Week Five - Time To Stay Alive

Yet another Thursday is here. The leaves up north are changing colors, apple orchards are open and making tasty cider, the NFL is rolling into the third week

Yet another Thursday is here. The leaves up north are changing colors, apple orchards are open and making tasty cider, the NFL is rolling into the third week of the season, and the pressure has been turned up another notch. If you haven’t gotten out to watch a high school game, I’d highly suggest going this weekend. The memories of days long past are a treasure. Call up that old high school buddy, grab a bite to eat, and check out your alma mater. Chances are great that you will have a fantastic time. Let’s take a look at some of the state’s top games for the Friday September 21, 2007. Ready? BREAK!

Mid Michigan

Lansing Everett vs. Okemos (at Okemos)

The 4-0 Everett Vikings are off to a fantastic start. The quarterback for the Vikings, Reggie Williams Jr, is tearing up the competition. His squad is ranking 10th in Division 1 going into this weekend’s competition. Reggie Williams Sr. also played for Everett and was a stand out tailback in 1986 but his son is poised to outplay his father. Reggie Jr. has tossed six touchdowns and run for 382 yards plus another three scores. If he can get his troops to follow him, we might be talking about him in November.

Okemos is definitely within striking distance. They hold a 1-1 record in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division (3-1 overall) but their one loss to Holt might take away their hopes for a share of the conference title. They will need a win this weekend and an Everett win over Holt on October 5th to keep those hopes alive.

Detroit

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. Allen Park Cabrini (at Allen Park)

This will be a tough battle of two unbeaten teams in the Catholic League Intersectional II. Waterford has missed the playoffs once since 1990. They won the 2002 State Championship and typically make it into the second or third round. I don’t find it surprising though, considering their head coach is a Boyd. In Saginaw, the name Boyd is synonymous with winning football teams. Waterford and Allen Park have put up great scores and held their opponents to under 15 points. Allen Park even has two shut outs already.

This will be one of the most important games in the regular season for both teams. Both Cabrini and Lady of the Lakes will need to keep riding the momentum they’ve built through the first four games and push towards Week Ten (first week of the playoffs). Both have two conference games to follow before their crossover game and the “Prep Bowl.” This week will likely determine who will go play in for the league championship on October 20th.

North

Kingsley vs. Benzonia Benzie Central (at Benzonia)

After Kingsley defeated Suttons Bay last week with a touchdown 16 seconds before the end of the fourth, the dynamic of the Northwest League was set for the season. I wouldn’t call it set in stone as of yet, because an upset by the Huskies could put half of the league in contention for the title. Benzie has to play a fantastic game to get the best of a Kinsley team that is playing very well.

Kingsley is in the position to win the conference title. They have three games to get through (one being homecoming against Glen Lake on the 28th) and if they win those three, they will be in the playoffs plus have another conference championship banner to hang in the gym. Benzie, like Suttons Bay, already has one conference loss. They will need to win three games to make the playoffs, just like Suttons Bay and Kingsley. The Northwest Conference is a very competitive division and Kingsley has won a state championship in the very recent past (2005).

West Coast

Grand Haven vs. Muskegon (at Grand Haven)

Grand Haven is becoming a good football team. They are 4-0 for the first time since 1970 (they only lost one game that season, the last game with Grand Rapids West Catholic by the score of 6-7). In his second year at the helm, Coach Mike Farley and his spread offense are putting up some W’s and the defense is starting to come into its own as well. Many of last year’s starters were lost to graduation.

Muskegon, on the other hand, is one of eight defending state champions. They have multiple prospects that will play college football in Division 1. It will be interesting to see the spread offense of Grand Haven and the option offense of Muskegon match up against the defenses. Both are very capable of big plays at any time and the team that eliminates the big play will have a very good chance of winning the ball game.