Faith, family and community guides Lenawee Christian football to memorable run

MARQUETTE — The trip from the Superior Dome back down to Adrian is about seven hours, not counting stops along the way.

For the Lenawee Christian football team, it might feel quicker as the Cougars make the trip down with an 8-player state championship for the second time in three years and third title in the last four after defeating Marion in the Division 2 game, 36-18.

"It's going to be a late night or early morning depending on how you look at it," coach Bill Wilharms said. "At least it's a fun bus ride home."

The trip home gives Wilharms and his team a lot of time to reflect on the game, the season and the run LCS has made since making the move to 8-player football in the 2020 season.

The Cougars have become an 8-player powerhouse, going undefeated in three seasons with an 8-3 season in 2022 for a record of 45-3, two MHSAA Division 1 8-Player state titles and one Division 2 title now to go with three regional titles and three league titles as the program has begun to fill the trophy case.

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Not bad for a program which didn't exist less than two decades ago.

"(Jacob Baker) came on this year as my defensive coordinator and that's something special because the Baker family, his mom Donna really got the whole thing started with Jon Willett getting football started at LCS," Wilharms said. "That's been a tremendous family."

Family has been a major component to getting the Cougars where they are today.

From the student-athletes on the field, to the coaches on the sidelines and the parents in the stands.

"It's about surrounding yourself with good people," Wilharms said. "The 10 guys on the coaching staff, John Schuler finishes at Dundee and comes over to LCS to help me with offensive and defensive line, Tony Aiken finishes up at Onsted, Kirk Brackelman does a great job with all the video watching and the scout stuff set up. Eric Roback came back to put his two cents in to help, Jake and Jon Willett does the same thing. Keith Covey and Justin Vance, Josh Powers and Casey Opsal were all from Madison and coached with me over there. It's nice to have guys around I trust and they know what I'm trying to do. They do a tremendous job."

It goes beyond the coaches as well. The families get involved as well.

"My daughter Caroline helps out," Wilharms said. "Opsal's wife helps out, Brenner (Powers) is on the team with Josh, Kirk's boy Cameron is the ball boy and Bri Aiken helps as well, Tony's daughter. It's nice having a bunch of coaches and families that buy in and want to be a part of the program."

The family atmosphere only helps the program install what the cornerstone is for every team at LCS, faith.

No Cougar has shown more faith in God than No. 34, Nathan Bowen.

The No. 34 hasn't been worn since 2021, but it joined the captains during the tournament run at the coin toss and is on the helmets of the team.

Bowen was a sophomore in 2021 when he died of a brain tumor. He would've been a senior this season and the senior class wanted to make sure Bowen wasn't forgotten during their run to another state title.

"He was such a firm believer in his faith and Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior," Wilharms said. "This was something the senior class set out to do and even though Nathan isn't physically there with them, he was there in spirit and that was a big part for us.

"Easton (Boggs) was the one who approached me about it and the rest of the team was right there with him. It was big for Easton because those guys were pretty close."

Boggs had a big game Saturday, catching nine passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns while fellow senior Sam Lutz threw for 350 yards and the three touchdowns to Boggs while running in two himself.

Those two were the statistical leaders of the senior group, which consists of Jesse Miller, Blake Drogowski, Paul Towler, Tyler Salenbien, Paul Navarre and Levi Beach who cement their legacy as the winningest class in program history and the first group to play four seasons of 8-player football.

"They've worked for that legacy," Wilharms said. "It's cemented now with a 13-0 season and a state championship they get to bring back home."

While the school is small at an enrollment of 138 in the high school this year, the community is unique as it spreads across Lenawee County.

But the LCS community is tight and it was on display this weekend with how marquee programs supported each other.

The football program made up the student section for the volleyball team in Battle Creek on Friday afternoon in the Division 4 semifinal despite needing to make a trip to Marquette the same day.

The volleyball team returned the favor, showing up in Marquette to cheer on the football team to a state title.

"I wanted to make sure we supported the girls," Wilharms said. "After they pranked me with the 100 win bald skull caps, I was like, this is huge. We had the opportunity and we took it. Small school, those seniors are super tight. They shocked us because they were all at the game (Saturday). We brought them in the picture with us and got pictures with the trophy. That's what it's all about, the small school setting. They support each other."

While the senior class was big, the Cougars aren't looking to put a bow on the dynasty they've created.

It's now time for the likes of Brenner Powers, Elijah Lutz, Seth Davis and company, the student-athletes were on scout team to step up much like this class did.

"They went against the state champs every day," Wilharms said. "Sam and Easton reminded the freshmen that they were scout team players going against the state champs. They might have been the second-best team in the state of Michigan at that time. My hats off to those kids. It takes a team effort from the kids, to the coaches and the community."

Contact Sports Editor Kristopher Lodes at klodes@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formally know as Twitter, @LenaweeLodes

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee Christian football led by faith, family, community to MHSAA title