2003 Football

DeWitt entered the season with the challenge of following an historic run to the Division 3 state championship game in 2002.  With the pain still fresh from the loss to East Grand Rapids, the returning lettermen for the Panthers were highly motivated to finish the job this time, and their confidence was bolstered by a move down to Division 4. The season started slowly, as frustrating losses to Haslett and Fowlerville meant the boys had to settle for a third-place finish in the conference. The Panther defense was tough all year, only allowing 11.8 points per game during the regular season, including three shutouts. Entering the playoffs with a 7-2 record, DeWitt started to put it all together.  Offensively, the Panthers only averaged 25.6 points during the regular season, but they exploded for 41 points per game over the next three weeks to capture District and Regional titles. In the district, DeWitt went on the road to defeat Linden (42-20) and Flint Powers Catholic (31-7) and then brought home the Regional Championship with an impressive 50-14 destruction of Caro. The Panthers knocked off Richmond 35-17 in the semi-final to earn a return trip to the Pontiac Silverdome. In the state championship game, several uncharacteristic turnovers limited the Panthers offensively, as DeWitt fell 24-6 to Three Rivers. Although the Panthers finished runner-up for the second straight year, this group of young men started the season with only six starters back from the previous record-breaking season and their underdog story rallied DeWitt’s community. The 2003 Boys Football team included the following members: Zachary Blankenship, Dan Blemaster, Justin Boutwell, Justin Braska, Scott Brewster, Mat Brynick, James Chestnut, Joseph Ciaramella, Todd Colville, Todd Decatur, Tanner Ehnis, Sam Evans, Chadd Fletcher, David Flood, Alex Friend, Anthony Garavaglia, Nathan Gates, Doug Hixson, Jeff Horn, Mark Hunsaker, Josh Jimmerson, Dan Jorgensen, Andy Joslyn, Brandon Kacel, Alex Kashenider, Kaleb Keener, Ryan Kelly, Kyle Laurent, Sean Little, Bryan Lloyd, Josh Lloyd, Andrew Longo, John Markey, Chris Martlew, Ken McClure, Highland McKenna, Justin Meeder, John Mena, Travis Milner, Mike Neal, Jeff Nolen, Andrew Perry, Josh Powe, Paul Pulice, Erik Pung, Harlan Raby, Brian Richey, Kyle Richey, Louis Ryan, Rick Saenz, Austin Schaar, Rich Schneeberger, Nick Shafer, Seth Swanson, Steve Toomey, Ryan VanArsdall, Drew Vanderbur, Rob Ward, Tyler Wellman, Chad Williams, Cody Worden, Head Coach Rob Zimmerman, Assistant Coaches Bob Acre, Kendall Crockett, Rick Galardi, Mike Schanski, John Vertalka, Tim Williams, Managers Jacob Acre, Zach Acre and Trey Williams, and Trainers Josh Paquet and Angie Thelen.