By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — If the Division 3 district football final between Bloomfield Hills Lahser and Lapeer West Nov. 8 at Lahser offered anything, it was a chance at redemption.

Redemption for a team that had missed the playoffs last season, and maybe even a little for senior running back Tevin Gibson.

While it’s true that the Knights lived to see another game, it didn’t look good with just a few minutes to play. Following two fourth-quarter turnovers by Lahser, West had a 13-10 lead and the ball on Lahser’s 8-yard line.

More than anything, the Knights were in need of a big defensive stop.

And they got one.

A fumble recovery by senior Clay Linton on Lahser’s 5 gave the offense one more chance, and it made the most of it.

“We always ask them to dig as deep as they can and leave it on the football field,” Lahser coach Dan Loria said. “I told those guys when they got the football back, ‘Win or lose, you’re going to play 48 minutes and you’re going to be proud of this football season.’”

After a running play on first down gave senior quarterback Drew Jackson a little bit of room to maneuver, he threw a 50-yard strike to junior Jacob Hatchett. On the next play, Jackson handed the ball to Gibson, who had fumbled two possessions earlier. Gibson started left, and then darted right. He didn’t stop running until he crossed the goal line after a 34-yard run, his second score of the game.

The touchdown and ensuing extra point by junior Cody Henderson put the finishing touches on a dramatic 17-13 victory.

“I’m not going to lie, I was nervous,” Gibson said about getting the ball in his hands after the turnover. “But my coaches believed in me; I believed in myself; and the line believed in me. They could have easily said, ‘I don’t want to give him the ball again, he fumbled.’ But they kept giving it to me.”

Gibson wears a protective cast over his left forearm because of broken bones he suffered during the first week of August, which he admits affects the way he carries the ball.

“I’m not going to make excuses; I came out here to play,” Gibson said.

“He’s the workhorse,” Loria said. “The kid has two broken bones in his forearm and (he) came back to play football. … If you’re going to ride him, you’re going to ride him with one arm or two arms.”

The Knights’ (10-1) next test comes against Warren Fitzgerald (10-1) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at home.

You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062.