NEW LOTHROP – While New Lothrop’s football season came to an end with a 45-14 loss to Muskegon Catholic Central in the Division 8 state semifinals, it ended a four-year run of one loss seasons.
The Hornets have compiled a 43-4 record since 2010, advancing to the state semifinals twice. Six of the Hornets players played in the state semifinal game in 2011 and had experience through winning seasons.
“With six guys returning that played in that game two years ago, I think they got a good picture of what it’s like to play on this stage,” New Lothrop coach Clint Galvas told MLive before the Muskegon CC game. “We’re excited for where we’re at now, but these guys have been putting in work since the last week in March.
“That’s 244 straight days of football-related activities, so we have a lot invested this year, and these guys definitely deserve to be where they’re at.”
Returning all-stater Amari Coleman had an explosive season as an offensive utility weapon. Coleman verbally committed to Central Michigan University and the 6-foot, 185-pound was 5-for-5 on punt returns for touchdowns heading into the MCC game.
While Coleman was limited to 17 yards rushing on 14 carries against MCC, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground with 1,004 yards on a remarkable 65 carries for a 15.4-yard per carry average. He scored 18 touchdowns on the ground and four more through the air with 282 receiving yards.
“He’s a huge weapon to have back there,” Galvas told MLive on Coleman’s punt returning abilities. “It forces teams to kick out of bounds, and we’re constantly getting good field position just by having him stand back there.”
New Lothrop got its offense rolling throughout the postseason. The Hornets opened with a 35-0 win over Michigan Lutheran Seminary and then won a district title with a 41-28 win over Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes.
Coleman scored on touchdown runs of 9 and 39 yards in a 28-0 New Lothrop first quarter lead against Ottawa Lake-Whiteford in the state quarterfinal game. The Hornets cruised to the 58-22 win over the regional title.
Coleman had five carries for 118 yards while seven other ball carries tallied 167 yards on the ground.