MHSAA Football Preview - Week Four

I’d like to apologize for being gone recently. Accomplishing dreams takes more time and effort than changing channels on the TV. Now that the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame is open, I can get back to writing this column about high school football. Typically, this is where I’d put my boilerplate “blah blah blah great action last week” but I haven’t the faintest idea of what transpired last week. So I’ll just say good game and move on. This week though, we will check out a few of the good high school games from across the state.

Great Lakes Bay Region

Millington (3-0) at Frankenmuth (3-0) (Friday September 19, 7pm)

I always like to write about this local game. The Tri Valley East is typically weak except these two teams and a mix of a couple other schools having a good season. This year in typical fashion, the Cardinals and Eagles are undefeated going into the game. Millington has faced off against its neighbor 41 times and is 19-22 in those games. Last week, the Cardinals beat up Bridgeport 36-8. Leading the way was Caleb Wascher with 162 yards and two scores on 18 carries and also completed three of his eight passes for 79 yards. Shawn Pardee caught two of them for 52 yards. Kolton Sebert had 115 yards and two touchdowns. Millington knows that this is a big game and will have to play very well to beat their rival.

Frankenmuth is, historically speaking, one of the top programs in the state. They are ranked #21 in wins over the past 50 years. Last week against Caro, they let the opening kickoff be returned 85 yards for a score but settled down after that. Quarterback Jack Tagget completed his only pass attempt for 10 yards to Josh Szczepanski. Santino Llamas rushed 21 times for 95 yards and four touchdowns. Jack Veitengruber ran nine times for 116 yards and two more scores. Frankenmuth likes to run a veer offense and will want to control the ball and clock with their run game. Both defenses will need to stop the other team if they want to win this rivalry. Frankenmuth is ranked #6 in Division 5 while Millington is #8 in Division 6.

Detroit

Birmingham Brother Rice (3-0) at Warren DeLaSalle (3-0) (Friday September 19, 7pm)

A perfect 3-0 record under new Warrior head coach David Sofran  is where Brother Rice is. Sofram has his team right where last year’s state championship team left off. He had been the assistant head coach prior to his promotion. Last week, they battled Pickerington North from Ohio and came away with a 28-7 victory. Quarterback Alex Malzone completed 20 of his 36 passes for 339 yards and all four touchdowns. Three of them went to Grant Perry who finished with eight receptions for 186 yards and the scores. John Garry caught seven passes for 71 yards and a score. When they ran the ball, Brandon Thomas was the work horse with 14 rushes for 45 yards. This will be a great early game to open the Catholic League Central Division.

Warren DeLaSalle is sporting a perfect record as well. They played two Canadian teams and Toledo Catholic Central. Now it’s time to get into the always tough Catholic League Central Division. Last week in the win over Canada Prep Football Academy in St. Catharines, things went pretty well. Quarterback Joey Garbarino completed seven of his 12 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown while also running 11 times for 39 additional yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Allen Stritzinger rushed 30 times for 167 yards and a score. They spread the ball around to six different receivers with Eric Rogers catching two for 43 yards and Austin Potter catching two for 11 yards and a score. This game should be a lot of fun to watch!

Upper Peninsula

Gladstone (3-0) at Menominee (3-0) (Friday September 19, 8pm)

For the Braves of Gladstone, this season is going far better than the previous two. The three wins are more than the previous three seasons combined (0-9 in both 2011 and 2013.) Last week they beat Negaunee 48-38. It wasn’t easy though after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. By halftime, it was close but Negaunee held the edge 26-24. Both teams scored 12 in the third, but the fourth quarter belonged to Gladstone. Quarterback Tyler Wells completed six of his 23 passes for 69 yards. He also ran 33 times for 107 yards. Justin Jurek was the scoring machine, with 29 runs for 283 yards and all six touchdowns. Kyle Pouliot caught four passes for 33 yards. They had better be ready for the Single Wing offense that Menominee plays because the Maroons are always ready.

I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s the third game of the season and I am just NOW covering Menominee? Better late than never I suppose! Last week, the Maroons beat Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 37-23 in Gaylord. Justin Brilinski completed eight of his 16 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, but his legs caused fits for Notre Dame Prep. He rushed 36 times for 223 yards. Keifer Rasner rushed 12 times for 45 yards and a score while Aeron Forsberg scored on two of his three runs and ended with 19 yards. He was a bigger threat catching the ball and hauled in six passes for 71 yards. The winner of this game will be great position for the Great Northern UP Conference title race.

West Coast

East Grand Rapids (2-1) at Muskegon (3-0) (Friday September 19, 7pm)

This game pits two marquee programs from the west side of the state. East Grand Rapids has been down the past two seasons after riding high and winning five straight state championships. Now they have two wins under their belt and are looking for a major upset against the state’s all-time winningest program. Last week, they lost in the final three minutes to another marquee program, Lowell. Quarterback Mikey Roth completed 18 of his 39 passes for 269 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He also ran seven times for another 34 yards to lead his team in rushing yards. Bryce Henkey ran 14 times for 25 yards.

The Big Reds of Muskegon are back on track this season after losing two state championships to Brother Rice. They are a dangerous team and will pound the ball down your throat. Last week, they beat Grandville 24-16. Caleb Washington toted the rock 17 times for 133 yards and two scores. Kenote’ Whiteside only had one carry, but it went 40 yards for a score. Shawn Pfenning completed three of his six passes for 26 yards. The defense held up pretty well against a team who runs the ball for most of the game. Muskegon will want to keep their win streak alive and try to run up and down the field against EGR.