SPORTS

B.C. Coyotes win for Athens' Lamson

MITCH GALLOWAY
The Battle Creek Coyotes pose with Athens native Luke Lamson (center), who is recovering from a tractor accident last December.

ATHENS – It's been three weeks since the Battle Creek Coyotes last had a home contest, and for the Coyotes, hosting a game at Athens High School was a little bit of a treat.

Saturday's game was a benefit for Athens native Luke Lamson, 14, who is recovering from a tractor accident last December. More than 175 people attended the contest between the Coyotes and Knights filling the stands in support of Luke and his family.

The Coyotes jumped out to an early 17-0 lead on the Northwest Ohio Knights before eventually winning, 38-20.

Battle Creek, ranked No. 8 in the MLFA (Minor League Football Alliance), is now 4-1 and in a three-way tie atop the league's Midwest Division. The No. 19-ranked Northwest Ohio Knights dropped to 0-5 in the Lake Shore Division.

Early on, it was all Coyotes. In the first two quarters, Battle Creek scored through the air, ground and special teams. A 17-point lead was created, but this didn't stop the Knights for making it a game.

Coyotes head coach and team owner Robbie Hattan, an Athens High School graduate, was happy with the turnout and the way the game finished.

"I feel like we came out really strong," Hattan said. "We got complacent in the third and credit that Knights team for taking notice and playing a heck of a game. The (Devington) Halliburton pick-six got the momentum back for us, and we finished strong."

Northwest Ohio would go on a little bit of a run, too, scoring 14-unanswered points in the third quarter as each touchdown came through the air from quarterback Ty Jones' right arm.

However, the play of the game came in the fourth quarter with 10:15 left to play. The Knights had managed to cut the deficit to four points, 24-20, and were driving up the field in an effort to take a lead of their own.

Cutting into the passing lane, Coyote cornerback Devington Halliburton anticipated a Jones' pass, snatched the ball out of midair, and returned it 20 yards for the score. This touchdown would essentially put the game out of reach for the Knights.

In the game, Halliburton had four scores. He had five receptions for 63 yards and three touchdowns while adding a defensive score. Quarterback Dee Peters had an efficient night as well, going 10-of-19 passing for 97 yards and three scores — all to Halliburton. On the ground for the Coyotes, Robbie Crockett led the way with seven carries for 91 yards.

On defense, lineman Travis Shepler and linebacker Mike Page each had strong games. Shepler had seven tackles and half a sack, while Page had eight tackles and a sack.

The Coyotes will have a week off for the July 4 weekend before heading on the road to face the No. 1-ranked Toledo Thunder (5-0) at the University of Toledo on July 11. Kickoff from the 'Glass Bowl' will be at 4 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live by the Michigan Sports Network (MISN) on the Battle Creek Coyotes website at battlecreekcoyotes.com.

BATTLE CREEK COYOTES UPDATE

• SATURDAY: B.C. Coyotes 38, NW Ohio Knights 20

• JULY 11: B.C. Coyotes at Toledo Thunder, 4 p.m.

• ONLINE: Scores, schedule and live streaming games at battlecreekcoyotes.com