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9/23/07 The Lakeland Eagles are a program on the rise. Very deserving of their 4-0 record and their perch atop the competitive KVC, they would still have to prove they could do what Novi Wildcat football has become renowned for; Winning the big game on the road. In the last few years Novi has garnered many huge road wins at tough places like South Lyon (2000), Hartland (2001), Milford, Northville and Lake Orion (2002), Brighton (2003), Canton (2004) and Howell (2005). All of these pivotal games either vaulted the Wildcats into serious contention for a conference title, helped them to qualify for a playoff berth, or resulted in a huge District playoff victory that would allow them to advance to the next round. When they write the history books for 2007 and the final record is etched in stone, as far as victories, they won’t ask how…just how many. Chalk one more in the books Friday night as a gritty, gutty outcome that will surely have the visiting Eagles replaying this one in their minds over and over, believing they should have pulled it out. But, forget the time of possession, number of first downs or offensive yardage statistics. The only thing that matters is the final score and that will show the home team prevailed, 10-9. Simply put, when it mattered for the most part, it was the Green and White that came up with the big plays when they needed them most. The sacks, the blocked extra point, the clutch field goal, the 68-yd highlight film touchdown run and of course the tremendous spirit of an amped-up home crowd that chipped in as the ‘12th man,’ added up to another memorable victory. The KVC has always been that way. To win it, you have to get it done on the road and the Wildcats have soared like Eagles (make that Wildcats) in that category. By not holding serve as Novi did last week vs. Howell, the Lakeland Eagles opened the door for the Novi Wildcats to take residence in the catbird seat of the KVC. In two weeks, it will be Homecoming vs. the South Lyon Lions and potentially a chance to garner a 6th victory and an automatic playoff berth. But first it’s off to Brighton, a program that Novi respects and knows that the Bulldogs will do everything they can to stop the Cats. But, winning on the road has become a habit for this program. They are 2-0 in enemy territory this season and next week at this time, I believe they’ll still be undefeated on the road for 2007. I believe in this team, and I think they do too. (c) 2007 Novi
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