By BUCTH HARMON
For the fourth time in the last nine years, the DeWitt football team will end the season playing for the state championship.
After a thrilling 21-20 win against St. Clair in the Division 3 state semifinal, DeWitt earned a trip to Ford Field to play in the Division 3 state championship game against Zeeland West. The title game appearance will be the fifth for the Panthers, who are still looking to win a state championship.
DeWitt improved to 13-0 on the season with the win against St. Clair after a back-and-forth battle. Junior running back Ben Heinritz scored a pair of touchdowns for the Panthers, while Christopher Ruby scored one touchdown. DeWitt relied on its ground game to earn the win in a game played in very windy and cold conditions. Ruby paced the ground game for the Panthers with 77 yards, while junior quarterback Jacob Johnson rushed for 68 yards and Heinritz added 62.
Heinritz has been DeWitt’s leading rusher with over 1,300 yards for the season.
Johnson has enjoyed a big season throwing the football for DeWitt, totaling over 1,600 yards.
DeWitt’s defense came up big against St. Clair. Tyler Madar paced the Panthers with 13 tackles, while Joshua Hanna added 11 tackles and Zachary Deak 10 tackles.
“I’m incredibly proud of these kids,” coach Rob Zimmerman said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
DeWitt’s offensive and defensive units have both come up big during the postseason. The Panthers opened the postseason with a 14-8 win over Haslett in a defensive struggle. DeWitt followed that win with a 27-14 win against Linden in the regionals and then won the regional title with a 49-0 win against Eaton Rapids. The Panther offense received 145 yards passing and three touchdowns from Johnson, and Heinritz added 183 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Along with going unbeaten during the season, DeWitt also captured its eighth straight league championship.