2002 Believe It!

The 2002 Panther football team coached by Rob Zimmerman, in his fourth season at DeWitt,  was the first team to make the state finals since the 1989 team coached by Gail Thornton. The 1989 team was the first DeWitt football team to make the state finals. . Many similarities were made between those two teams.

Comparisons Made.

The 2001 and 2002 seasons for DeWitt football were similar to the 1988 and 1989 seasons that drew quite a few comparisons. 

   - The 1988 season DeWitt made a trip to the Class C semi-finals losing to defending state champ and top ranked Detroit DePorres.
   - The 2001 season DeWitt made a trip to the Division 4 semi-finals losing to defending state champ and top ranked Chesaning.

   - The 1989 season used experienced juniors from 1988 to lead the Panthers to the state finals in Class B.
   - The 2002 season used experienced juniors from 2001 to lead the Panthers to the state finals in Division 3.

   - The '89 team was bumped up from Class C in '88 to Class B for the '89 playoffs.
   - The '02 team was bumped up from Division 4 in '01 to Division 3 for the '02 playoffs.

   - A twist of fate led the '89 team into the playoffs in Class B.
   - A twist of fate led the '02 team into playoffs in Division 3.

   - The '89 team played against a top 10 team ranked in the NATION in the finals.
   - The '02 team played against a top 10 team ranked in the NATION in the finals.

Twist of Fate.

The Panther team of '89 was moved into Class B for the first time. The smallest school attendance wise in Class B. Farmington Hills Harrison was the largest. The coaches were tracking the playoff points the last couple of weeks of the season. Headed into week nine, a lot of good teams needed to lose in order for DeWitt to make the playoffs. Recalls DeWitt coach Gail Thornton..

That was the first year that we were a Class B High School, we were the smallest B in the state, we made it by one student, which made our chances of qualifying very slim.  If you recall there were only 4 classes in those days and only 16 teams per class qualified.  I still think that system was better because if forced you to try to play very good schools rather than just find any 6 you can beat. 

That being the case, as I recall, after going 9-0 with some class C teams on our schedule we needed, I believe 7 teams to lose their 9th game for us to qualify, which seemed impossible.  As a matter of fact I left after the game with Bart Rypstra, and headed up north to go bow hunting.  We were someplace north of Clare when I got a call saying that Mick McCabe (Detroit Free Press) had called and said according to what he was seeing we were in, and I was to give him a call.  I believe that evening is when the DeWitt, DeWhat DeWhere thing got started.  So Bart and I happily turned around and returned home.

The 2002 team was the top ranked team in Division 4 for the entire year. DeWitt and Marshall had the same enrollment. After all 256 teams went into the tournament, 841 was the cut off between Division 4 and Division 3. Marshall had lost their first game of the year to Portage Central 3-0 and therefore had less playoff points than DeWitt. So, DeWitt was moved up to Division 3 for the playoffs.

The Players.

The 1988 team lost several awesome players, All-State running back Chad Daggy for one. Daggy had 1,349 yards rushing and returned punts, kickoffs and solid defense. Also, the '88 team had seniors Chris Withers, Wayne Brown, Bill Orwat, Paul Nachazel, Jim Hovey, Trevor Wilcox and Bryan Johnson. A talented group of experienced juniors returned from the '88 team with Mike Cowdrey (1,351 yards rushing), QB Chris Birkimer, Gibby Hicks, John Telford, Tony Miller, Phil Sedia, Jeff Church, Lance Kingsbury. Plus additions from a JV team that in 1988 that was undefeated.  

The 2001 DeWitt season, Coach Rob Zimmerman's third was an exciting season. The Panthers finished 11-2 with a tough loss to Haslett in overtime during the regular season and making it to the semi-finals before losing to top ranked Chesaning and their Mr. Everything, Paul Tettoff. DeWitt used a rugged yet speedy option offensive attack run by junior Chad Alger. Alger and junior fullback Jason Bunce accounted for nearly 1,100 yards themselves and did most of the "between the tackles" yardage while the terific twin tandem of Tyler and Cole Thelen turned on the speed around the outside accounting for over 1,500 yards themselves. The run heavy Panthers rushed for nearly 3,000 yards while passing enough, 883 yards, to keep defenses honest. It was easy to run the ball behind the line that included  sr. Tony Sigmon, sr. Aaron Sebrell, sr. Bill Sullivan, jr.Eric Schaar, jr. James Braska and jr. Greg Molitor. Sigmon was also the middle linebacker on the team and the team's leader.

The 2002 season showed a different look. The Alger and Bunce tandem still were there, running a crossing QB option. However, there were four wide receivers in Kirk Williams, Austin Way, Jeff Lloyd and Adam Holland in a spread formation. Rather than a run game with an occasional pass to keep defenses honest, the Panther were a balanced team spreading the defenses to let the bruising running of Alger and Bunce with more gaps and the rocked arm of Alger throwing the ball everywhere. For the season, the balance showed 3,054 passing yards and 2, 735 rushing yards. Many games, DeWitt shot out to a big lead with the passing game then let the run game eat up the clock. The up front line of Andrew Wyman, Eric Schaar James Braska, Jason Brown, Greg Molitor and Tyler Wellman gave Alger the time he needed and the holes in the defense for Alger and Bunce they needed to scoot through.

