C-S overcomes challenges to win 24-12
By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax-Scotts varsity football team answered challenges in the first half with a stronger second half to register a 24-12 win over Concord in the season opener at Concord August 28.
The Panthers were able to overcome two first half turnovers, early frustrations offensively, four penalties in the first half, and an early 6-0 deficit.
First year coach Justin Kirinovic said he was impressed how his team responded with a better second half performance and was able to grind out a victory.
“We definitely overcame some adversity tonight. We really worked hard. All season I’m talking about that. We knew there were going to be bad times. And I think these kids really stuck with it. They kept their brotherhood and picked themselves up when things went wrong and ultimately came on top,” points out the Panther first year coach.
“It was a rough start. But Climax-Scotts, we always come back in the second half. I think we did a really good job keeping our energy up. And when the other team was getting tired, we kept it going,” adds senior Elijah Bowron.
Kirinovic said he was especially pleased how his team bounced back from some challenges in the first half and started executing in more areas regularly in the second half.
“We talk about ownership all the time. We had some turnovers and owned it. We moved on and we focused on the rest of the game. I think we did a great job at that.
The way the defense shined with two late fourth down stops in the first half, an interception in the second half and holding Concord to six points in the second half, was impressive to Bowron.
“When we were on defense and we were really physical, their (Concord) offense, they didn’t know what hit them every single play. We were getting in their backfield, blowing up the
quarterback. Our defense locked down, our corners were doing super good and I just praise our defense so much,” said Bowron.
The coaching staff will be looking for improvement in all areas heading into a week two home clash against Britton Deerfield September 3, but Kirinovic said cutting down on turnovers is at the top of the list.
“I think we can control that game a little bit better if we don’t have those turnovers. Definitely got to cut down on the turnovers. There’s going to be things we look on in film and we know we have to execute better,” observed the first year coach.
After the C-S offense managed eight total yards and had to punt on its first possession, it didn’t take Concord long to respond with its first touchdown.
The Yellowjackets capped a four-play, 74-yard drive with a 54-yard touchdown run by senior Darrell Dean at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Panthers however answered with a quick touchdown as well.
Junior Alex Wurtzel found an opening and cut to the left scampering 64 yards on a fourth and five play for a touchdown with 5:20 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
A Brody Vosburg fumble recovery moments later on the Concord 25-yard line with 4:05 left set up C-S’ next score.
Three plays later Panther quarterback Alex Wurtzel hooked up with Dane Sattler for a 31-yard touchdown strike with 2:19 left in the opening frame (the two-point conversion attempt failed) and C-S took a 12-6 lead into the second frame.
The Climax-Scotts varsity football team answered challenges in the first half with a stronger second half to register a 24-12 win over Concord in the season opener at Concord August 28.
The Panthers were able to overcome two first half turnovers, early frustrations offensively, four penalties in the first half, and an early 6-0 deficit.
First year coach Justin Kirinovic said he was impressed how his team responded with a better second half performance and was able to grind out a victory.
“We definitely overcame some adversity tonight. We really worked hard. All season I’m talking about that. We knew there were going to be bad times. And I think these kids really stuck with it. They kept their brotherhood and picked themselves up when things went wrong and ultimately came on top,” points out the Panther first year coach.
“It was a rough start. But Climax-Scotts, we always come back in the second half. I think we did a really good job keeping our energy up. And when the other team was getting tired, we kept it going,” adds senior Elijah Bowron.
Kirinovic said he was especially pleased how his team bounced back from some challenges in the first half and started executing in more areas regularly in the second half.
“We talk about ownership all the time. We had some turnovers and owned it. We moved on and we focused on the rest of the game. I think we did a great job at that.
The way the defense shined with two late fourth down stops in the first half, an interception in the second half and holding Concord to six points in the second half, was impressive to Bowron.
“When we were on defense and we were really physical, their (Concord) offense, they didn’t know what hit them every single play. We were getting in their backfield, blowing up the
quarterback. Our defense locked down, our corners were doing super good and I just praise our defense so much,” said Bowron.
The coaching staff will be looking for improvement in all areas heading into a week two home clash against Britton Deerfield September 3, but Kirinovic said cutting down on turnovers is at the top of the list.
“I think we can control that game a little bit better if we don’t have those turnovers. Definitely got to cut down on the turnovers. There’s going to be things we look on in film and we know we have to execute better,” observed the first year coach.
After the C-S offense managed eight total yards and had to punt on its first possession, it didn’t take Concord long to respond with its first touchdown.
The Yellowjackets capped a four-play, 74-yard drive with a 54-yard touchdown run by senior Darrell Dean at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Panthers however answered with a quick touchdown as well.
Junior Alex Wurtzel found an opening and cut to the left scampering 64 yards on a fourth and five play for a touchdown with 5:20 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
A Brody Vosburg fumble recovery moments later on the Concord 25-yard line with 4:05 left set up C-S’ next score.
Three plays later Panther quarterback Alex Wurtzel hooked up with Dane Sattler for a 31-yard touchdown strike with 2:19 left in the opening frame (the two-point conversion attempt failed) and C-S took a 12-6 lead into the second frame.
C-S ball carrier Alexander Wurtzel (2) attempts to evade three Concord players during action in the season opener at Concord August 28.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
After starting its next possession in good field position at its own 49-yard line, Concord fumbled and C-S recovered, giving the Panthers good field position by starting a drive at its own 41-yard line.
However the drive was shortlived, as Concord recovered a Panther fumble 48 seconds into the second quarter.
The defense came up with a big stop late in the first half when Concord drove down to the Panther five-yard line but C-S stopped the home team on a fourth and one play with a five yard loss.
A C-S fumble on the first possession following the big defensive stop gave the Yellowjackets the ball on the Panther 10-yard line.
