<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=06XoSs_0vGXBBU900" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=06XoSs_0vGXBBU900" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Flint football earns its first win since 2022, defeating Burton Bentley 22-14</figcaption></figure>FLINT, MI — Flintstones, rejoice.The Jaguars have snapped their losing streak with an overtime victory on Friday, Aug. 30, defeating Burton Bentley 22-14 at Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium in Flint, which was one of four games in the 2024 Flint &amp; Genesee Vehicle City Gridiron Classic.“They deserve this win. They’ve been feeling good all week coming into this game. That confidence helped win this game,” said Flint head coach Chrishaun Verdun. “I’m glad they feel great about this. I want them to enjoy this win all weekend.”Last year, Flint went 0-9 for a winless season. In the 2022 season, the team went 2-7.That season the team also beat the Bulldogs 20-12 in Week 6, as well as their last win against Imlay City, 32-22, in the regular season finale on Oct. 21, 2022.Burton Bentley started off with possession, working their way upfield through a series of rushes and successful passes until Bentley’s Logan Workman fumbled the ball.Flint senior linebacker Jare Neal was quick to scoop it up in transition and sprinted 65 yards to the end zone for the Jaguars’ first touchdown. Flint senior quarterback Joshua Thomas ran in the two-point conversion, setting an early 8-0 lead.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4YICe6_0vGXBBU900" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4YICe6_0vGXBBU900" width="1280" height="854" ><figcaption>Flint senior quarterback Joshua Thomas hustles upfield choosing a quarterback keeper play after no receivers appeared open, rushing the ball in for a touchdown during the Flint &amp; Genesee Vehicle City Gridiron Classic on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium in Flint. The Flint Jaguars defeated the Burton Bentley Bulldogs 22-14 in overtime. Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com</figcaption></figure>Bentley answered back.The Bulldogs’ quarterback Jeremy Boillat ran the next drive like a well-oiled machine, placing the ball into multiple receivers hands for both the score and the two-point conversion. The score was tied back up 8-8 at the end of the first quarter.Thomas found comfort in quick passing attempts, but he was most powerful scrambling out of the pocket and putting his legs under him, snagging a number of first down choosing to rush the ball himself.“To see his leadership today is what I see every day at practice. To see it carry on through this game in four quarters and overtime, that’s a special kid. Josh (Thomas) is a very special kid,” Verdun said. “He did what he had to do to help his team come to a victory. ... He can run an offense himself, and direct this team. Josh is willing to put the team on his back, and he did that in this win.”In the second quarter, defensive players started to showcase their skills.Flint junior defensive back Demetrius Clarke snagged a big interception, one of two from Clarke on the day. Three plays later, Bentley’s Dominic Star did the same.This sort of back and forth grew more and more common as the intensity of the heat and humidity was beating down play after play in this midday matchup.A prime example is the continuation of this specific drive after Star’s interception. Knocking on the door within a few yards of the end zone, Boillat fumbled a handoff to a running back, which was recovered by Flint senior defensive back DeAngelo Anderson.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3uLKip_0vGXBBU900" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3uLKip_0vGXBBU900" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Flint senior defensive back DeAngelo Anderson dives toward a fumble as he recovers it on the one yard line during the Flint &amp; Genesee Vehicle City Gridiron Classic on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium in Flint. The Flint Jaguars defeated the Burton Bentley Bulldogs 22-14 in overtime. Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com</figcaption></figure>“The intensity of this game, it was hot,” Verdun said. “A lot of things weren’t going our way, but we fought. We fought through the calls, through the heat and we came away with a tough win. All I ask these kids on game day is to give me everything you’ve got. Dig deep and give me everything, especially on that last play.”In a game marred by constant flags and penalties from both teams — fumbles and interceptions too — the stick never seemed to move in the right direction the majority of the second half.But each team found the end zone one more time a piece, both came by way of rushing touchdowns — first by Thomas for the Jaguars, then by Bentley running back Giovani Germani. Neither team could convert their two-point or extra point kicking attempts.The score remained tied up at 14-14 through the rest of regulation.Flint’s offense was the first to take the field in overtime, and they scored on a touchdown pass from Thomas to Anderson, his first of the season. Thomas scurried in for a hard-fought two-point conversion as well.“They were so tired, and we had the extra edge because of the constant conditioning we’ve put in. ... That touchdown, I’m really happy about that, for real,” Anderson said. “I want to keep going and keep pushing, and keep winning. We’re going to get better and better. People always knock us for our past loses, but we’re done with losses. We’re aiming at W’s across the board.”Flint’s played impeccable defense for the next four downs. In the first three downs, the Jaguars either stopped the Bulldogs behind or at the line of scrimmage on three rushing attempts.In the final play of the game, Boillat attempted a pass to wide receiver Hunter Trottier, but with tight coverage, he couldn’t hang onto the ball as it was deflected by Flint senior defensive back Aaron Blockton.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1NxLy0_0vGXBBU900" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1NxLy0_0vGXBBU900" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Flint senior linebacker Aaron Blockton deflects a pass intended for Burton Bentley wide receiver on fourth down in overtime, which lost the Bulldogs the game during the Flint &amp; Genesee Vehicle City Gridiron Classic on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium in Flint. The Flint Jaguars defeated the Burton Bentley Bulldogs 22-14 in overtime. Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com</figcaption></figure>“We effectively rushed the ball all game, so that was our game plan going into overtime because we knew we had more players who could run the ball,” said Burton Bentley head coach Jimmy Stabile. “We had a couple of receivers cramping up, and so we rushed for the first three downs. When that fourth down came, we knew we had to take a shot at the end zone.“Both coaches and both teams should be proud of their players. It’s hot. It’s humid. They (Bentley) showed a lot of heart. Those Flint kids showed a lot of heart too. ... The chips fell where they fell, and we’re going to use this as a learning experience from all angles. We’re going to come back from this, watch the film and get better for next week.”The final score — 22-14 — etched into stone with Flint atop for the first time since October 2022.Thomas sees this as a hopeful opportunity to continue this momentum.“We’re working hard, and when we get tired, there’s no other choice but to keep going,” Thomas said. “This win, it felt good. Everybody’s emotional today because this is a new start and opportunity for us. We’ve worked so hard to get this new system locked in, and we did it.“This win means a lot to me, especially as a quarterback guiding our team to victory. A lot of people were going on social media and making jokes ahead of this game that we were going to go 0-9 again this season. We set out today to prove them wrong and the haters wrong, and we did just that. We won.”See more Flint area football results <a href="https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2024/08/flint-area-football-results.html">here</a>.MLive was there to document the action, both on and off of the field. Check out photos from the game in the gallery above. <a href="https://www.mlive.com/galleries/STI7WVIJC5H4VFZSMFMR7DPJ44/">Click here for a direct link to the gallery</a>.You must be a subscriber to view the photo gallery. Subscribers click the “Get photo” link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, <a href="https://www.mlive.com/subscribe/">click this link</a>.</div></body>

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Flint wins OT thriller over Burton Bentley, nabs first victory since 2022

FLINT, MI — Flintstones, rejoice. The Jaguars have snapped their losing streak with an overtime victory on Friday, Aug. 30, defeating Burton Bentley 22-14 at Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium in Flint, which was one of four games in the 2024 Flint & Genesee Vehicle City Gridiron Classic. “They...

Flint wins OT thriller over Burton Bentley, nabs first victory since 2022

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