It all comes down to this! Take the records, the stats, the what if’s and do me a favor; crumple them up, and toss them up and toss them out the window. What matters right now is that these teams have made it, and they are at the final stage of the goal that was set the minute the ’13 season was over. All the time spent in practice, hitting the weights, watching film, all of that is done. These boys have four more quarters and one more shot at a state title. Who’s got what it takes?

Division 2

Mona Shores vs. Warren de la Salle

The big news is the injury of Tyree Jackson. Is he going to be taking the snaps on Friday or will the junior (and once third string QB) Elijah Wilson have to call the shots? If Jackson is healthy enough to play, and isn’t bothered much by his knee, I like Mona Shores in this one. To be frank, I think the Sailors could do it without him as well as this team is full of weapons and has a stout defense to boot. Meanwhile, de la Salle has three losses, but don’t let this fool you, their three losses are by a combined 15 points. The Pilots are lead by an overly physical defense that loves to get after the football. This game is going to be interesting, as they all are. I’m not yet convinced I’ve seen the best out of Mona Shores as I’m struggling to find their ceiling. In the end I’m going with the Sailors to hoist the crown for Division 2.

Division 3

Muskegon vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Two teams who have been in this position time and time again are going to square off in a game that is about as evenly matched as they come. These teams have an opponent in common in Catholic Central and, you guessed it, the results were nearly identical as OLSM won 21-11 and Muskegon 21-14. I like Muskegon to win state, and here’s why. OLSM has about five different running backs who all possess the talent and ability to start almost anywhere in the state, two of which have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark (Myrick, Adams) this season. The only team that may have had a better ground attack is the Zeeland West Dux, whom Muskegon shut out last week. Shut out. As in zero points. St. Mary’s defense held Huron to just three points in advancing to the state final game as they pride themselves on the defensive end as well. Caleb Washington and Alezay Coleman lead a group of seniors who have been battle tested this season and know how to win tough games. I’m picking the Big Reds to raise the banner in 2014.  

Division 4

South Christian vs. Lansing Sexton

Eight times this year Lansing Sexton has held their opponent to single digit scoring. The Big Reds have two 1,000-yard rushers in Avonte Bell and JaVon Wray. Oh yeah, and if this team isn’t excited enough, they are on the verge of taking home the first state title of any Lansing Public school ever. South Christian also has two 1,000-yard rushers of their own, one of them happens to be their QB, Jon Wassink. Jon, and his partner in crime, Geff Plasman have combined for 2,433 yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground. These offenses will be sure to trade blow after blow taking turns lighting up the scoreboard. I think Sexton has the tougher defense, but it isn’t going to be tough enough to shut down the Sailors offense. I said last week that I don’t think any quarterback is hungrier for another shot at a state title than Jon is, and I think that is what will put South over the edge and propel them to victory. 

Division 5

West Catholic vs. Lansing Catholic

SPOILER ALERT: I’m taking the Falcons. It’s just one of those years. Week in and week out Travis Russell does the unthinkable, throwing for what seems like a country mile and adding 100 yards on the ground… and like 7 touchdowns. Not to mention the slew of weapons he has to throw to in Nemmers, Witham, and O’Connor, to name just three. What’s just as impressive is the ability of their defense. The Falcons defense has given up 30 or more points just one time this season and with how quickly their offense scores, that defense hardly gets a break. I’m just going to throw this out there, but West Catholic has been doing all of this without their starting running back, Lasavian Majewski. Lansing Catholic has an unblemished record coming in at 13-0, lead by a Goliath-like QB in Tony Poljan who can really, really air it out. This will be a test for West Catholic but I see them coming out of top. This season is going to be one for the record books, capped off with a state championship.

I’m doing it, I’m pickin’ West Michigan and the OK Conferences to make the clean sweep this year. We should be in for a real treat in Ford Field this weekend as these teams will look to do what the home town team often struggles to do this time of year, if ya know what I mean. We are capping off our first year with the network and have had a blast each and every week! It’s time for these boys to finish what they have started and be crowned as State Champs!

Things went well for West Michigan and the OK Conferences last week and for my predictions too. We’ve reached the state semi-finals and the more I look at the matchups the more it seems that these teams are replicas of their opponents. Before I put any more thought and over-analyzing into what’s going on, let's let the predictions begin and the teams take care of what really matters.

