By BUTCH HARMON
It took the best in the state to put an end to what was another terrific season for the Pewamo-Westphalia football team.
For the third time in the last four years, the Pirates reached the state semifinal round in Division 7. This season, it dropped a 41-21 decision to eventual state champion Detroit Loyola. The 20-point game was the closest game Loyola had this season, including the state title game.
“I’m proud of them,” said coach Jeremy Miller. “We came in here fully expecting to win that football game.”
Sophomore running back Jared Smith rushed for 107 yards and scored a touchdown, while Pirate quarterback Trey Bauer passed for 125 yards and a touchdown. Colin Smith returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
Pewamo-Westphalia ended the season with a 10-3 record. The Pirates finished second in the conference and won a district title against Hudson and a regional championship against Bridgeman. It was led by a dynamic offense that scored a school-record 503 points.
Smith was a key to the offense. He finished the season with 2,140 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns. “Jared is a special running back, and he has a lot of long runs and big plays,” Miller said. “We’ve run the ball very effectively all year.”
Senior quarterback Trey Bauer finished the season with 983 yards passing and 10 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 511 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Aaron Rademacher was another rushing threat for the Pirates, as he gained 630 yards this season.
Rademacher was also a leader of the Pewamo-Westphalia defense at linebacker along with Nate Jandernoa and defensive linemen Dane VanElls and Stanley Fink and defensive backs Colin Smith and Trey Bauer.
Paving the way up front for the Pirates was an offensive line led by Stanley Fink and Matt Fox.
With Smith due back next year along with a number of other talented players, the Pirates will look to extend their string of playoff appearances to 12 straight years.
“There’s a lot of great kids coming up,” Miller said. “I credit the seniors because they’ve set the bar high and showed these guys how to win more than anything else. I think that will be their legacy – a very successful class. They’ve laid down the blueprint for these younger guys.”