By DAVID COOK
After making deep playoff runs the previous three seasons, the wheels fell off the cart for the Mt. Pleasant Oilers in 2012. The Oilers not only missed the playoffs but they fell to2-7 overall.
This year, with 27 seniors returning, Mt. Pleasant is gearing back up for another big season. The season kicks off for the Oilers Thursday when it hosts a DeWitt team that is coming off a D3 state semifinal appearance.
Mt. Pleasant will again be led by all-state running back Michael Tweh this season. With a host of other veterans also back the Oilers are looking to make this year’s opener with DeWitt closer than last year’s opener that DeWitt won 38-14.
DeWitt returns plenty of talent of its own as the Panthers have their sights set on a third state semifinals appearance in four years.
Heading the list of returnees for DeWitt is junior quarterback Jason Johnson. Johnson opened his sophomore season in a big way against Mt. Pleasant last year as he passed for three touchdowns and ran for two scores against the Oilers. Johnson has plenty of skilled receivers to work with including Chirs Ruby, who possesses blazing speed, and Justice Shankel. Johnson also has a bag, experienced offensive line in front of him led by Chris Bukoski (6-6, 260) and Tyler Mador.