Defensively the Panthers were led by Eric Schaar, who could read guard faster than anyone, or was in the opposing team's huddle. Against the full house, there was none better. Also the defense was led by Williams, Brown, Bobby Muysenburg, and juniors Casey Curtis, Drew Vanderbur and John Markey. Williams picked off 8 passes and one so amazing in the semi-finals against Bloomfield Hills Lasher early in the second half. Leaping high to intercept an out route with one hand along the Lasher sideline ignited the Panthers and DeWitt pulled away with an offensive blitz.

Believe IT!

This talented and dedicated group of seniors came together during their fifth through the eighth grade in the newly formed DeWitt Junior Panther organization organized initially by Don Muysenberg. Coached by Jay " To the tree!!" Morton, Jim Alger, Bill Drury Sr. and Wayne Bunce, the group had excellent success at this level playing physical and team ball. After the 8th grade season, the team had a tour of the Pontiac Silverdome as Coach Morton worked with the Lions players in a physical therapy position. The boys met Coach Bobby Ross, Herman Moore, Johnnie Morton, Charlie Batch, Robert Porcher, Scott Mitchell and the "GOAT" Barry Sanders. After the tour the boys met at mid field and promised each other they would be back to play in the State Finals. We just have to "Believe IT!". Thus, the motto for the team was set.

As the 2022 season progresses, we will step through the weeks of that special 2002 season.

Week One home versus Birch Run... 
The Panther Pride Banner made its debut with a rather unflattering first impression. The poles to support the banner were made of paint pole extensions, yellow fiber glass with aluminum extensions. Well, when the banner was unfurled and the guy wires were pulled to keep it straight, the aluminum pole bent. Thankfully Marve Kacel grabbed above the bend and held it up. Good that the players, suprised by the banner, did not know to swat it. After that, electrical conduit was used as the extentions and no problems after that. The players had contests whom would be the last to swat it before entering the field. Also, the field was painted with the new logo at the 50 and words DEWITT in the end zones thanks to the Football Dads led by Wayne Bunce.

The Panthers Luke Wey kicked off to Birch Run Panthers to start the game. After deploying his quick defense, Defensive Coach Adam Nolen's guys held Birch Run to a quick three and out. On the punt, Kirk Williams shot in from the left side of the defense and blocked the punt. The first play All-State QB Chad Alger fired a 17 yard strike to Jeff Lloyd on the first play of the drive/season to Light The Fire!. Luke Wey's extra point made it 7-0 for the first of 563 points the team would amass during the season. The next series, Alger hit Williams in stride on a 52 yard pass for a TD. After the DeWitt kickoff, Williams cut in front of a Birch Run receiver to return an interception for a TD. After the half, which DeWitt was up big, Williams was sent to the concession stand to sell popcorn. Junior John Markey returned a punt 55 yards for a TD. The quick Panther defensive line of Jason Brown, Eric Schaar, Kyle Coveart, Greg Molitor, Jason Bunce and James Braska shut down the Birch run offense and was quickly followed by the second wave of linebackers Bobby Muysenberg, Casey Curtiss and Drew Vanderbur to clean up. Meanwhile Alger spread passes to his outstanding group of receivers, Williams, Lloyd, Austin Way and Adam Holland while Alger and Jason Bunce led the bruising running attack.

A balanced attack, Alger ran for 69 yards and Bunce 61. Williams had two catches for 71 yards and a score, Lloyd 4 for 47 yards, Way one for 15 yards, Paul Pulice 2 for 30 yards. Schaar led the defense with 13 tackles, Braska with nine tackles, Seth Swanson with seven tackles, Muysenberg and Ben Frederic with five.

Final, DeWitt 48, Birch Run 7. Enjoy the highlights by Kirk Williams, Greg Molitor and Steve Evans

Week Two at Perry Ramblers
The Ramblers

The Ramblers are in the midst of a number of lean years on the football field. And the field is not in great shape. Very rough and dry. Chad Alger gets the scoring underway with a 31 yard pass to Steve Renner and the rout is on. Jason Bunce powers in from five yards, Austin Way picks his way in from the 20 to start the game. All areas of the Panthers are clicking. The defense suffocates the Rambler offense. Lucas Wey has a 28 yard field goal. Perhaps the highlight of the night, Jason Bunce's punt in the second quarter. With the ball on the Panther one yard line and with his heels on the endline of the end zone, one step and BOOM!!! the ball lands on the Rambler 45 (62 yards in the air) and rolls to the Rambler 18 yard line for, officially, an 81 yard punt.

Way leads the way with 86 yards on six carries and three toouchdowns. Alger carries the ball six times for 69 yards, Bunce 10 times for 66 yards and a TD and 282 rushing yards and 434 yards total. Alger finished 6 of 13 for 152 yards passing and two touchdowns, a 28 yard score to Paul Pulice and Renner's 31 yard TD. Defensively DeWitt holds Perry to 181 yards of total offense.

James Braska had 10 tackles, Eric Schaar nine, Casey Curtis nine, Tim Rameriz nine,  Drew Vanderbur six and John Markey six. Unfortunately Braska goes down with an injury and is out for the remainder of the season.

Final, DeWitt 45, Perry 6. Enjoy the game highlights by Kirk Williams, Greg Molitor and Steve Evans. 

Week Three, Williamston.