Division 1

East Kentwood vs. Clarkston

Clarkston rolls in undefeated while reminding everyone who took home the crown of Division 1 last season. Quarterback D.J. (Donovan) Zezula has led Clarkston to an undefeated season to this point and Clarkston has racked up 25 straight wins dating back to week 1 of 2013. This is an experienced team filled with upperclassmen who have been here before. Meanwhile, Michael Ivy is approaching the 2,000-yard mark on the ground running behind an offensive line that may as well be using riot shields for protection. Kyle Friberg (261 yards passing, 2 TDs) looked good last week as he and Tristan Waters (9 rec, 148 yards, TD) were really clicking. Kentwood’s defense, lead by Marlon Dorsey and his three interceptions, made Hudsonville uncomfortable all afternoon. I picked against EK in the opening round when Grandville came to town. I was wrong. I then picked Hudsonville to come in and knock off the Falcons. Again, I was wrong. Third time is a charm, right? I’m going with Clarkston in this one, besides, I would hate to un-jinx the Falcons this late in the season.  

Division 2

Mona Shores vs. Farmington Hills Harrison

Back in week 1 I picked Mona Shores to pay a visit to Ford Field. Each of the last 5 weeks I have thought that I had seen their best and they continue to out due themselves. DeOntay Moffett is doing a great job in complimenting Jackson while the Sailors offense is scoring in bunches. Farmington Hills is likely to be without key players Jevon Shaw (QB) and Tyrone Lyte (WR/DB). In the end, I like Mona to advance with confidence.    

Division 3

Zeeland West vs. Muskegon

Yikes… My guess is as good as yours here. Zeeland West had me convinced that no team had any business stepping on the field with them for the first 10 weeks. In recent news, West has snuck past their last two opponents of Stevensville Lakeshore and Lowell by a combined five points. Does this raise questions, or tell me that they can win under pressure as well? Then there’s Muskegon. The Big Reds have a lightning fast offense, a relatively mistake free quarterback in Shawn Pfenning, and a defense that loves imposing their will big hit after big hit. A match up of two powers, and only one can win. Quack…Quack…Quack.  

Division 4

South Christian vs. Edwardsburg

South Christian has been battle tested this season and has also proven that they can win when their backs are against the wall. I’m a QB guy, and I really like Russell (West Catholic) and Jackson (Mona Shores) but I’m not sure any quarterback is as composed, next-level ready, and hungry for a state title as Jon Wassink is. Not to mention the play that the Sailors have gotten out of RB Geff Plasman. Plasman has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for rushing (1,101) and has 19 touchdowns to go along with that. I like South Christian in this one.

Division 5

West Catholic vs. Menominee

West Catholic is headed all the way UP north to play Menominee in the Marquette Superior Dome. Weather won’t be an issue for either team as we should be in store for an absolute shootout! With a combined record of 24-0, here are a few numbers for you all. Menominee comes in averaging 49.5 points per game while West Catholic is averaging 42.5 points per game. Nothing outside of a natural disaster is going to keep these teams out of the end zone on Saturday. Who gets to 50 first? I like West Catholic to edge out the boys from up north for a few reasons. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the play of Travis Russell and the spread attack of West Catholic. He has a slew of weapons to throw to (Nemmers, Witham, O’Connor). In the end it’s going to come down to who can slow down the other. I like West Catholic’s defense to prevail and hold Menominee to their lowest scoring total of the season.

Division 6

Northpointe Christian vs. Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic

I called out Watervliet last week claiming that if they could find the end zone against Northpointe they may have a shot. They called my bluff and gave Northpointe all they could handle. In the end the Mustangs edged out Watervliet by a single score. As for Monroe St. Mary’s, they took a late lead after converting a miracle 4th and 7 when quarterback Bryce Windham eluded a few defenders and chucked the ball to Travis Vuich at the goal line. Monroe St. Mary’s punched it in from there and took a lead they wouldn’t surrender. Their opponent, Jackson Lumen Christi was a ground and pound kind of team that also prided themselves on the defensive side of the ball. What Monroe St. Mary’s may not know is that Northpointe may have an even tougher defense. Northpointe has ridden their defensive momentum for all it’s worth this season. While putting up 41 points in last week’s game, they showed that they could compete on that side of the ball too. This is the farthest that Northpointe has ever been, I’d hate to see this destined run fall short. Similar to last week, I’m going with the Mustangs by the skin of their teeth.    

