Chippewa Hills won their biggest game of the 2020’s on Friday night, beating conference powerhouse Reed City for the first time since 2010.
It had been 16 years since the Warriors had taken home the rivalry win, and it took multiple defensive stops and a gritty performance by Chippewa Hills QB Logan PeLong to snap the streak. Ultimately, the Warriors won 28-24 to advance to 5-2 on the year.
The Warriors didn’t look like they’d compete early, as the Reed City Coyotes used their classic T Formation offense to ground and pound for two quick touchdowns to start the game. Kason Coppick took the third carry of the game over 60+ yards to the house to open scoring, and Cass Thomas followed that up with a 20-yard touchdown run of his own.
Down 14-0, Logan PeLong and Chippewa Hills responded quickly. PeLong found Kipton McArthur for a short pass to the left flat that McArthur took 60 yards to the 3-yard line. PeLong punched it in two plays later. Chippewa Hills got their first big stop of the game on defense with a fourth-down stop at the 30-yard line.
The second quarter saw PeLong break a 4th-down run to tie the game at 14. The Coyotes drove to the goal line, but the Warriors stiffened up, and before the half, Ethan Hanson kicked a 22-yard field goal to give the Coyotes a 17-14 lead.
The Warriors got the ball to start the second half, and after a long PeLong touchdown run was called back with a holding penalty, PeLong found Clay Farrell on a screen pass. Farrell weaved his way through the Reed City defense for a 50-yard reception that set Chippewa Hills up at the 5-yard line. PeLong punched it in on a QB power run to give Chippewa Hills the lead.
Reed City responded to begin the 4th quarter with a long drive that ended with a Kason Coppick touchdown run that gave Reed City the 24-22 lead.
PeLong once again showed some heroics on what would be the game-winning touchdown drive. Battling cramps that were hurting his ability to move and run, PeLong rolled right before looking back to the middle of the field and finding Isaac Killian for a 45-yard touchdown pass downfield.
Then it was the Warriors’ turn on defense. Reed City went on a long drive into Warrior territory that included multiple converted 4th-and-1 QB sneaks. At the 25-yard line, it looked like they were shaping up to run a similar QB sneak on 4th down with 1:30 left. Instead, though, they tried to run off tackle with QB Kaiden Langworthy, and the Warriors were waiting, stopping it.
Still, the Warriors went three-and-out and punted back to Reed City with 50 seconds left. Reed City drove to the Warriors’ 25-yard line with 12 seconds left, but Chippewa Hills defense stepped up one final time, sacking Langworthy for the win.
It capped off a gritty night for a Warriors team that is nearing their first playoff berth since 2020. They’ve had a strong defense all season long, and they showed it off in the win.
On offense, PeLong finished with 78 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He went 5 of 8 passing for 171 yards and the game-winning score. Running back Clay Farrell had 52 rushing yards and 10 tackles.
For Reed City, the Coyotes must win out to guarantee a playoff spot. It was a game of missed fourth-down opportunities. They won in most statistical categories, including time of possession and total yards, with 343. Kason Coppick finished with 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Kahary McKinney had 73 rushing yards and Cass Thomas had 59 yards.
Langworthy had 70 passing yards , with 66 yards going to Coppick.
The Coyotes fell to 4-3 on the year.
