By BUTCH HARMON
With a team low on experience heading into the season, expectations were not high for the DeWitt football team.
Despite the lack of experience and some hurdles that came up during the season, the Panthers carried on DeWitt’s legacy of football success. They turned in another successful regular season, as they not only recorded a 7-2 overall record but also won a seventh-straight conference championship.
The real fun for DeWitt fans took place in the postseason. For the third time in the last four years, the Panthers reached the state semifinals in Division 3, and they did it in dramatic fashion. DeWitt won a district title by winning both district games in overtime, and then won another close game in the regional title matchup with conference rival St. Johns.
DeWitt’s string of close games actually began in the final regular season game, when the Panthers defeated previously unbeaten Fruitport 21-20. The game marked the return of sophomore quarterback Jacob Johnson, who was playing in his first game since an injury suffered in week two.
Johnson’s return sparked the DeWitt offense, and the momentum carried over into the opening playoff game against Lapeer West, which DeWitt won 34-28 in overtime. A week later, DeWitt won the district title with a 45-44 overtime win against Linden.
DeWitt added a regional title the following week with a 29-27 win against rival St. Johns.
DeWitt’s postseason run came to an end in the state semifinals against eventual state champion Grand Rapids Christian. One of the most talented teams in the state, Christian struck early and often before DeWitt rallied late to make the final score 52-28.
“We knew we had to play our best game to have a shot,” DeWitt coach Rob Zimmerman said. “I’m extremely proud of our kids. We are a small community with all DeWitt kids playing, and I couldn’t be prouder of what our kids accomplished. No one expected us to be here. We had a very young team this year. We started six sophomores, but I thought we developed into a very good football team.”
With many of this year’s players returning next season, the future continues to look bright.
“We gained a lot of experience this year that is going to help us next year,” Zimmerman said. “Jacob is only a sophomore, and these playoff games will be great for him.”
The Panthers will miss a pair of seniors who earned all-state honors. Senior wide receiver Ryan Anderson earned honorable mention all-state honors after catching 80 passes for 1,221 yards and 16 touchdowns, while linebacker Jimmie Melton totaled 69 solo tackles and 104 assists along with a fumble recovery and an interception enroute to earning honorable mention all-state honors.