But the C-S defense came up big again, stopping Concord on a fourth and one play from the Panther 10-yard line and the Panthers took a 12-6 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
The Panther defense came up with a key take away to stop Concord on its opening drive of the second half when Bowron intercepted a pass in the endzone with 7:57 left in the third quarter.
A 33-yard reception by Dane Sattler from Alex Wurtzel set up C-S’ next score.
An Alex Wurtzel to Bowron six-yard pass play on a fourth down play left C-S knocking on the door at the Concord two-yard line and Wurtzel finished the drive by crossing the goal line from the two-yard line with 27 seconds left in the third quarter (the two-point conversion was no good).
C-S entered the final stanza with a 18-6 lead.
The C-S offense later moved down to the Concord 22-yard line, but a Yellowjacket interception with 8:27 left gave the home team the ball on its own six-yard line.
The Yellowjackets culminated a 94-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run up the middle by Darrell Dean at the 5:32 mark, pulling the home team to 18-12 (the two-point conversion was no good).
The Panthers responded quickly.
Sparked by a 39-yard run by Bowron, the Panther senior got loose again for a 29-yard touchdown burst with 2:27 left in the game (the two-point conversion was no good), establishing the final score.
Concord made the ending interesting by driving to the C-S 25-yard line. However the home team could not keep the drive going when the Panther defense stopped the home team on a fourth and seven play, giving C-S the ball and the visitors ran out the clock.
Final team and individual stats were not available.
Season opening win has
added significance for coach
By Bruce Rolfe
A win in the season opener always takes energy and confidence levels up a notch.
But the Climax-Scotts sidelines were really jacked up following a 24-12 win over Concord in the varsity football teams’ season opener at Concord August 28.
And for a good reason.
The win not only gave first year Panther coach Justin Kirinovic his first win at Climax-Scotts in the first game of the season, but the win was also his first as a 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 before securing the C-S head coach position.
A win in the season opener always takes energy and confidence levels up a notch.
But the Climax-Scotts sidelines were really jacked up following a 24-12 win over Concord in the varsity football teams’ season opener at Concord August 28.
And for a good reason.
The win not only gave first year Panther coach Justin Kirinovic his first win at Climax-Scotts in the first game of the season, but the win was also his first as a 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 before securing the C-S head coach position.
After it was noted in the endzone after the game when the team gathered the win was his first as a head coach, Kirinovic had a touching response.
“I wouldn’t want my first win with any other team,” said the first year C-S coach.
“It feels great. That first one is really special. It’s one that I’ll always remember. I think what I’ll remember the most is the kids. I’ll always remember every single one of these kids that was a part of the first one (win) with the program as the head coach. I’m really excited and can’t wait for many more,” adds Kirinovic.
His players were happy for their first year coach as well.
“Coming from his old school (Gull Lake) I bet he was pretty excited coming here. I hope we made him proud because at the end we put on a performance and all us guys were happy when he got his first win,” said C-S senior Elijah Bowron.
“I wouldn’t want my first win with any other team,” said the first year C-S coach.
“It feels great. That first one is really special. It’s one that I’ll always remember. I think what I’ll remember the most is the kids. I’ll always remember every single one of these kids that was a part of the first one (win) with the program as the head coach. I’m really excited and can’t wait for many more,” adds Kirinovic.
His players were happy for their first year coach as well.
“Coming from his old school (Gull Lake) I bet he was pretty excited coming here. I hope we made him proud because at the end we put on a performance and all us guys were happy when he got his first win,” said C-S senior Elijah Bowron.
2026 C-S Varsity Football
A Look Ahead ...
9/11 Lenawee Christian Away 7 p.m.
9/18 Colon Away 7 p.m.
Volleyball team resumes action
An unexpected cancellation left the Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team sidelined for eight days instead of two.
The Lady Panther varsity volleyball team was scheduled to host North Adams-Jerome August 27 but C-S coach Jeanelle Pontoni said the local school district learned North Adams-Jerome did not have enough players. She said the athletic department is attempting to secure a replacement match.
The JVs were not scheduled to play North Adams because North Adams does not have a JV team.
Only the C-S varsity was scheduled to play at Burr Oak September 1 and then both the JVs and varsity return hom September 10 for a match against Athens, starting with the JV match at 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Panther varsity volleyball team was scheduled to host North Adams-Jerome August 27 but C-S coach Jeanelle Pontoni said the local school district learned North Adams-Jerome did not have enough players. She said the athletic department is attempting to secure a replacement match.
The JVs were not scheduled to play North Adams because North Adams does not have a JV team.
Only the C-S varsity was scheduled to play at Burr Oak September 1 and then both the JVs and varsity return hom September 10 for a match against Athens, starting with the JV match at 5:30 p.m.
2026 C-S Girls JV/Varsity Volleyball
A Look Ahead ...
9/10 Athens (JV/Var.) Home 5:30 p.m.
9/12 Panther Inv. (Var.) Home 8:30 a.m.
A Look Ahead ...
9/10 Athens (JV/Var.) Home 5:30 p.m.
9/12 Panther Inv. (Var.) Home 8:30 a.m.
C-S Jr. High/High School Cross Country
A Look Ahead ...
9/8 Heritage Christ. (Jr. High) Away 4:30 p.m.
9/8 Heritage Christ. (High School) Away 5:15 p.m.
9/12 Centreville Inv. (High School) Away TBD
9/16 Pittsford (High school) Away 5 p.m.
A Look Ahead ...
9/8 Heritage Christ. (Jr. High) Away 4:30 p.m.
9/8 Heritage Christ. (High School) Away 5:15 p.m.
9/12 Centreville Inv. (High School) Away TBD
9/16 Pittsford (High school) Away 5 p.m.
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