The Climax-Scotts varsity football team is pictured (front row, left to right) Ethan Seige, Cooper Dinse, Wyatt Deeds, Aiden Klusman, Maddox Wyman, Elijah Bowron, Easton Vanmiddlesworth, and Blake Wechsler; (second row, left to right) Jace Clougston, Jacques Porlier, Aaden Krick, Luke Frost, Cole Birkam, Max Wurtzel, Bryce Srackangast, Bryce Birkam, Dane Sattler, and Tyler Bradly; (third row, left to right) Noah Hagadorn, Jett Frost, Lincoln Bartholomew, Gunner Wyman, Damien Watson, JJ Vincent, Logan Malerva-Ramiro, Brody Vosburg, Alex Wurtzel, and Nathan Joyal; and (back row, left to right) coaches Matt Birkam, Mark Blaesser, Justin Kirinovic, Scott Walker, and Dylan Butler.
By Bruce Rolfe
When the new football season starts August 28 at 7 p.m. at Concord for Climax-Scotts, the varsity football coach won’t have the last name of Langs for the first time since 1998.
Hall of Fame and longtime C-S varsity football coach Kevin Langs was hired as the Panther football coach in 1999. He held the position until he joined his son Tyler Langs in 2021. Tyler became the head coach in 2022 and held the position until the C-S School Board chose not to retain him following a months long investigation after he was placed on paid
administrative leave last October for what the school district said at the time through a statement were complaints. Kevin Langs resigned during the investigation.
Justin Kirinovic was hired as the new varsity football coach in May.
Counting the 6-4 season C-S had when Kevin and Tyler shared the head coaching position in 2021, the Panther football program enjoyed a combined record of 226-65 under the leadership of Kevin (186-53) and Tyler (34-8) Langs. C-S has qualified for the postseason the last 23 years.
That’s a lot of winning and success.
Kirinovic recognizes and appreciates the winning tradition that exists at C-S and is excited his first head varsity football coaching position is at a school district that has a long history of winning.
“I am extremely excited at my new opportunity as the head football coach at C-S. C-S has a great tradition of winning within its football program. I’m honored to be a part of and continue that tradition,” said the new Panther head coach.
Kirinovic, who is entering his ninth year as a coach, previously coached at Tawas Area High School for one year, Parchment High School for four years, and Gull Lake High School for three years. At Tawas he was a receivers and defensive backs coach. At Parchment he coached receivers, running backs, and defensive backs. He also served as the JV head coach and JV offensive coordinator for one year. At Gull Lake he was the receivers and defensive backs coach and was the JV head coach and JV offensive coordinator for two years.
When looking at the roster, there is a mix of first year varsity players and returners, including some who had impressive seasons last year.
“We don’t have the largest numbers, but we have some great football players. We have a good combination of speed, athleticism, and physicality. I’m looking forward to seeing that on the field once games start,” observed Kirinovic.
The offense has a lot of potential. The quarterback position is especially intriguing. Senior Maddox Wyman and junior Alex Wurtzel shared the position last year, and both players enjoyed strong seasons in 2025.
Wyman completed 24-of-35 passes for 446 yards and four touchdown passes while Wurtzel was 36-for-50 for 597 yards and six touchdown passes. Wurtzel added another 108 yards rushing on 27 attempts and two rushing touchdowns while Wyman rushed for 889 yards on 75 attempts and 12 rushing touchdowns. He was an SCAA second team selection as a skilled player.
Kirinovic has been impressed with both, who will be battling for the starting spot.
“Both Maddox and Alex are doing a tremendous job at quarterback. They are both adjusting to the new offense and learning to adapt quickly. We are still early on in the season and those guys are battling for the starting spot day in and day out at practice. I’m excited to see how they compete once we get into the scrimmage,” said the first year Panther coach.
Senior running back Elijah Bowron, who churned out 1165 yards on 101 carries and scored 12 rushing touchdowns last year, will be another offensive threat. He added 292 return yards and was an SCAA second team selection as a skilled position player.
Junior running back Max Wurtzel had 150 yards on 25 carries last year with one rushing touchdown.
The key to any successful running game starts up front and C-S has some talented offensive linemen returning from a team that piled up 4,128 yards on the ground last season.
