Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
Growing up, Nouvel Catholic Central football coach Mike Boyd learned from one of the best coaches to ever strap on a a headset in the state of Michigan.
His father, legendary coach Leo “Smokey” Boyd, currently sits fourth all-time in coaching victories according to the Michigan High School Athletic Association record books. Smokey guided the Panthers to the state finals in 1987 and won a state track championship in 1989. He compiled a 384-226 record coaching basketball at Saints Peter and Paul and Bay City Central High Schools. Smokey led Saints Peter & Paul to basketball team championships in 1977 and 1978.
Since retiring, Smokey has had the opportunity to sit back and watch his son take the Nouvel football program to new heights in recent years.
Mike Boyd guided the Panthers to back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007, and four years later Nouvel was center stage once again at Ford Field in the Division 7 state championship game.
The team was led by Associated Press Division 7-8 Player of the Year Bennett Lewis and a crop of other talented seniors that included Clae Henderson, Nick Hammis, Joe Buchalski, Josh Buchalski, and Gabe Augustin, and they gave coach Mike Boyd his third state championship in six seasons.
Nouvel defeated Pewamo-Westphalia 56-26 in the title game, continuing Mike Boyd’s journey up the coaching ranks.
“This state championship has been a journey for this team,” said Mike Boyd. “Our seniors never had the opportunity to make it this far and this state championship is for those guys. They said after they lost to Ubly last year that they were going to be state champions. They worked so hard in the off-season and to make themselves better and they did it. Those seniors are so deserving of this. They will be missed.”
Lewis made sure the team would leave no doubt who was better on that day as he took the ball and ran with it, leaving no doubt who was going to be Division 7 state champion this year.
Nouvel scored, and scored often, in the first half, racking up 56 points, an MHSAA state record for points scored in the first half of a state final game. The previous record of 42 points in one half was set by both Farmington Hills Harrison in 2000 and Lumen Christi in 2001.
Lewis, who already has a scholarship offer from Saginaw Valley State University and other Mid-American Conference offers, ran with conviction on the afternoon.
Lewis ran 15 times for 200 yards – all in the first half – to push his season rushing total to 2,077 yards. He also ran for five touchdowns, giving him 36 rushing for the fall. Senior quarterback Joe Buchalski was 7 for 10 passing, for 196 yards and three scores. He also ran five times for 50 yards – again, all in the first half.
“Maybe our third drive, Bennett came off the field and came right up to me and said, ‘I want the football. Until they stop me, give me the football,’” Mike Boyd said. “I said, ‘Absolutely.’”
Two weeks prior to the state final, Lewis was slowed by a leg injury. During the state final, Lewis showed no signs of the injury, in fact, he showed another gear on the turf at Ford Field.
“I’m really proud of my teammates, especially my offensive linemen. They really executed in the first half and made it easy to run. Everyone ran well.”
Pewamo coach Brad Weber was impressed by what he saw out of Nouvel.
“They were definitely the best team that we have seen this season,” Weber said. “There is no question about that.”
P-W quarterback Justin Thelen was 10 for 21 passing for 176 yards and two touchdowns, and senior Alex Thelen ran 16 times for 77 yards and a score.