Coming off its first loss of the season to state-ranked Farmington, the Macomb High football squad had little time to feel sorry for itself.
Returning to the road for the final time in the regular season, the Bombers faced a Knoxville squad determined in taking a huge step toward reaching the postseason.
MHS rose to that challenge Friday night at Dennis Larson Field, posting a 42-19 LincolnLand Large School Division win.
Macomb improved to 6-1 overall, 4-1 in division play. The victory also clinched the program’s fourth playoff berth in the last five seasons under coach Tanner Horrell.
It also gave Macomb five road wins in as many games this season.
“I’m really happy for the guys to officially clinch a playoff spot,” said Horrell. “It’s one of our goals every year. Now we have to make sure we keep improving so we are peaking in week 10.”
Knoxville dropped to 4-3 overall and in division play.
The Bomber defense made an early stand on Knoxville’s first possession.
The Blue Bullets had a first-and-10 at the Macomb 43 before Carter Havens and Nolan Hoge recorded tackles for loss on back-toback plays.
The two plays resulted in a 10-yard loss and Knoxville turned the ball over on downs two plays later at the Macomb 40.
The Bombers had much better luck on their first possession, driving 60 yards in five plays for the game’s first score.
Drake May had three carries for 39 yards on the drive. But it was Kaden Knupp’s 20-yard pass to Drew Watson that put the Bombers on the board with 4:43 remaining in the opening period.
Hayden Katz booted the first of his six point-after- touchdown kicks that put the visitors up 7-0.
Knoxville’s second drive was extended by an off-sides penalty that led to a first down. But on a fourth-and-5 play, Blaze Howell tackled Easton Harshbarger in the backfield for a two-yard loss, giving the ball back to the Bombers.
The offense needed just five plays to cover 58 yards, with May’s eight-yard run and a Katz PAT putting the Bombers up 14-0 with 8:49 left before halftime.
Knoxville scored on its next drive, leaning on freshman fullback James Long. He started the drive with a 28-yard run and finished it with a four-yard TD that closed the gap to 14-6 with 4:55 left in the second quarter.
Long carried the ball five times for 53 yards during his team’s eight play drive.
MHS answered with a sixplay, 68-yard drive. Knupp and Watson combined for passing plays of 18 and 27 yards before May scored on an eight-yard run that pushed the lead to 21-6 at the 2:32 mark.
Hoge then made the next big play for the Bomber defense.
On the first play of Knoxville’s following possession, he forced and recovered a Brydon Walters fumble at the Blue Bullet 38.
Back on offense, Knupp then connected with Hoge for a 38-yard touchdown that pushed the MHS lead to 28-6 just 21 seconds after its previous score.
“That allowed us to really break away in the second quarter,” said Horrell.
Macomb then scored on its opening possession of the second half, covering 72 yards in six plays.
Havens had three catches for 60 yards. His 36-yard reception set up Knupp’s two-yard TD that made it 35-6 at the 9:30 mark of the third period.
Knoxville answered, driving 65-yard in 11 plays, capped by a 16-yard TD run by Walters. That closed the gap to 35-12 with 4:37 left in the period.
But the Bombers scored just under two minutes later.
An 18-yard kick-off return by Havens, followed by his 32-yard run set up May for his third score of the night, this one from 22 yards.
Knoxville’s other score came in the game’s final minute on a Tanner McGarry 14-yard run and a Long PAT kick with 44.7 seconds to go.
“I was really happy with the way we responded coming off the loss last week,” said Horrell. “It was nice to get back on track offensively especially through the air.”
After completing just 10-of-21 pass attempts last week, Knupp was a perfect 8-of-8 for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’ve been throwing the ball really well in practice the last few weeks and it was nice to see that translate into a perfect night through the air,” said Horrell.
On the ground, May finished with 135 yards and three TDs on 14 carries.
As a team, the Bombers finished with 213 yards rushing on 24 carries.
“Once again our offensive line did an outstanding job of creating big running lanes for our running backs and kept a clean pocket for Kaden,” said Horrell. “Drake, Carter and Jeshua (McPheeters) did a great job of finding those lanes and running hard.”
Watson recorded four catches for 67 yards. breaking the school record for career receptions with 124.
The previous record was held by current Macomb High baseball coach and Junior High football coach John Ogle who had 120 career receptions.
Two weeks ago, he broke the MHS record for receiving yardage.
On the tackle chart, May led the way with 18 total tackles, including six solos. Havens also had six solo stops and 13 total tackles in all, while McPheeters added 10, including for solos.
Drake Taber and Kyler Norton added seven total tackles each, followed by Hoge and Howell with six apiece.
“Defensively we did a good job of bending but not breaking throughout the night,” said Horrell. “We made them earn every yard that they got. But we have to clean up the offside penalties that allow drives to continue.”
Knoxville finished with 319 yards rushing on 64 carries.
Long had 119 yards on 18 carries.
The Bombers will play their final two regular season games at home, starting with this week’s contest against Elmwood/ Brimfield (3-4, 3-2 Lincoln-Land Large).
The Trojans come to MHS Stadium having lost their last two games at West Hancock (42-34) and at home to Ottawa Marquette (51-6).
Elmwood/Brimfield defeated Knoxville 36-22 in the opening week of the season before losing at Farmington 58-6.
