Michigan High School Football Week Two

Week Two is here and big games are all over the state. The teams that won need to continue with their winning ways, while teams that lost need to get that

Week Two is here and big games are all over the state. The teams that won need to continue with their winning ways, while teams that lost need to get that important first win. My team played and lost/were destroyed last night. They had no intensity and the line wouldn’t block. I’m sure that the people who have played or coached know exactly what I’m talking about.

I wasn’t able to profile all the games I like. For instance, St. Charles and Ithaca will be playing for the 50th time and the winner might determine who wins the Tri Valley West. If I did profile all the games I like this week, you would not read it because it would be far too long. Enough of the chatter, it’s time for us to get into the games for the second week.

North

Menominee vs. Mequon Homestead (WI) (at Menominee)

Menominee travels to Wisconsin for the second time in two games this season. They take on defending Wisconsin Division 1 (largest schools, like our Division 1) state champions and 27th nationally ranked Mequon Homestead (Milwaukee area). This will be a real test for the Maroons, as they are a much smaller school (2006 Division 5 State Champions). I was going to stay away from the Maroons until they played a team in the state of Michigan, but two defending state champions butting heads sounds too good to be true!

Coach Dave Keel from Homestead has a 71-6 record in the past six seasons. They are returning six players on offense and two on defense. Although this doesn’t seem like many players, it always helps to have some carryover from the previous season. This is the second game this season for the Highlanders and their second against a Michigan team (Kingsford). Menominee with their single wing offense and stable coaching staff should put up a good fight. If they have the stamina and depth to go the whole game, it will be a mighty fine game.

I have to take the in state team, Menominee, to win the game.

Detroit

Rochester Adams vs. Farmington Hills Harrison (at Rochester Adams)

This is an exciting matchup! Harrison has won 12 state championships since 1982 and Adams won their own in 2003. Both teams are looking to put together successful seasons and get to the playoffs. Last week, Harrison destroyed the cross town team, Farmington by a score of 35-0. Rochester Adams beat Southfield 35-7 in the new Oakland Activities Association White Division that both play in. With each team winning their first conference game, they want to keep that momentum going into their second conference game.

I don’t know if the loss of legendary assistant Coach Sutter for Harrison will take a toll. The defense blanked their first opponent under Coach Scranton. Coach Herrington has one thing that you can’t coach, speed. Over at Adams High, they have been spreading the ball around, with three different players scoring on offense. Josh Renel led the scoring with three touchdowns.

In this game, I am going to take Farmington Hills Harrison, even though it’s at Adams. It’s hard to go against a legendary coaching staff.

West

Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Stevensville Lakeshore (at Stevensville)

Despite a hiccup last year in the first round of the playoffs, Lumen Christi has been one of the top teams in the Division 5/Class B for quite some time. Even the Saginaw News football preview had a mention of them (they beat Saginaw McArthur for the 1977 State Championship). Stevensville-Lakeshore really turned up their level of play in 1989 and has only missed the playoffs once since (1996). Even though Stevensville has not been able to get it done in the playoffs, it’s still and impressive record.

Both teams put a whipping on the opponents last week, allowing only six points total while scoring 76 (35-0 JLC, 41-6 S-L). That’s a lot of points! I am expecting a low scoring game with some great defense. Starting QB for Lumen Christi Nate Russler should have his “first start jitters” out of his system and be ready to rock and roll, or as Coach Brogan saying for the season is, “Back to our roots.” Stevensville will look to put the “L” on Jackson and keep moving forward towards the playoffs.

Jackson Lumen Christi is my pick to come out on top.

Mid Michigan

Alma vs. Bullock Creek (at Alma)

Bullock Creek had some bulletin board material happen this week. Someone broke through the gate to their field and gave them a “lawn job” as we used to call it. Not only did they leave ruts on the field, they also broke some sprinklers. Luckily, the game is to be played in Alma. My gut tells me it wasn’t Alma who did it. Alma also has a very strong football team. Quarterback Adam Follett, a D1 commit (Indiana), transferred to Alma and is ready to play. That’s the boost they needed to be picked as the preseason winner of the TVC-Central. Bullock Creek were also a pick to win the TVC-C. For those who don’t know, the Tri-Valley Central is many of the familiar teams from the old Tri-Valley West. The smaller TVC schools reformed the Tri Valley West now and the Central Division added Alma, Shepherd, Chesaning, and Ovid-Elsie. Check out www.michigan-football.com if you want to see all the teams in the Tri Valley Central, or any other conference for that matter.

After a strong Week One from both squads, they are looking to continue their quests for the TVC-C crown. This game should be hard fought and it will come down to defense. The Lancers of Bullock Creek will be relying mainly on the running game while Alma will mix up their runs and passes. The better conditioned team with more depth will win.

Bullock Creek, I think, will have the depth and wear down Alma’s defense to put themselves in a position to win the TVC-C.

Keep those emails rolling in! I’m interested in what you have to say!