Each week during the 2017 Michigan high school football season 4Frenzy's Game of the Week featuring top teams and players in Metro Detroit. This week's match up highlights two teams off to undefeated starts: Waterford Kettering playing at Walled Lake Western. Watch for game highlights Friday night and a full recap during Sports Final Edition on Sunday night. Visit our 4Frenzy page for high school sports updates all season, including 4Frenzy Polls searching for the best across all high school sports and activities.
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Trust has helped Walled Lake Western to big victories in its first two games. And trust could pay big dividends for the Warriors the rest of the season.
It’s already produced good results, as Walled Lake Western has won its first two games behind the play of quarterback Sam Johnson and wide receiver Justin Thomas.
The Warriors, state finalists a season ago, will try to trust the process again and continue their winning ways when they host undefeated Waterford Kettering on Friday night.
“I have trust in my quarterback Sam Johnson, and I have trust in my wideouts to block for me,” Thomas said after Walled Lake Western’s 44-8 victory over Milford last week.
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Johnson, a junior who already has received several scholarship offers, connected with Thomas for four of his five touchdown passes against Milford, and he echoed similar sentiments.
“I trust him,” Johnson said. “He just finds a way to get open and make plays for me.”
Johnson and Thomas are part of a dynamic offense.
Kevin Jackson caught a 50-yard touchdown pass against Milford, and sophomore split end Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen provides another option in the passing game.
Justin Thomas (5) and Sam Johnson (7) from Walled Lake Western
Senior tailback Jakkell Moore-Wells, who rushed for a 5-yard TD against Milford, leads the ground game.
Johnson also adds a dimension to the running attack. He rushed for two touchdowns in Western’s season-opening victory over West Bloomfield.
His ability has drawn attention in the recruiting world. Indiana, Illinois, Syracuse, Temple, Cincinnati and some Mid-American Conference schools have offered him scholarships, Johnson said.
But college is the future. In the meantime, Johnson is finding a comfort level at Walled Lake Western after transferring there from Southfield Arts and Technology last winter.
Against Milford, Johnson completed passes to six different receivers, and he found Thomas for TD passes of 10, 24, 42 and 37 yards.
“Basically, it was just execution,” Johnson said.
“He’s seeing things,” Walled Lake Western coach Mike Zdebski said. “He checked the coverage, he checked a couple plays. He checked us into the right play at the right time and the right protection at the right time. He’s playing with a lot of confidence.”
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The Warriors’ defense also is playing with confidence. Junior linebacker Zach Kempster, senior defensive end Zach Samp and senior Jack Brandt head up a unit that has only allowed 22 points through the first two games.
Thomas said the Warriors have big goals after going 12-2 overall and reaching the Division 2 state championship game in 2016. They’d like a return trip to the finals, the receiver said.
First, though, Walled Lake Western needs to get through the regular season in the Lakes Valley Conference.
Next up is a matchup against league foe Waterford Kettering, which went 3-6 last season but is already 2-0 this season under new coach Kenny Schmidt.
“I think our team has worked really hard,” Schmidt said. “They’ve come together as a team.”
Schmidt played high school football at Waterford Mott for his dad, Ken Schmidt. Now the son hopes to leave a mark at the school across town.
The Captains are averaging 34.5 points in their first two games, and junior quarterback Ryan Nolan passed for three touchdowns in a 35-17 victory over South Lyon last week.
Nolan is a three-sport athlete - he also plays basketball and track - and he’s a returning starter on the gridiron.
“He has a good football IQ,” Schmidt said.
Tanner Steward rushed for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for another TD for Kettering last week against South Lyon. Anthony Fox, Casmer Johnson and Bryce Mojica all had touchdown receptions.
Steward and Casmer Johnson also have led the Captains on defense. They’re joined at linebacker by Ben Whittaker. Schmidt said the team has received solid contributions from defensive end Jason Mydini.
“We’ve created some turnovers,” Schmidt said. “We get to the ball really well.”
While Schmidt is encouraged by his team’s effort in the first two games, he wants his players focused on their next opponent. He realizes that Walled Lake Western - which has made the playoffs 13 of the past 14 years - represents a tough challenge.
“One of our team goals is to take it one game at a time,” Schmidt said. “Our goal is to be 1-0 each week.”
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