By Rob Gee
WKTV sports volunteer/news@wktv.org
The year was 2008.
President George W. Bush was finishing his second term in office, Barack Obama was running for a first term. The war in Afghanistan was only six years old, OJ Simpson was convicted of a crime that would send him to prison and Lehman Brothers was still in business.
2008 was the last time that Wyoming Lee High School football would start the season with a win. After eight consecutive years of opening the season with a loss, Lee started its 2017 football campaign with a win by defeating New Buffalo, 26-8, on Thursday, Aug. 24.
As part of WKTV’s 2017-18 high school sports game coverage schedule, the video crew will be at Lee this Thursday, Aug. 31, for a 7 p.m. game. For a complete list of local high school sports scheduled visit here.
To find an opening day with Lee winning by more than 18 points, one must go all the way back to 1998, when Lee opened the season with a 64-0 win over Bloomingdale.
By no means does this set Lee up for a winning season but sure does set a tone for a different season than what Lee students have become accustom to having been 1-32 in their last 33 games.
A big catch and touchdown by speedster Thomas Robinson, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. and a defensive touchdown by JJ Williams, secured the win for the Rebels.
In other Wyoming-Kentwood area opening-night action:
Wyoming Kelloggsville was a winner in their game against White Hall by a score of 26-23, as ultra-Back Thomas Griggs scored once on the ground and once as a receiver to lead his team to the win as the Rockets try to repeat as OK Silver conference champs.
Godwin Heights defeat Hamilton, 45-35, as Susu Davenport started right where he left off last season in being an exciting playmaker.
South Christian defeated Holland Christian, 40-12, as quarterback Andrew Haan threw for a couple touchdowns and their dynamic cornerback/wide receiver Jared Gordon intercepted a pass and then scored on a reception in the next series for South Christian. Gordon went on to have a second interception later in the game.
East Kentwood got in on the winning night for area teams by crushing Macomb L’anse Creuse North, 45-6.
Wyoming High School lost its opener to Holland, 28-6, in a game that was close right up until the fourth quarter.
Tri-Unity also lost its opener to St. Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek) by a score of 14-8.
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