Ford Field awaits. Who will punch their ticket?

We’ve got the District Champions set and these teams are ready to chase some more hardware! The OK conferences are more than well represented with nine teams still in action. Who will survive?

Last week, I was an unlikely 30-point come from behind win (having my prediction based off of a coin flip) away from perfection. Hats off to gutsy second half performance from the Vikings of Whitehall. The past is the past. Let’s worry about this weeks matchups!

Division 1

Hudsonville @ East Kentwood 

Division 1 excitement! Where to start with this one… Last week Hudsonville knocked off the Co-Conference champion in Rockford and have a shot this week at dethroning the other half. The Hudsonville offense trounced the Rams for nearly 500 yards of total offense. Opple rushed for 205 yards and added 139 yards through the air, while Toth added 140 on the ground. Meanwhile Grand Ledge challenged East Kentwood more than I thought they would, but in the end the Falcons got the job done. Michael Ivy is statistically the best running back the OK-Red has to offer, running behind a behemoth of an offensive line. These teams met back in week 7 where East Kentwood won at home 35-28. Things will be different this time around. Again, I think that Opple is the best player on the field. Hudsonville has really turned the ship around since going cold to end the regular season. It’s show time. Go Eagles.

Division 2

Battle Creek Lakeview @ Mona Shores

When Mona took care of the Big Reds in the last week of the regular season I thought that we had seen their best performance. Wrong again. Mona Shores has turned it up a notch and who knows what their ceiling is. The Sailors are riding an impressive eight game win streak and averaging 45 points a game while doing so. That’s not all, their defense is only surrendering 14 points a game during this streak. Tyree Jackson is the real deal and he has what it takes to deliver from here on out. Mona takes care of Battle Creek Lakeview in convincing fashion.

Division 3

Lowell @ Zeeland West

Zeeland West was tested in a BIG way against Lakeshore last week. Maybe I was getting a little ahead of myself in saying that a state championship appearance would be a cakewalk for the Dux. Lowell is up next, led by Ryan Stevens and Max Dean who took care of two very talented and physical teams in East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Christian en route to a District Championship. The real question is if the Red Arrows have what it takes to figure out the high powered Wing T offense that the Dux have come to master. I think Zeeland West will be heavily tested for the second straight week, as Lowell will give them everything they can handle. In the end I like the Dux to advance with sights set on a State title.

Petoskey “at” Muskegon

This is more of a neutral site than a home game for the “home” team Muskegon Big Reds. Muskegon’s offense sputtered a bit against a tough Cedar Springs team last week but found a way to grind one out. Petoskey runs a defensive charged unit that will be looking to make the Big Reds uncomfortable. I think the Big Reds will prove to be too much to handle. In the end Muskegon limits their penalties and has no problem advancing to the next round.

Division 4

Whitehall @ South Christian

Whitehall showed plenty of heart in a huge come from behind win against Comstock Park last week. This week they face the offensive juggernaut that is South Christian. Jon Wassink is the power source behind this well-oiled machine of an offense. Whether it is on the ground or through the air the Sailors have got it done and won’t stop now.

Division 5

Reed City @ West Catholic 

Travis Russell is 3 scores away from a school record and Reed City isn’t going to stand in his way. The Falcons seem to be getting better with each week and show zero sign of slowing down. Give credit to the defensive side of the ball as they have been wreaking havoc is the past two weeks as well. Ho hum, Falcons advance.

Division 6

Watervliet @ Northpointe Christian 

I’d be a down right fool to pick against the Northpointe Christian defense, a FOOL I tell you. Just take a look at what happened last week for the sixth time this season. Another shutout. Anyone surprised? Didn’t think so, this defensive unit is for real. Watervliet has registered just one loss this season and it was by a single point on the road at Gobles. Let’s see if the Panthers can do what the majority of teams haven’t been able to do against Northpointe, get on the scoreboard. I’m all Mustang in this one.

These teams are fighting for their playoff lives in hopes to play for a State title and I’m excited to see what happens from here! It’s survival time, who will advance, and who will pack their bags and head home. 

Week 10, round 1 is in the books for high school football. I was something like 11/16 with my picks, some call that brilliance, most call it your average passing grade. Either way we have to see it for what it was and move on. I have a weird feeling that this week will bring perfection in every form of the word. Let’s get going.

