Pair of Churchill speedsters haunt Plymouth in 32-14 ‘Big House’ win

Allen, Montgomery combined for 5 TDs in Chargers’ triumph

Livonia Churchill’s football team felt right at home in the University of Michigan’s “Big House” Friday afternoon, scorching Plymouth 32-14 thanks largely to burners Jayden Allen and Jonathan Montgomery.

The duo combined for all five Charger touchdowns: Allen hauled in Evan Snead scoring passes of 70, 34 and 58 yards, while Montgomery scored from 5 and 68 yards out.

Allen, who finished with four receptions for 182 yards (the Chargers rarely threw after securing a 32-14 halftime lead), also stymied a promising Plymouth drive by leaping high to intercept a Sam Plencner pass inside the Churchill 20-yard line.

Montgomery galloped for 226 yards on 22 carries. Snead completed six of eight passes for 211 yards.

Plymouth received a huge offensive boost from junior running back Jaxon McCaig who rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

McCaig rarely — if ever — was brought down on first contact, breaking tackles and showing off sprinter’s speed once he advanced to the Chargers’ secondary.

The Wildcats’ defense was powered by junior Orlando Daniels, who registered three sacks and a fumble recovery.

Churchill jumped ahead 6-0 with 5:37 left in the first quarter when Snead found Allen all by himself — there wasn’t a Wildcat within 15 yards of him. The 70-yard connection capped a 90-yard drive, but Plymouth’s Alex Smaoui blocked the extra point.

The Wildcats countered with a solid drive, which was halted on a failed fourth-down pass play at the. Churchill 32.

A dazzling 68-yard TD scamper by Montgomery (Snead booted the extra point) extended Churchill’s lead to 13-0.

Plymouth cut its deficit to 13-7 with 12 ticks left in the first quarter on a 5-yard run by McCaig, capping a 59-yard drive. Luc Damiani booted the extra point.

Both teams found the end zone on their ensuing drives. Snead found Allen behind the Wildcats’ secondary for a 34-yard strike on a fourth-and-17 play. The Chargers were ready to punt on the play before the touchdown, but Plymouth was penalized five yards for an illegal substitution — a large enough advancement of the ball to convince Churchill coach Bill DeFillippo to go for it.

The resilient Wildcats bounced back less than three minutes later, clawing back to within 20-14 on a highlight reel 69-yard score by McCaig.

The half ended (and, as it turned out, the game’s scoring) with two Charger TDs: a 5-yard run by Montgomery and a 58-yard bomb from Snead to Allen, to stretch the host team’s advantage to 32-14.

Churchill defensive lineman Jack Jones was a menace in the trenches for the Chargers.

Plencner completed 10 of 18 passes for 66 yards. Plymouth sophomore Camden Short caught three second-half Plencner spirals for 26 yards. He also had a long-gainer called back due to a penalty.