Senior offensive lineman Cooper Dinse was named to the SCAA first team and senior offensive lineman Cole Birkam was named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association 8 player Div. 1 Region 3 All-Region team and SCAA second team as an offensive lineman last year.
Junior offensive lineman Aiden Krick also enjoyed a strong season last year when he was an SCAA honorable mention selection as an offensive lineman.
C-S has four returners on the defensive side who enjoyed strong seasons last year.
Junior defensive lineman and linebacker Easton Vanmiddlesworth had a team leading 63 tackles, a team high 14 tackles for a loss and sacks, a team high eight tackles for a loss and he led the team with six sacks. Those numbers helped him earn a spot on the SCAA first team as a defensive lineman.
Bowron finished last year with 58 tackles and three interceptions from his defensive back position. He was named to the SCAA second team as a defensive back. Wyman totaled 57 tackles, and four interceptions from a defensive back position last year when he was selected to the SCAA first team as a defensive back. Junior linebacker Dane Sattler had 53 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks last year, helping him earn a spot on the SCAA first team as a linebacker.
Kirinovic feels the Panthers’ schedule will be tough and is emphasizing the need to work hard in practice to get better each week.
With Athens dropping football this year, C-S currently has eight opponents on the schedule.
C-S Athletic Director Shane Wesseldyk said he is trying to schedule an opponent in place of Athens.
The eight opponents for C-S had a combined record last year of 45-31.
Britton Deerfield (week No. 2 opponent) and Mendon (week No. 8 opponent) both advanced to the regional finals last year. Britton Deerfield features Division 8, 8-Man All State and
All-Region players senior running back Trevor Karpinski, senior Cayden Allshouse and senior linebacker John Johnson.
Mendon boasts All-region returners senior offensive lineman Tristin Wood and senior defensive back Zak Iobe.
C-S’ season opening opponent, Concord, finished 5-4 last year, “Every week we are going to have to prepare carefully and execute at a high level on Friday night. I look forward to the challenge and seeing our guys compete,” said Kirinovic.
Kirinovic will be assisted by Matt Birkam (offensive/defensive line coach), Mark Blaesser (defensive coordinator), Scott Walker (receivers/defensive backs coach), and Dylan Butler (special teams coach).
When the new football season starts August 28 at 7 p.m. at Concord for Climax-Scotts, the varsity football coach won’t have the last name of Langs for the first time since 1998.
Hall of Fame and longtime C-S varsity football coach Kevin Langs was hired as the Panther football coach in 1999. He held the position until he joined his son Tyler Langs in 2021. Tyler became the head coach in 2022 and held the position until the C-S School Board chose not to retain him following a months long investigation after he was placed on paid
administrative leave last October for what the school district said at the time through a statement were complaints. Kevin Langs resigned during the investigation.
Justin Kirinovic was hired as the new varsity football coach in May.
Counting the 6-4 season C-S had when Kevin and Tyler shared the head coaching position in 2021, the Panther football program enjoyed a combined record of 226-65 under the leadership of Kevin (186-53) and Tyler (34-8) Langs. C-S has qualified for the postseason the last 23 years.
That’s a lot of winning and success.
Kirinovic recognizes and appreciates the winning tradition that exists at C-S and is excited his first head varsity football coaching position is at a school district that has a long history of winning.
“I am extremely excited at my new opportunity as the head football coach at C-S. C-S has a great tradition of winning within its football program. I’m honored to be a part of and continue that tradition,” said the new Panther head coach.
Kirinovic, who is entering his ninth year as a coach, previously coached at Tawas Area High School for one year, Parchment High School for four years, and Gull Lake High School for three years. At Tawas he was a receivers and defensive backs coach. At Parchment he coached receivers, running backs, and defensive backs. He also served as the JV head coach and JV offensive coordinator for one year. At Gull Lake he was the receivers and defensive backs coach and was the JV head coach and JV offensive coordinator for two years.
When looking at the roster, there is a mix of first year varsity players and returners, including some who had impressive seasons last year.
“We don’t have the largest numbers, but we have some great football players. We have a good combination of speed, athleticism, and physicality. I’m looking forward to seeing that on the field once games start,” observed Kirinovic.
