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Ever since Hartland coach Aaron Metz reminded his gamers that soccer is meant to be enjoyable, his staff has been some of the enjoyable groups to look at.
Hartland (3-1, 3-0) has gained three straight since a 28-0 loss to Oxford in Week 1, together with beating rival Brighton on Friday for the primary time since 2015.
In the 36-21 victory, Nic Honeycutt rushed for 228 yards, a landing and a key two-point conversion. He additionally caught a 9-yard TD from Logan Morrish.
“We played so tight and shot ourselves in the foot so many times when we were shut out by Oxford,” mentioned second-year coach Metz, who beforehand coached at rival Howell from 2008 to 2019. “We just played so tight and turned the ball over three times in their end, to the point I had to remind our kids that we are playing a game. High school football isn’t life or death. I told them to just go play and let whatever happens happen.”
Since that speak, Hartland has picked up back-to-back confidence-boosting wins over Westland John Glenn, 57-6, and Wayne Memorial, 55-0, getting into its first Livingston County rivalry recreation feeling greater than the underdog.
After Brighton struck first, Morrish answered with a 56-yard TD go to Coen Chwalek. Then Honeycutt scored from 20 yards to present Hartland a 14-7 lead it by no means relinquished.
Dylan Crowe added TD runs of 34 and 27 yards. His second rating got here proper after Brighton’s Dom Nauss scored his second TD to make it a 29-21 recreation within the third quarter.
“Our kids realized they could play with Brighton after losing 17-7 to them last year,” Metz mentioned. “We felt we left too much out there. But watching film this week, we felt confident coming into the game, and that’s good for our kids. They’re really buying into what we’re doing right now.”
They actually are.
Honeycutt already has 648 yards and 7 TDs by 4 video games. Miami (Ohio) commit William Tobin has been among the best blockers within the Kensington Lakes Activities Association. And Hartland’s multisport athletes preserve stepping up.
Morrish, a future school level guard, has orchestrated the offense. Northwood lacrosse commit Nate Anderer leads the protection at center linebacker. Crowe, a Central Michigan baseball commit, got here out for the staff for the primary time since freshman yr.
“Having some of our best athletes in the school lead us has been key,” Metz mentioned. “Like Logan, that kid says he’ll do whatever I want him to do. He had a pancake block on a lead block, even though he’s a basketball-first kid. He just sees the field great for us, and he’s even been a weapon as a kicker.”
The enjoyable ought to proceed in opposition to winless Novi subsequent week.
The actual problem comes in opposition to reigning league champion Howell (4-0, 2-0) in Week 6.
Expect Hartland to take that Gold Division recreation rather less significantly than its opener in opposition to Oxford – in a great way.
Because taking part in free and holding issues enjoyable has been a giant a part of its turnaround.
“I’m just going to keep reminding the kids we are blessed to play the game we play,” Metz mentioned. “When it gets harder, we need to remind ourselves there are people going through harder things out there, so let’s just make this fun and get after it.”
@folsomwrites
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https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/09/20/hartland-coach-aaron-metz-fun-team-wins-third-straight/91860601007/
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