Division 1

Hudsonville at Rockford

These teams met back in week 4 as the Rams ousted the Eagles by the skin of their teeth. Things will be different this time around. Mason Opple is the most dominant player on the field; in the end he will be the difference maker. I like the Eagles to get their revenge in a big way.

Grand Ledge at East Kentwood

Kentwood took care of another conference foe in Grandville (for the second time this season) last week. These teams have an opponent in common in West Ottawa. Ironically West Ottawa defeated both teams by a score of 28-21. East Kentwood has the kind of offensive line that you want to go to war with and will give Michael Ivy the space and Kyle Friberg the protection they need in order to score in bunches. The Falcons survive and advance. 

Division 2

Mona Shores at Midland Dow

Mona Shores took it to Caledonia on Saturday in a convincing way. I said earlier that I thought the winner of that game would win state. I’m stickin with my guns and honoring my prediction. Tyree Jackson showed out in a big way last week and I don’t see reason for him to slow down. Mona advances in what should be an all out brawl.

Division 3

Stevensville Lakeshore at Zeeland West

It’s going to be the same thing week in and week out on my end. The Dux are the best team that Division 3 has to offer. Zeeland West gets their 45 points and rolls. Quack. Quack. 

Grand Rapids Christian at Lowell

It was an inner battle of the head and the heart in my pick against Christian High last week. I went with my head and it burned me. The Eagles played some inspired football last week and definitely have the pieces they need to make a run. I’ve learned… Or have I? I’m goin’ head again with this one in a battle of toughness and grit. I like Lowell to advance in a game that will be won in the trenches.

Cedar Springs at Muskegon

Our very own Slammin’ Sammy (Russell) has Muskegon and Cedar Springs ranked number 4 and 7 respectfully in our Power Rankings poll. Cedar Springs has a few impressive wins coming on the road against Comstock Park and twice beating Forest Hills Northern. Muskegon has just one loss coming at the hands of Tyree Jackson and Mona Shores. Muskegon was a preseason favorite of mine to take home a state title. The Big Reds will prove to be a little more physical, strong, and fast as they find a way to get past Cedar Springs.

Division 4 

Hudsonville Unity Christian at South Christian

A week 3 matchup ended in overtime with a game winning field goal at the foot of John Masselink. Unity found success with the Wing T racking up 388 yards rushing. I think that if there is a team that will prevent South from returning to Ford Field it will be these guys. All that being said it’s hard to imagine Wassink, Plasman and the high scoring Sailor offense being slowed down. Not to mention the way the defense stepped up in a shutout against Allendale. I feel like I’m “rolling the dice” here with an 8-2 team… Sailors advance. 

Comstock Park at Whitehall

Whitehall pitched a shutout in last week’s game against Spring Lake and looked good while doing it. Comstock Park has a higher-powered offense capable of putting up plenty of points. This game is about as evenly matched as they come. I flipped a coin and it read heads. Go Panthers.

Division 5

Hopkins at West Catholic

A combine record of 19-1 and they are meeting in the second round, seems a tad unfortunate to me. Travis Russell is looking poised and nearly unstoppable with 37 total touchdowns. I like West Catholic to have their way with Hopkins and improve to 11-0. 

Division 6 

Ravenna at Northpointe Christian

Northpointe Christian has given up seven or less points seven times this season. Pair that defense with an offense that is averaging 41 points a game, your product is 9-1 and as intimidating as they come. I am excited to see what kind of impact sophomore David Thompson (Ravenna) has on this game after rushing for 172 yards in last week’s game. If Northpointe can bottle him up I like their chances even more. I do question how battle tested Northpoint has been, but for now the Mustangs carry on.

Playoff Predictions, Survive and Advance.

The regular season is over, the process of elimination has now officially started, and we are in a desperate state of survival of the fittest. Let’s take a few moments to break down the first round playoff matchups and make some predictions.

Division 1

Traverse City West at Rockford

The co-conference champs show why they are where they are. The Rams have found a way all season. Why stop now?

Hudsonville at West Ottawa

I believe in Mason Opple to right the ship for Hudsonville. The Eagles got the best of WO in a 45-0 shutout while having no struggle doing it on the road. Eagles advance.

Grandville at East Kentwood

No game intrigues me more than this one. The Bulldogs seem to be firing on all cylinders, including defensively. I think the Dawgs use the one-point loss back in week 4 as fuel and rally past the conference champs. 

