By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com

MANISTEE — It was no contest after the first Manistee offensive possession of the game as the Mariners dominated on both sides of the ball and pounded Lake City, 44-6 at home Friday night.

Despite the rain that went off and on all night, Manistee controlled the line of scrimmage and ripped through the Trojans for huge chunks and punishing small gains in a Division 6 playoff opener.

Photo/Joe Washington

But the game didn’t start out so well for the Mariners, ranked 10th in the Associated Press poll of Division 6 teams. The Mariners turned the ball over on downs after receiving the opening kickoff and getting first crack.

Lake City proceeded to keep the Manistee fans who braved the inclement weather relatively silent by marching down into the Mariners side of the field.

Manistee’s defense finally stiffened, as linebacker Caius Johns charged through to tackle the Trojan running back behind the line and forced a punt on fourth down.

On their next possession the Mariners scored, and that was the beginning of the end for the Trojans.

Nick Hornkohl, a senior running back, capped a 58-yard drive with a 6-yard burst between the tackles and Manistee had a 6-0 lead with 5:10 left in the first quarter.

By the half it was 38-0, and the second half was played with a running clock.

“We played perfect the whole game,” senior fullback Isaiah Davis said. “Every game we always plan on playing perfect. We run the ball, so we better not fumble. This type of weather is our bread and butter. We love this type of weather. You win or go home, and you have to take it personal. That was our mindset.”

A personal milestone was reached in the game when Kaden Kott finished with 139 yards rushing, with a 72-yard touchdown romp that displayed his typical breakaway speed.

With that performance Kott ran his rushing total for the season to 1,000, making him the 16th player to hit that milestone in the program’s history.

Photo/Joe Washington

Davis got the ball just nine times, but barreled for 95 yards and a second touchdown, this one for 58 yards. Hornkohl added 80 yards and a touchdown, while freshman quarterback Dayvion Neal-Berry ran for 55 and scored twice.

Manistee has been almost perfect in all phases of the game ever since coming up short against Montague, 24-22, three weeks ago and it’s largely because the Mariners have kept that game in the back of their minds the last two weeks.

“Obviously, we’re not going let that bring us down, but keep it in our mind and drive us through every game,” Hornkohl said. “Fremont, I think, was one of the most physical games we ever played just because coming out of that Montague game we knew we had to do better. Coach is always telling us to keep Montague in our minds. We don’t want that to happen again. We need to show physicality out here every game.”

It’s clear to head coach Troy Bytwork they have done just that.

“The kids have to buy in, and they have bought into the physicality of it,” Bytwork said. “I don’t really care what we run, with the way that our kids physically get after teams (is impressive). You know, there were a couple of blocks there early where kids are leaving their feet. Lake City kids that aren’t small are being lifted off the ground, and that’s buy in.

Photo/Joe Washington

“That makes that offense run, is the physicality. Obviously, you throw a couple of pretty athletic kids back there it helps. It was exactly what I wanted.”

Manistee’s defense was just as impressive as its offense, with Caius Johns bringing the loudest cheers with three quarterback sacks and six total tackles.

Nathan Doremus, who transferred in from Texas, also had 10 tackles, three for loss. Brian McNeil had six tackles and a tackle for loss. Kott had an interception.

Step 2 on their journey for the Mariners comes next week when they travel to Kingsley, which demolished Mason County Central, 61-12.

Both teams are ranked, the Stags tied for No. 4 in Division 6 and the Mariners No. 10.

Take a look at more photos from the night shot by Joe Washington.