Novi football benefiting from recent baseball success

The Novi football team should have plenty of confidence during its campaign to win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association-West championship this fall. 

And that's not just because there was lots of turnover throughout the offseason with Canton, Northville and Salem each getting new coaching staffs. 

No, that confidence should come from the fact that six of its returning players were part of Novi's baseball team that won its first state championship this past spring. 

"If you can do it in baseball, lightning can strike twice," third-year coach Jim Sparks said following a 7-on-7 football scrimmage last week at North Farmington. "Ever since I've been a coach, I've always stressed that the ultimate goal in high school is to win the last game at Ford Field. Only eight teams a year get to do that. The odds of you actually doing it are astronomical, but that's what we've got to strive for, it's what we've got to shoot for. 

"Having guys on our team that have already experienced that in baseball, it's a positive for everybody." 

And it wasn't just guys who are going to be role players for Sparks who helped the Wildcats clinch the state title. 

In fact, it was quarterback Caleb Walker who bunted home teammate Trevor Reed for the winning run in extra innings during the Division 1 state semifinal, which went down as a 4-1 victory over Mattawan. 

Of course, Andrew Kummer, Thad Lawler and Jonathan Aurilia each made key plays throughout the postseason, while Boden Fernsler (illness) and Stephen Boujoulian were on hand in the dugout. 

All six of them will be turning their attention to the gridiron when the season begins next week. 

"We all know that we can win this fall, and we are trying to translate that (success) to the football field," Walker said. "We've built a lot of trust throughout the season, we're all good friends and know how to play good together, so we want to do that on the football field as well. Over the years, we've built a bond. Baseball season this year, we just strengthened it, and playing in the state championship strengthens it even more for football season." 

Walker should also have added confidence from the experience he gained under center as a junior. 

Returning QB Luke Aurilia actually started in the season opener against Belleville, but Sparks elected to give Walker the job when he realized Aurilia could be better utilized in other positions. 

Keeping Aurilia healthy to play QB meant he couldn't help on defense or special teams. That all changed once Walker got a chance to start. 

The Wildcats finished 5-5 overall and saw their season end against rival Northville in the postseason opener. 

"The goal of a coach, any coach, is to take the resources you have, the players you have, and maximize everybody's talent," Sparks said. "It was a situation where we had Luke Aurilia, who was a coach's dream in terms of effort, ability and coachability, and it was a situation where Caleb had some ability at quarterback, too. But if Luke is playing quarterback, Caleb didn't really have a skillset to contribute anywhere else. But once we put Caleb in to play quarterback, who was more than adequate at it, all of a sudden we gained a punt returner, a kick returner, a corner and a receiver (all the positions Aurilia ultimately played). That allowed us to take the hand we were dealt, talent-wise, and then all of a sudden we had pluses at multiple positions (after moving Aurilia)."

Walker, the son of Matthew Walker, who helped Farmington Hills Harrison win a state championship in 1997, wasn't asked to pitch for the Wildcats this past spring. 

But the senior infielder still has a cannon for an arm, which is perfect for Sparks' infamous spread offense. 

During the regular season in 2022, he was 121 of 197 passing for 1,551 yards, 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. That includes a breakout game against Salem in Week 3 when he was 21 of 32 passing for a career-best 408 yards and six TDs. 

But, truthfully, he really started hitting his stride in the final five games before the postseason began. That's when he averaged almost 200 yards passing per game. A lot of that had to do with him finally being able to handle how fast varsity football is compared to the JV. 

"Last year, it was a great experience, and it's always been my goal to be on the varsity starting," Walker said. "I learned the game is a lot faster than JV and freshmen football. Getting up to speed, that was a big transition. I should be a lot more ready this year and more adjusted to the speed. I think I got used to it last year." 

Walker and the Wildcats will be tested immediately this fall, as they open the season on Aug. 25 against Macomb Area Conference-Red powerhouse Sterling Heights Stevenson. 

A win over the Titans, who were 2-7 a year ago, could give the program a shot in the arm as they attempt to win the KLAA-West, which appears to be wide open this year. 

Novi has made the postseason both years under Sparks, but it hasn't gotten out of its district yet. Could this be the year it happens? The Wildcats are eager to find out. 

Few gave the baseball team much of a chance to beat No. 3-ranked Northville in the regional opener. But Uli Fernsler closed the doors on the Mustangs, and Novi rode that mojo all the way to the state championship. 

You can't doubt the magic right now at Novi. 

"The expectation is to compete for the division title, make the playoffs and compete in the playoffs," Sparks aid. "That's the goals I'll always set as long as I take the field. We're going to shoot for the moon and understand there's a lot of great teams out there. We may not achieve it, but there's no crime in saying what you want and working as hard as you can to get there."