Division 2

Caledonia at Mona Shores

This game is my most highly anticipated matchup. If anything I find this game to be very unfortunate for both teams. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the winner of this game take home a state title. I would much rather see this matchup in a later round, but the selection wasn’t up to me. I like Caledonia in slugfest.

Division 3

Northview at Muskegon

Muskegon isn’t going to take lightly the fact that the OK-Black was taken from them. I think the loss can only fire up an already extremely physical Big Reds team.

Forrest Hills Northern at Cedar Springs

Cedar Springs improves to 9-1 beating Forrest Hills Northern for the second time this season.

Grand Rapids Christian at St. Johns

Grand Rapids Christian took a huge hit losing quarterback Patrick Hall and hasn’t really been able to bounce back. This defense can impact a game better than any I’ve seen thus far. In the end I think St. Johns proves to be too much to handle.

East Grand Rapids at Lowell

I like Lowell in this one. EGR has grinded all season long and truly played inspired football down the stretch. In the end Lowell is going to hang too many points on the Pioneers.

Byron Center at Zeeland West

Byron shouldn’t take this personally; they’ve put together a great season; unfortunately they got the toughest draw in the division. I don’t see anybody slowing down this Dux offense.

Division 4

Comstock Park at Cadillac

Cadillac improves to 10-0 as their defense proves to be too much for Comstock Park

Allendale at South Christian

South Christian’s offense is really clicking as Plasman has taken pressure off of Wassink. The Sailors have too many weapons for Allendale.

Unity Christian at Catholic Central

I like Nick Marosi to power Catholic past a stout running attack in Unity Christian.

Division 5

Berrien Springs at West Catholic

Travis Russell, need I say more? West Catholic cruises.

Muskegon Oakridge at Hopkins

How about picking the visiting team for a change? Some how the city of Muskegon produced 37 playoff teams this season and this is one of them. A darn good one at that, I like Oakridge to advance in a thriller.  

Division 6

Fennville at Northpointe Christian

Northpointe takes full advantage of home field going head first into the second round.

Three is greater than one.

A couple of OK-Red bubble teams duked it out tonight as Grandville ran right through the Hudsonville Eagles and potentially into the post season.

The Bulldogs have waited for this moment since ’06 and showed how hungry they really are. Hudsonville sits at 5-4 losing 22-7 tonight as both teams will be relying on the selection committee to see what their future holds come Sunday.

Things we learned tonight.

•          Why not the Bulldogs
•          Regroup and find your niche
•          Deception saves Grandville

Let’s call it like we see it. Is there a better all around backfield in the state than what Grandville has? It could be a little bold with the likes of the Big Reds, West Catholic, Zeeland West, and players like Eddie Kelly for Caledonia, Nick Marosi of Catholic Central and many many more talents out there, but it’s my blog and my credibility on the line. Now I’d appreciate it if you would all keep reading. In my opinion Grandville is in at 5-4 for several reasons, just look at their schedule and what they did with it. This team is hot rattling off three straight no-questions asked wins. Grandville has outscored their opponents during that stretch 129-39. HELLO. But what I loved most of all about them tonight was the play of their defense. Holy smokes did these boys bring it! It’s taken a while and they have healed from a few injuries, but if things stay sharp on that side of the ball, why not? Am I right?

Hudsonville. This is not the same team we have seen all season, but I get it, off nights happen. On top of that you sometimes have to tip your cap to the team that has played better on the given night. I think that the Eagles have a great shot at making the playoffs as Mason Opple and Kyle Toth, and Coach Lidgard have done great things this season. On top of it all Hudsonville has had their fair share of heartbreaking losses this season, I think they are better than their record shows. Assuming they sneak their way into the playoffs, they simply need to regroup, and go back to playing ball the way they know they can. Heads up fellas, and best of luck.

