East Lansing paces CAAC with ground game; Sexton, Williamston also notch league wins
OKEMOS — East Lansing used a powerful rushing attack and special-teams takeaways to defeat Okemos 33-12 Friday, the latest result in a busy Week 5 for Greater Lansing-area high school football.
Running back Baylor Schanski led the Trojans with a game-high 251 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Schanski also is credited with hauling in two interceptions, a rare two-way contribution that helped swing momentum for East Lansing, which improved to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in CAAC Blue.
Rodney Green provided a big special-teams play, returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Jeremiah Fry added 40 yards rushing and a score, and Anthony Green led the Trojans’ defense with eight tackles.
Okemos quarterback Blake Burke finished with 251 yards passing and two total touchdowns. Receiver Brett Burak paced the Wolves with 105 receiving yards and a touchdown. Okemos fell to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the CAAC Blue.
Close calls and breakout games elsewhere in the region
In a CAAC Red rivalry, Williamston edged Haslett 27-21. Luke Criscuolo accounted for both phases of the Hornets’ attack, throwing for 187 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 100 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran in the go-ahead touchdown and converted the two-point play in the fourth quarter.
Sexton rolled to a 30-6 CAAC White victory over Charlotte. Quarterback Abdual Carter Foreman threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns and added 111 yards rushing. Willie Brown had five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown and also recorded an interception, while Jalen Maxwell returned a fumble 42 yards for a score.
Nonleague action produced some lopsided scores. Pewamo-Westphalia defeated Bark River-Harris 59-14; Carter Thelen ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns and Andrew Kriss scored three rushing touchdowns plus a kick-return touchdown. Pewamo-Westphalia improved to 5-0.
DeWitt cruised to a 49-26 nonleague victory at Trenton. Griffin Braman completed 9 of 10 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown on 63 yards on the ground. Donovan Hillard ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns for DeWitt, which moved to 4-1.
Olivet posted a 58-16 win over Ionia. Koal Burkett led Olivet with a team-best 97 rushing yards in the victory.
- East Lansing 33, Okemos 12 — Schanski 251 rush yds, 3 TDs; Burke 251 pass yds, 2 TDs.
- Williamston 27, Haslett 21 — Criscuolo 187 pass yds, 1 TD; 100 rush yds, 3 TDs.
- Sexton 30, Charlotte 6 — Foreman 169 pass yds, 2 TDs; 111 rush yds.
- Pewamo-Westphalia 59, Bark River-Harris 14 — Thelen 111 rush yds, 2 TDs; Pewamo-Westphalia 5-0.
- DeWitt 49, Trenton 26 — Braman 173 pass yds, 1 TD; Hillard 119 rush yds, 2 TDs.
- Olivet 58, Ionia 16 — Burkett 97 rush yds.
“We executed in key moments and made plays on special teams,” said an East Lansing coach, summing up a performance that featured strong rushing and a game-changing kickoff return.
Implications for local standings and next steps
Friday’s results shuffle the middle of the CAAC divisions. East Lansing’s conference win keeps the Trojans in contention in the CAAC Blue, while Okemos will need to regroup as league play continues. Williamston’s narrow victory in the CAAC Red rivalry adds separation in that division, and Sexton’s comprehensive performance strengthens its standing in the CAAC White.
As the season passes the halfway mark, individual performances such as Schanski’s 251-yard game and Criscuolo’s multifaceted showing underline which players could shape the playoff races for Lansing-area schools. Teams will return to practice this week with league games looming that will define postseason positioning.
| Player | Team | Notable stat |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor Schanski | East Lansing | 251 rush yds, 3 TDs; 2 interceptions |
| Rodney Green | East Lansing | 98-yd kickoff return TD |
| Luke Criscuolo | Williamston | 187 pass yds, 1 TD; 100 rush yds, 3 TDs |
| Abdual Carter Foreman | Sexton | 169 pass yds, 2 TDs; 111 rush yds |
Local teams will take the field again next week in CAAC and nonleague play. Fans and families across the Lansing area are likely to see renewed intensity as schools jockey for postseason positioning entering the second half of the regular season.
