Preview of the Week Five MHSAA in Football

As we sit at the cusp of Week Five, some conferences are ready to decide the frontrunner for the conference title. Some teams that win this week will pave the

As we sit at the cusp of Week Five, some conferences are ready to decide the frontrunner for the conference title. Some teams that win this week will pave the way to a championship while others will need hard work and a few lucky breaks. Other squads are hitting the point of no return if they want to make a run at the playoffs. Either way, high school football in the state of Michigan is a fun way to cheer on your community and support the schools. This week should have a great slate of games. Maybe this weekend we’ll even see a big win in East Lansing when my Central Michigan University Chippewas invade Spartan Stadium. GO! Fire up CHIPS!

Capital Area

St. Johns (4-0) at DeWitt (4-0) (Friday September 23, 7pm)

The Redwings of St. Johns are on a roll. In their first four victories, they’ve scored 35, 37, 36, and 35 points. Last week, it was a 35-34 victory over Owosso. This game was all over the place; St. Johns led 14-0, then was losing 27-14, and finished with a one point victory. Quarterback Brad Cordes hit Beau Moore for a 25 yard score in the third quarter. Then, in the fourth, Nicholas Lawson caught a 29 yard touchdown pass from Cordes. Mason Sauls scored a huge 50 yard touchdown run with 9:04 left in the fourth. They will need another complete game effort if they want to knock off DeWitt. This game will, more or less, decide who wins the Capital Area Activities Conference Red Division. With only two conference games to follow, as long as there isn’t a letdown, the winner will win the conference championship.

One thing that DeWitt really has going for them is where the game is played at. This is their second home game this season and it looks like it could be for all the marbles. Last week, DeWitt beat Haslett 27-17. The Panthers had a decent night. Running back Brian Moore ran 17 times for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Ryan Wieber completed nine of his 11 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown while also running nine times for 78 additional yards. DeWitt has been a very good football team the past few seasons. For the past two, they made it to the semifinals in Division 3 before being knocked out by Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Only three times since 2000 have they finished without 10 or more wins. We can say with all confidence that this is a huge game with huge implications for the CAAC Red Division championship.

North

Kingsford (3-1) at Menominee (3-1) (Friday September 23, 7pm)

The Hofer Bowl is always a game I want to write about. Kingsford is coached by Chris Hofer. Menominee is coached by his dad, Ken Hofer. These are two of the best programs in the entire Upper Peninsula as well as being two of the stronger programs in the state. Last week, Kingsford traveled to Minnesota (it’s actually pretty close) to battle Duluth Denfeld. They came home with a 41-14 victory. Quarterback Jeff Gregory tossed a pair of touchdowns (26 and 21 yards) and ran in a 45 yard score. Reed Larson scored two touchdowns by punching it in from one yard away and outrunning the defenders from 45 yards out. The Flivvers have one loss on the season. They couldn’t get it done in Week Two against Muskegon Catholic Central. This week’s Hofer Bowl will set the stage for Escanaba. Menominee will play them next week while Kingsford has to wait until Week Nine.

I know there are people out there who have been reading my column for a few seasons. If you have, I’m sure you know about my “bromance” with Menominee. Ken Hofer is about as old school as it gets. He’s THE Joe Paterno of the Upper Peninsula. Hofer is so old school that his offense is older than he is! The Maroons run the single wing offense to near perfection and have three state championships since 1998 to show for it as well as many wins since Hofer took over in 1966. Last week, they beat up Gladstone 49-7. In Hofer’s single wing, multiple players get plenty of carries. Tanner Maccoux, Christopher Briar, LaPlante, and Samuel Schewe combined for 297 yards of rushing offense. The only thing that wasn’t working for the Maroons was the passing game. Both quarterbacks were intercepted. All I know is I feel sorry for Mrs. Hofer. Either way, she’s going to have to go home and make someone feel better about losing.

West

Rockford (3-1) at Muskegon (4-0) (Friday September 23, 7pm)

After losing to Lowell in the season opener to Lowell, the Rams of Rockford are doing well. Last week, they beat up West Ottawa by the score of 41-6. Quarterback Mark LaPrairie completed 10 of his 16 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Five of those passes were caught by Brandon Lubenow for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Brady Gent ran for 99 yards and a score on eight carries. The touchdown was from 80 yards out. Steven Mette hit two field goals for the night. The first was from 50 yards and the second from 52 yards. Zenner and Dedamos each made 13 tackles for the game. This is another very important game with conference championships on the line. Muskegon and Rockford are both 2-0 in O-K Red Division play. There are a lot of teams who sit at 1-1, so this win will be very important.