Admittedly the Wing T can be a bit of a snoozer at times. Run after run after run…after ruuuuuun. But there is an obvious and mysterious beauty to it when it’s run correctly. See Zeeland West. First year Grandville coach Eric Stiegel has the Bulldogs firing on all cylinders and they don’t appear to be stopping just yet. Cappiello, Meekhof, and Sinclair make up the explosive and bold offensive backfield that I was talking about just a moment ago (if you decided to stay with me, thank you). They hit defenses right in the mouth until they can lull you to sleep, next thing you know it’s one of the three hooligans around the outside for six. I watched this offense live for the first time tonight and couldn’t have been more entertained. Ryan Koorndyk plays a very fitting role for the Bulldogs; as he remains clam, cool, collected, and pretty sneaky dropping in his fair share of fine passes when need be. Needless to say, I think this team is finally playing their best football and could make a little run at things if they get the opportunity. Go Dawgs! 

On a rainy senior night at Memorial Field, East Grand Rapids plowed their way past Grand Rapids Christian High 31-7 in what was a gut check game for both teams. East played far more desperate as their backs were against the wall en route to a possible late playoff run. Bryce Henkey led the way for the Pioneers’ offense with 136 yards rushing on the night. Both teams will head into the final week of the season with a 5-3 record and a playoff birth on the line.

What we learned tonight:

•          In a must win, East delivered
•         The loss of Patrick Hall may have done the Eagles in
•          Week 8 could have been the turning point for the Pioneers offense
•          Christian High controls their own destiny

As we all know, the magic number in high school football is six. East came in with four wins and in desperate need of a victory to keep their post-season dreams alive. For Christian High, a win could have sent them into the playoffs, as they face possibly their toughest test of the season in week 9 at Caledonia. East’s defense set the tone early with two goal line stands in the first half. GRC elected to rolled the dice both times, as Mike Johnston, Ben Wollett and company took it personal shutting down the Eagles while giving East’s offense all the momentum they needed. Mikey Roth did what he needed to do as he directed the run heavy offense. Roth was a modest 2/3 with a score throwing only when the offense needed him to. I’m impressed with what East did tonight, and to be frank, a little shocked. I like East to beat Jenison next week and clinch a playoff bid while handling plenty of adversity throughout the season. Congrats and good luck fellas, stay hungry.

Patrick Hall impacted both sides of the ball for the Eagles this season as he took over the QB roll after week 1. He also co-led the defense at safety and was a leader on both ends. Hall suffered a compound fracture of his arm against Lowell and was ruled out for the season. For the first time all year the defense was really exposed for the Eagles and you have to think the loss of Hall had something to do with that. The Pioneers were able to run all over Christian High and never looked back. Normally I would say that this defense, lead by Bates and Damstra, would keep GRC in any game, but tonight East got them best of the Eagles picking them apart for most of the 48 minutes. I’ve been all about this Christian High defense this season, and still believe in them, but I predict that the Scots take care of business on their senior night making it incredibly difficult for Christian High to make the playoffs coming out of the White and leaving their destiny up to the voters. Our best wishes are with Patrick Hall as he battles back from his arm injury.

Last week, I blogged about the lack of offensive production this season for the Pioneers, and naturally, they put up 31 points in a route of one of the toughest defenses in the state. Point made, now keep it up. I can only imagine what kind of week the Pioneers had at practice as Stuursma has been here before and knows exactly what it takes to get the most out of his players. EGR was able to run the ball exceptionally well, which opened up the play action pass when it was needed. Henkey delivered in a big way, and the Pioneers eliminated turnovers resulting in a huge win.

Christian High has had a few big wins this season, but no game is bigger than next week’s at Caledonia. Caledonia is coming off of a massive shutout victory over the undefeated Lowell Red Arrows, as it was the first time Lowell has been shutout since ’98. Caledonia was victorious 33-0. Christian High is going to have to play some inspired football if they are going to pull this one out, but I have seen crazier things. This defense is capable of reeking havoc and will have to bring it all night in order to slow down Eddie Kelly and the Scots. Win and move on, let’s see what the Eagles are made of.

We are knocking on the door of week 9 as it’s win or go home for a handful of teams. Things will be interesting and we cannot wait to see what unfolds!   

All aboard the E-Train!

Eddie Kelly proved that he is the conductor of a powerful locomotive that is the Caledonia offense. The more impressive news may be that of the co-pilot, Caledonia’s defense. In a physical bout Caledonia had its way with East Grand Rapids on Friday night with an impressive 30-7 victory.

