By BUTCH HARMON
Like the San Francisco Giants, the Fowler Eagles love those even years.
In 2010, 2012, and again this fall, the Giants made it to the World Series in baseball. Likewise, in football, the Fowler Eagles claimed the Central Michigan Athletic Conference and turned in unbeaten conference records in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
“We’ve been winning it every other year with Pewamo-Westphalia,” coach Kris Ernst said. “Each win we have both won at home when we play each other.”
This season, Fowler defeated Pewamo-Westphalia 20-13 to clinch the league title in week eight.
A strong running game and a stingy defense have been the keys to success this season for the Eagles. Senior running back Austin Cook (5’11”, 220 pounds) has been leading the way. He earned all-state honors last year and has gained 1,546 yards and has scored 25 touchdowns through week eight this year.
“Aaron is the strongest kid we’ve had in the program in quite a while,” Ernst said. “He does a real good job for us. He has great size, and he wears down defenses in the second half.”
A young and improving offensive line has paved the way for Cook. That line includes junior tight end Clayton Simon, sophomore left tackle Jared Speers, junior guard Kyle Jorae, junior center Cole Theis, senior right guard Zach Rudat, senior right tackle Adam Blackwell, and sophomore tight end Dallas Watts.
Senior quarterback Derek Bengel lines up with Cook in the backfield.
“The kids have been working pretty hard,” Ernst said. “We’ve had had our share of breaks, but I couldn’t be more happy about another CMAC championship.”
Fowler’s defense has also played a key role in the title, as the Eagles allow an average of just nine points per game.
Junior linebacker Glen Becker leads the team in tackles, and senior Grant Platte is another outstanding linebacker. Sophomore Dallas Watts has also done “a great job at middle linebacker,” according to Ernst.
“We run the football and try to take care of the football,” Ernst said. “We’ve also been playing a great job on defense on a nightly basis.”
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