As far as top football programs in the state of Michigan go, The Big Reds of Muskegon are always mentioned in that conversation. If memory serves me correctly, they are the winningest program in the state (ignore Michigan-Football.com, it only goes back to 1950 and Muskegon was an old program by that point). Last week, the Big Reds kicked around East Kentwood. With a 21-7 third quarter lead, the defense stuffed EK four straight downs from their own one yard line which really helped keep the momentum. Jailyn Thompson completed one pass for 76 yards and a score that went to Keondre Craig. Princeton Duncan completed only three of his 11 passes for 29 yards. He also ran in a 12 yard score. Juwan Lewis ran 12 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Williams-Follins also had a first quarter score on a 60 yard run. These two teams are one of the reasons that the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red Division is so tough. In the past 10 years, eight teams in this division have played in a state championship game. 

Detroit

Warren Mott (3-1) at Utica Eisenhower (3-1) (Friday September 23, 7pm)

Warren Mott has gone through a change this season. After moving from the Macomb Area Conference White Division to the Red Division last season, they didn’t not fair too well. They finished with a 2-7 record. This is a new year and a new team. Currently, they are tied with Macomb Dakota and Utica Eisenhower for the lead in the division with the other three squads all being “0-fer” in their conference games. Last week in the 24-6 win over Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Lucas Ross has a nice game at quarterback. He hit on three touchdown passes. One went to Tre Roberts, another to D.J. Line, and the last went to Nate Mosher. The only other Marauder to score was Morgan Madison who nailed a field goal and all the extra points. This is a big game for Mott. The school has only been around since 1992 and only has one conference championship to show for it. That was back in 2009 when they won the White Division. A win here would set them up for a showdown with Macomb Dakota in Week Eight.

Utica didn’t have a nice Friday night like Warren did. The Eagles dropped a game to Port Huron by the score of 22-21 in double overtime.  Quarterback Joe Zerafa tried to pass, but only completed nine of his 21 passes for 63 yards and one touchdown. He also ran six times for 15 yards. Shane King was the leading rusher with 75 yards on 11 attempts. He also caught a pass for six yards. Daniel Venditti caught four footballs for 24 yards and a touchdown. It was a heart-breaker for the Eagles. They will need to regroup fast because this game has more meaning because of the fact that is in league play. A win for Utica this week will set the table for a showdown with Macomb Dakota as well.

Mid-Michigan

Hemlock (4-0) at Alma (4-0) (Friday September 23, 7pm)

The Huskies are entering uncharted territory. With no football championships since 1974, it’s safe to assume that some of the assistant coaches weren’t even alive, let alone the players when the Huskies last hoisted the trophy. One thing that Hemlock does have going for them is a head coach with experience. Bruce Bendix brought his veer offense to the school last season and had immediate results. This season, they set their sights on a conference championship. Against Chesaning last week, it took a fourth quarter comeback to get the job done. An early pick-six by Dexter Hulik gave them an early lead, but it was down to one point at the half. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Chase Weichmann scored twice to retake the lead and put Chesaning away. Weichmann completed seven of his 18 passes for 63 yards. He also ran 13 times for 46 additional yards. Receiver T.J. Vondette and tight end Zach Stedry each caught two footballs for 52 and 21 yards, respectively. Stedry also made 11 tackles. A win this week will put the Huskies in the driver’s seat to hang a banner in the gym this fall. 

For the Panthers, they want to keep the momentum going toward a second conference championship since joining the conference in the 2006 season. Coach Jeff Ingersoll has his spread offense working great and his team playing very well. Alma beat Shepherd last week 28-14. Quarterback Vinnie Costanzo tossed the ball for 150 yards and a score. That touchdown went to Brett Green. Dylan Brown finished with 110 yards and a touchdown in the winning effort for the Panthers. Dalin Martin returned a fumble 60 yards for a score in the third quarter. Both teams know the gravity of the game this week. A win will go a long way toward a conference championship.