Things we learned from tonight’s game:

•          Eddie Kelly is a man on a mission
•          East Grand Rapids needs to find ways to get into end zone more consistently
•          Caledonia’s defense ought to turn some heads
•          Down but not out for East

Eddie Kelly, HOW YA DOIN’? Holy smokes is this fella a handful. I’m not sure that there’s a running back in the area that gets downfield with more tenacity than Kelly. The special part of this kid’s game is that it appeared as the game rolled on he only got more energy. Kelly was a crippling force against East tonight as he gained 7 yards a pop on 25 carries totaling 174 yards and two scores. I was more than impressed with his running style, as at times tonight he looked like a man possessed. I am not convinced however that we have seen his best game. Lowell and Christian High are going to have their hands full and I cannot wait to see Kelly go up against the defensive power of GRC. When Kelly and Bates collide it may shake the earth.

I understand that East has been plagued with injuries this season. Zawacki (allow me to play favorites, this guy may be mine), and Clifford are two of the bigger names that have taken a hit. I would like to see this offense at full strength, but sometimes that’s how the cookie crumbles. Roth has been a warrior game in and game out, but tonight wasn’t his night as he threw two interceptions. The Pioneers are averaging just a touch over 17 points a game this season, and in a challenging OK-White I think that that number has to increase as they are going to need some help to get into the playoffs.

Let’s give some praise where praise is due. The Caledonia defense is the co-pilot to Kelly and company and shouldn’t be over looked. In their last four games Caledonia has given up just twenty points including a shut out against Rockford. Caledonia had blanked the Pioneers for nearly 45 minutes. But it gets better. The Scots limited East to just one first down in the entire first half. East Grand Rapids was only able to gain 183 yards on the stout defense while rushing for only 24 yards. Drake Ellens led the way for the Scots with two huge interceptions, including one in the end zone. Caledonia has no time to rest as they play Lowell and Grand Rapids Christian to close the season.

East fell to 4-3 tonight in the loss. This is one of, if not the toughest conference in West Michigan (maybe only to the Red). East has not quit once this season and as I still believe that they have one of the toughest defenses in the state as well as possible the grittiest players in high school football in Mikey Roth and Michael Johnston. These two guys play with their hearts on their sleeves for four quarters. East is going to be favored in a match up at Jenison to end the season, and you have to believe that they need a win against Christian High next week to solidify a playoff spot. Keep the heads up East, you have what it takes and a coach with about as impressive a résumé as it comes.

Six is the magic number.

Week six is in the books and we have a handful of teams who took advantage of quick starts to clinch playoff position via the automatic qualifier. On the other side of the coin, there are teams who have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention as well.

Let’s take a look at teams who have clinched, and what teams we predict to get to the six win mark.

Automatic Qualifiers--The Undefeated’s

•          Muskegon (OK-Black)
•          Grand Rapids West Catholic (OK-Blue)
•          Grand Rapids Forrest Hills Northern (OK-Bronze)
•          Zeeland West (OK- Green)
•          Lowell (OK-White)

Who Will Advance:

With three games yet to be played in the regular season, here is a list of teams that I think will be six game winners, therefore automatically qualifying.

OK-Black

•          Muskegon*
•          Muskegon Mona Shores

OK- Blue

•          West Catholic*
•          Allendale

OK-Bronze

•          Forrest Hills Northern*
•          Greenville
•          Cedar Springs

OK-Gold

•          Catholic Central
•          South Christian

OK- Green

•          Zeeland West*
•          Byron Center
•          Unity Christian

OK-Red

•          East Kentwood
•          West Ottawa
•          Hudsonville
•          Rockford

OK-Silver

•          North Pointe Christian
•          Hopkins
•          Kellogsville

OK-White

•          Lowell*
•          East Grand Rapids
•          Grand Rapids Christian

Rest assured, there will be teams that win five games and still qualify for the playoffs.

In my opinion the OK-Red and White bring the most depth and as a result the Red leads the way with what I think will advance four playoff teams. The Red is wide open as it is anybody’s conference to win.

The White is right behind them with three automatic qualifiers. The White will have one heck of a race in the remaining three weeks in route to crowning a champion. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Caledonia finding their way into the playoffs with five wins and giving the White a fourth team.

It’s going to be a fight from here on out as every game has huge implications. Things are heating up as teams have their sights set on a post-season birth. Check back in to my blog this Friday for more updates as well as my bold predications of who will be conference champs and why, early next week.   

Barn…Burner!

Two potential State Champion teams met tonight in a heavy weight clash, as Grand Rapids Christian High was able to knock off the Eagles of Hudsonville by a score of 35-34.

