DeWitt absolutely detonated Lowell in their Division 3 playoff opener, chalking up a 50-14 rout that frankly, felt like a statement. Reigning state champs, huh? They sure played like it.
Braman Lights Up the Stat Sheet, Defense Locks Down
Griffin Braman, the senior QB, put on a clinic. This dude had 11 carries for 134 yards and TWO touchdowns, then added 5-of-7 passing for 112 yards and ANOTHER touchdown. That’s 246 total yards and three scores! He dropped a 40-yard bomb to Landon Kurncz for one TD and gashed Lowell with 50 and 32-yard rushing scores. Seriously, he was electric, helping DeWitt build a ridiculous 36-0 lead by halftime.
And while Braman was cooking, the defense wasn’t exactly chilling. Hudson Snelling, a leader on that D, made sure Lowell had zero chance to breathe. Early in the second quarter, with DeWitt already up 22-0, Snelling broke up a fourth-down pass inside the 20. That killed any momentum Lowell thought they had. A few minutes later, Braman punched it in from 32 yards out. Snelling wasn’t done, recovering a fumble near midfield in the first quarter. That’s how you win playoff games, folks: offense going off and defense making huge plays.
The Champs Are Heating Up at the Perfect Time
This wasn’t just another win. DeWitt, now 8-2, has hit the 50-point mark for the fifth time this season, and get this: it’s their second straight game doing it. Coach Rob Zimmerman even said it himself, “I think we definitely played our best game of the season tonight.” He’s not wrong!
Think about what this means. Zimmerman noted they’ve been battling all season, running with “20 new starters and there was a couple games we had 21 new starters” due to “a lot of injuries.” He mentioned “six starters out” for some games, but last week against Okemos, they got everyone back except for one player. Getting healthy and hitting this stride? That’s what you want heading into the deep playoff run. Coach loved their “attitude and demeanor” and believes if they can build on this, they’ve got a “shot to be an awfully good football team.” You hear that? An *awfully good* football team.
Next up, DeWitt gets another home game, hosting Coopersville (9-1) in the district final. Coopersville’s only loss was in Week 9 to Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, a team DeWitt actually beat in their season opener. So, DeWitt has a real shot to clinch their *third consecutive* district championship. This team is finding its peak form exactly when it matters most, and that’s a dangerous sight for anyone standing in their way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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