Michigan High School Football - Week Three Comes Rolling In
It’s time to rock and roll through the high school football preview again! Another exciting week is upon is. Now, most everyone is playing on Friday nights, leaving Thursdays for the JV squads. The lights should be bright and the crowds will be rowdy and large, seeing that Labor Day is over and school is in session for many of the youth across the state. I know this is kind of off course for my prep preview, but I want to say good luck to Coach Enos and the whole Central Michigan football team as they host Michigan State University. This would not be possible without the innovative plan to schedule games and travel to the directional school in our state by MSU’s fantastic athletic director, Mark Hollis. Once again, it looks like Hollis swung hard and hit it out of the park. I’m sure the world’s flattest mountain will be jumping and students and alum from both sides will have a great time. LET’S GO CHIPPEWAS! CMU 21 MSU 20! That went off track quick, so let’s put ‘er back on the rails! High school football, baby!
Stevensville Lakeshore (2-0) at Portage Northern (2-0) (Friday September 7, 7pm)
This is a great game in the southwestern part of our state. These two programs are among the best in that region and have been very consistent under their long tenured coaches. Stevensville is led by coach Denny Dock, who has been the head honcho for the past 25 years. In their 26-7 victory over Battle Creek Harper Creek last week, a swarming defense held BCHC in check with 66 yards. On offense, they gained 386 yards, with it pretty evenly split between passing and running. Quarterback Johnny Nate had a fantastic evening, running for 177 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries while passing for 196 and a score on 17 completions of 22 attempts. Zach Ellis ran nine times for 32 yards and two scores. Harold Wiggins caught nine passes for 97 yards and a score.
For Portage Northern, they have a coach who has been there quite some time as well. Pete Schermerhorn has run the program for 19 years. Last week, Portage Northern also played a Battle Creek Team, but they played Battle Creek Central and won 50-6. Running back Sergio Jackson led the attack with 15 carries for 97 yards and three scores. Quarterback Jon Pincus completed two of his six pass attempts for 31 yards. Both receptions were made by Joe Livingston. Pincus also ran three times for 16 yards and a score. Brad Tabor also scored on a 13 yard run and Marco Rolestone ran three times for 12 yards and a touchdown of his own. This is a very important early game between two top teams in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West Division. The winner will find themselves in a great position to win the division, while the other will need help from other teams in the league.
Muskegon (2-0) at Rockford (1-1) (Friday September 7, 7pm)
The Big Red Machine is fired up and running on all gears. We have examined them already this season, but this is one of those games that should fill the stands. They were both in the O-K Red Division, but now Muskegon is in the O-K Black while Rockford remains in the Red. Muskegon will want to get back on the winning side as they have lost the last three to the Rams. Last week in their 40-37 victory over Sylvania Southview (an Ohio team that is always really good), they ran the ball down their throats. Muskegon held a 409-72 advantage in rushing yards and had three players go over the 100 yard mark. John King led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 152 yards and a score. Javontae Langston scored the game winner from 82 yards away with less than three minutes in the game. That winning run came after the Big Red defense stuffed Southview on fourth down while at the Muskegon five yard line.
Rockford also got back to the winning way this past week. They beat Holt 22-0 as the away team. That is pretty good, considering that their quarterback, Austin McKellar, was slated to be the third stringer. Injuries forced him from the wide receiver position to quarterback after the first and second stringers went down. Luckily, they will get Kyle Short, their starting QB, back tonight. Austin McKellar completed three of his six passes for 22 yards and a score; a ten yard strike to Jacob Kaiser. McKellar also ran 17 times for 107 yards. Connor Darby and Sam Reinke each ran for scores and gained just over 100 yards together. The defense held Holt to under 100 yards and didn’t let them into the red zone. This should be a great game between two good squads. The Rams need to shut down the prolific rushing attack of the Big Reds and they will have a chance to win.
Millington (2-0) at Frankenmuth (2-0) (Friday September 7, 7pm)
Rivalries…you got to love them! These two teams hate each other. One school will be very happy and the other will have to wait a year to get a chance to avenge the loss. So far this season, Millington has yet to be scored on and had two running clock games. Last week, they put a beat down on Bridgeport and won 57-0. All but six of those points were in the first half. Quarterback Dakota Sebert completed five of his 16 pass attempts for 47 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran six times for an additional 65 yards and two more scores. Jordan Hudson ran four times for 111 yards and two scores. He also returned a punt 56 yards to pay dirt. Chase Maxon and Wyatt Munson each caught a touchdown.
The Eagles of Frankenmuth are off to a great start of the season. They beat a quality team in week one and beat up on Onsted in week two. The two running backs accounted for all the scores. Blaine Malochleb ran 11 times for 156 yards and two scores. Brian Stearns ran 15 times for 147 yards and two scores. The defense almost pitched a shutout, but a kick was returned 94 yards for a score in the third quarter. For ‘Muth, they need to win this game to take control of the TVC-East. They have not beat Millington since 2007. The Cardinals have had a nice string of quality seasons in recent memory, going to the semifinals in 2009 and 2010 and making the playoffs every season since 2004. The TVC-East might not be a power conference, but when the two top teams square off; you know there will be fireworks!
Sault Ste. Marie (1-1) at Marquette (2-0) (Friday September 7, 7pm)
The Blue Devils of Sault Sainte Marie are the team that may be the closest to Canada. After the game this week with Marquette, they play two Canadian teams from the same town they reside in. Last week, they took care of Alpena 46-10 and six different players scored. Mainly, their rushing attack won the game for them. Austin Brown rushed for 147 yards on 14 runs. Michael James scored twice. Ray’Nell Anderson gained 87 yards on eight totes. They are an independent team and they have some tough teams to play later in the season. They need every win they can get to make the playoffs.
The Redmen of Marquette have started out strong this year. They have beat Detroit Denby and Cheboygan. In the win over Denby, Alex Sherbinow rushed for 166 yards on 31 carries and scored once. Quarterback Zach Sherbinow completed one of this two pass attempts for four yards. Shane Duquette returned an interception 33 yards for a score. Last week, they beat Cheboygan 34-21. There are few Class A schools in the UP, and these two can be very tough. A win this week will put them half way to a second consectutive playoff berth.
Add us as a preferred source on Google