have a strong first quarter this week and limiting the big plays defensively. We were able to do both of those things, which helped us get a 31–0 lead at half. It was another great team win tonight for our guys!”

And that’s exactly what it was.

A team win.

Next Up: Williamston

All of our games are tough this year. You can never look past an opponent, and Eastern proved that early by moving the ball and showing this isn’t the same Quaker program we’ve seen over the past few seasons.

That being said, next Friday begins a brutal stretch of football.

The Redwings travel to Williamston for a tough CAAC Red matchup against the Hornets. Williamston enters the game at 2–1 after going undefeated in the regular season last year before falling to Goodrich in the regional playoffs. Their lone loss this season came against Hastings, which is also 1–2.

One thing that is always impressive is how well St. Johns travels to away games. The Redwings will need that support again next Friday.

So load up the cars, make the drive, and bring the Redwing faithful with you.

It’s time for another road battle.

Around the Program

The rest of the St. Johns football teams got underway this week as well.

Wednesday saw the seventh grade take down Mason 41–16, while the eighth grade fell just short to the Bulldogs, 21–8.

Thursday brought action from both JV teams. JV B took on Portland and came away with a strong 38–0 victory. JV A hosted Lansing Eastern and dominated the Quakers 51–0.

Saturday was SJYAA football day, with the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades taking on Mason.

The fourth graders started the day with an outstanding 22–6 victory, earning their first win of their careers.

The fifth graders kept things rolling with a dominant 30–0 victory.

The sixth graders closed out the day with a 46–8 loss, but the lessons learned now will pay off as these young Redwings continue to grow.

Next week, the seventh and eighth grades hit the road for a trip to Fowlerville on Wednesday.

JV B is home against Saginaw Swan Valley on Thursday.

JV A is home against Williamston on Thursday as well.

And the varsity heads to Williamston on Friday for what should be a hard-hitting CAAC Red battle.

SJYAA ends the week on Saturday with a trip to East Lansing.

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