The offense has a lot of potential. The quarterback position is especially intriguing. Senior Maddox Wyman and junior Alex Wurtzel shared the position last year, and both players enjoyed strong seasons in 2025.
Wyman completed 24-of-35 passes for 446 yards and four touchdown passes while Wurtzel was 36-for-50 for 597 yards and six touchdown passes. Wurtzel added another 108 yards rushing on 27 attempts and two rushing touchdowns while Wyman rushed for 889 yards on 75 attempts and 12 rushing touchdowns. He was an SCAA second team selection as a skilled player.
Kirinovic has been impressed with both, who will be battling for the starting spot.
“Both Maddox and Alex are doing a tremendous job at quarterback. They are both adjusting to the new offense and learning to adapt quickly. We are still early on in the season and those guys are battling for the starting spot day in and day out at practice. I’m excited to see how they compete once we get into the scrimmage,” said the first year Panther coach.
Senior running back Elijah Bowron, who churned out 1165 yards on 101 carries and scored 12 rushing touchdowns last year, will be another offensive threat. He added 292 return yards and was an SCAA second team selection as a skilled position player.
Junior running back Max Wurtzel had 150 yards on 25 carries last year with one rushing touchdown.
The key to any successful running game starts up front and C-S has some talented offensive linemen returning from a team that piled up 4,128 yards on the ground last season.
Senior offensive lineman Cooper Dinse was named to the SCAA first team and senior offensive lineman Cole Birkam was named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association 8 player Div. 1 Region 3 All-Region team and SCAA second team as an offensive lineman last year.
Junior offensive lineman Aiden Krick also enjoyed a strong season last year when he was an SCAA honorable mention selection as an offensive lineman.
C-S has four returners on the defensive side who enjoyed strong seasons last year.
Junior defensive lineman and linebacker Easton Vanmiddlesworth had a team leading 63 tackles, a team high 14 tackles for a loss and sacks, a team high eight tackles for a loss and he led the team with six sacks. Those numbers helped him earn a spot on the SCAA first team as a defensive lineman.
Bowron finished last year with 58 tackles and three interceptions from his defensive back position. He was named to the SCAA second team as a defensive back. Wyman totaled 57 tackles, and four interceptions from a defensive back position last year when he was selected to the SCAA first team as a defensive back. Junior linebacker Dane Sattler had 53 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks last year, helping him earn a spot on the SCAA first team as a linebacker.
Kirinovic feels the Panthers’ schedule will be tough and is emphasizing the need to work hard in practice to get better each week.
With Athens dropping football this year, C-S currently has eight opponents on the schedule.
C-S Athletic Director Shane Wesseldyk said he is trying to schedule an opponent in place of Athens.
The eight opponents for C-S had a combined record last year of 45-31.
Britton Deerfield (week No. 2 opponent) and Mendon (week No. 8 opponent) both advanced to the regional finals last year. Britton Deerfield features Division 8, 8-Man All State and
All-Region players senior running back Trevor Karpinski, senior Cayden Allshouse and senior linebacker John Johnson.
Mendon boasts All-region returners senior offensive lineman Tristin Wood and senior defensive back Zak Iobe.
C-S’ season opening opponent, Concord, finished 5-4 last year, “Every week we are going to have to prepare carefully and execute at a high level on Friday night. I look forward to the challenge and seeing our guys compete,” said Kirinovic.
Kirinovic will be assisted by Matt Birkam (offensive/defensive line coach), Mark Blaesser (defensive coordinator), Scott Walker (receivers/defensive backs coach), and Dylan Butler (special teams coach).
2026 C-S Varsity Football
A look ahead ...
8/28 Concord Away 7 p.m.
9/3 Britton Deerfield Away 7 p.m.
9/11 Lenawee Christian Away 7 p.m.
9/18 Colon Away 7 p.m.
9/26 B.C. St. Phil (At Post Field) Away 7 p.m.
A look ahead ...
8/28 Concord Away 7 p.m.
9/3 Britton Deerfield Away 7 p.m.
9/11 Lenawee Christian Away 7 p.m.
9/18 Colon Away 7 p.m.
9/26 B.C. St. Phil (At Post Field) Away 7 p.m.
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