Prep Football Week 1 - Welcome To The Jungle

It's that time of year again! The weather is cooling down and the swim suits are being put away. Now it’s time to get out the helmets and cleats because

It's that time of year again! The weather is cooling down and the swim suits are being put away. Now it’s time to get out the helmets and cleats because it’s FOOTBALL SEASON! Eight teams won state championships last year and are hoping to repeat. I believe there are 636 high school football teams (including 8 man football) in the state and each one of them want to win it all. The seniors have one last chance to achieve their childhood dreams of throwing that touchdown pass or making that big tackle that wins a championship for their team. Unfortunately, like every contest you hear about, many will enter but few will win. For those who do win, the glory will be celebrated in their school forever.

For those who haven’t read my columns before, this is how it breaks down. I divide the state into five sections. Those sections include North (north of Mount Pleasant, including the Upper Peninsula), West Coast (west side of the state), Detroit, Mid Michigan (Saginaw, Flint, Thumb, Mount Pleasant), and Capital Area (Lansing and the surrounding areas). I know that some want to argue that Lansing is in Mid Michigan, the actual geographical center of Michigan is St. Louis. That’s about equal distance between Saginaw and Lansing…so don’t email Hondo and tell him my areas are wrong because he’ll probably agree with you.

Let’s take a look at the slate of action for Week One

Mid Michigan

Mount Pleasant at Midland High (Friday August 27, 7pm)

It’s crazy to say, but this game very well could decide the Saginaw Valley League Championship. Mount Pleasant is coming off an 11-1 season (losing 35-28 against West Branch Ogemaw Heights last November 13th) is going to need it’s team to grow up quickly. They graduated most of their starters on offense and defense and don’t necessarily have the depth they have enjoyed in recent years. Fortunately, they return a lot of their offensive line but much of their skill position players. Head coach Jason McIntyre has been at the helm for the past five seasons and really got a nice program rolling along.

Midland High is one of the top programs in the state. They haven’t had a losing season since 1976. Head coach Eric Methner is in his second season at the helm. Even though Mount Pleasant has only been in the league going on season six, these two teams are becoming rivals fast. Word around town is that their offensive line is HUGE! Andrew Wilie is 6’4” and 295lbs and a potential D1 prospect. The smallest guy on their line is Brian Blackwood who measures in at 6’ 240lbs. They also return their quarterback Alex Rapanos. If they can find a way to exploit the new defensive starters for Mount Pleasant and limit their mistakes, then we will be in for a great game.

Detroit

Rochester Adams at Clarkston (Friday August 27, 7pm)

Although this is an out of conference game, both teams play in the Oakland Activities Association. The Highlanders of Rochester Adams play in the White Division. Most of their defense has graduated and only one starter returns (DB Dorian Bell). On offense, things look better with three returning starters, including quarterback Andrew Hammett. Wide receiver Edward Williams transferred in from Detroit Western and will help bolster their receiving corps. The biggest test for Adams will come on October 8th, when they will play preseason favorite and perennial powerhouse Farmington Hills Harrison.

Clarkston has been a tough team as of late. They have made the playoffs the past seven seasons. Last year, they were a field goal away from playing eventual D1 State Champions Detroit Catholic Central. I’m not sure if juniors Mitch Baenzinger or Nick DiMattia will be the starting quarterback, but they will keep the offense humming along, if head coach Kurt Richardson has anything to say about it. On defense, Zach Collins returns as a three year starter at the linebacker position along with last season ‘backer mates, Matt Dellinger, and Justin Baetz.

Capital Area

Holt at Lansing Sexton (Friday August 27, 7pm)

Holt was another team that was close to playing in the D1 state championship game last season. They lost to champions Detroit Catholic Central. Their schedule doesn’t get easy though with a good Sexton team in week one and an always tough Rockford team in week two. Their out of conference games will test them before they get into the Capital Area Activities Blue Division action. Returning quarterback Jordan Beachnau was one of the top passers in the Lasing area last season. Wide receiver Dominick Todd earned all-state honors. They return five offensive starters and six on the defense, including linebacker Mike Smith.

You asked for it, and we here at Spartan Nation want to give it to you. Lansing Sexton is led by senior running back Onaje Miller who has already committed to Michigan State. As Holt will do it’s best to contain him, they will have to deal with the bookend tackles in 6’2” Corey Ware and 6’4” DaMarco Bisbee. Ware is also a returning starter at linebacker and Bisbee is the starter at nose tackle. Three of the starting linebackers from last season return with Dominique Hoyle and Kyren Kemp joining Ware. Quarterback Denzel Valentine isn’t playing anymore, after committing to Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.

West Coast

Muskegon Oakridge at Muskegon Heights (Friday August 27, 7pm)

Oakridge may have won the state title in 2008, but were knocked out of the playoffs in 2009 by Muskegon Heights. Head coach Jack Schugars is back for his 32nd year as the man with the plan on the sidelines. 21 seniors return to his team and 16 of those were starters last season. Quarterback Jamie Potts has been at the helm for a while, so it is going to be hard to faze him. He’s also the kicker for the team. Coach Schugars thinks his team is gelling well and that they are more prepared than they were at this point last season.

Muskegon Heights is no slouch football team. Last season, they made it to the state semifinals before falling to Jackson Lumen Christi. They are coached by Willie Snead III. His son, quarterback Willie Snead IV, passed for 2,937 yards and 30 touchdowns last season as a junior. Snead IV says there is a lot of leadership from the seniors and that should help them continue on what they built last season. They will get a tough challenge to start the season with perennial Muskegon County powerhouse, Oakridge.

North

Wrightstown (WI) at Menominee (Friday August 27 6pm)

Steve Klister and Bill Ehnerd are the two head coaches for this tough team out of the Green Bay area. Ehnerd arrived to a 0-9 team back in 1992 and has made the playoffs every year since 1994. In conference, they have won 42 games and lost only three since 2003. Unfortunately, they lost senior running back Erik Lucht to graduation (1,575 yards and 23 touchdowns). When these two teams clashed in the first game of last season, Wrightstown tried to punch their teeth in during the first quarter (and were fairly successful at it) but ended up on the losing end, 21-7. They return six starters on each side of the ball, including a second year starter at quarterback, Jordan Johnson.

For those who have followed my column since its inception three seasons ago, you know about my “bromance” with Upper Peninsula football and especially Menominee. Nestled on the border with Wisconsin, they are one of the top teams in the UP. Coach Ken Hofer has been at it for a very long time and knows exactly how to execute the Single Wing offense. It’s never about one player with a Hofer coached team; it’s always about team first and personal accolades second. Coach Hofer had this to say about his upcoming game, “They are a physical football team; this will be a good wakeup call for us. We have to be ready to play our best in our first game.”