After one half I thought I had seen all that I needed as Hudsonville took a convincing two score lead into the locker room looking like a much more physical team. Little did I know, it had only just begun!

Things we learned from tonight’s game:

• Malik McLaughlin deserves this portion of my blog. Period.
• Hudsonville drops back-to-back heartbreakers, yet let’s not panic
• Thompson’s Week 1 injury was a blessing in disguise
• DOWN NEVER MEANS OUT, Mitch Damstra

Malik may have turned in my favorite performance of the season thus far in tonight’s game. Tallying 325 all-purpose yards, he willed the Eagles of Christian High back from down two scores while doing everything he could to help lead his team to victory. McLaughlin averaged 9.5 yards per pop after rushing the ball 15 times, as well as making use of his 18.4 yards per catch racking up 129 yards on 7 catches. What was most impressive to me was his tenacity after receiving the ball. Malik showed bursts of speed that I didn’t see when watching him in week 1. He also showed a sort of desperation and demand for the football when his team’s back was against the wall. Hall and the Eagles faced back to back 4^th downs late in the fourth quarter that would have all but sealed the deal for Hudsonville had Malik not turned nothing into something along the way. Malik was able to dive for a ball on 4^th and 3 good for 4 yards to keep the drive alive. He also gave Hudsonville fits coming out of the backfield on the screen pass several different times. Malik’s grit impressed me tonight in a performance that I think is worthy of POTW honors. Atta you!

I understand that Hudsonville dropped back-to-back games after cracking the top 3 in the AP poll. In a one point heartbreaking loss to Rockford, Hudsonville had its second 1-point defeat in as many weeks. It was a gutsy 2 point conversion attempt for the win that came back to haunt them against the Rams, and tonight, frankly, just a game that I think they became a bit complacent in. Opple is the real deal, there is no question there, but I think that tonight they let the lead get to them a little bit. I’m not convinced this is the most disciplined that we will see Hudsonville all year, and I’m just about as confident that they will come back in week 6 ready to make up for lost ground. Even in a conference as tough as the Red appears, I don’t see Hudsonville not making the playoffs, I think they are flat out too good not to. Don’t let these 2 losses define them; Hudsonville is going to be as tough a team as we see week in and week out.

Luke Thompson was injured in the Week 1 matchup against South Christian. Patrick Hall has taken the reigns ever since and tonight looked as cool as the other side of the pillow. Fittingly, Thompson looks much more comfortable at the receiver position as well as being a dynamite asset in the return game. After watching the Christian High offense sputter a touch earlier in the season, Hall made it clear that he can give Christian High all they need at the quarterback position in order to make a push at State. Heck of a job for this kid at coming in, handling adversity, and improving week to week. His 241 yards and 2 scores looked smooth tonight as he helped in leading a come from behind victory that will be remembered as a defining game for the Eagles this season.  

Hudsonville appeared to have knocked just about all of the wind out of the Christian High sails early in the 4^th quarter after taking a 2 score lead. That didn’t stop Mitch Damstra from running full tilt around the end, diving to block the PAT giving Hudsonville just a 13-point lead. With less than 10 minutes to play it seemed nearly irrelevant as Damstra popped to his feet trying to pump up the fellas around him. I turned to my right and Tyler (All-American statistician) said to me, “that could make things interesting.” I shook it off and with non-verbal cues stating that the play probably wouldn’t matter. Stat stuffer. WRONG! That’s just the kind of player Damstra is. As long as he is on the field he is going to try to impact the game however he can. I remember writing about him in Week 2 stating he’s a player who runs around like his hair is on fire. Well, my friend, after tonight’s game I’d suggest you keep it a burnin’! Christian High took home a 1-point victory, and as it will probably be the case, Mitch’s play will more than likely be overshadowed by the play of McLaughlin, Hall, and Bates. Don’t ya worry young buck, I wont let it go un-spoken of. Never ever forget… Play until the final whistle, gentleman.

I tell ya what, just when you think the games cannot get anymore intense we turn in another game that leaves me grasping for more! This is something I can get used to baby! Week 5 is in the books, but we have plenty more to come. Keep checking us out!

Speed thrills and speed kills.

Muskegon was explosive and used big plays to beat the East Grand Rapids Pioneers by the final score of 37-7.

It was that big play ability of Muskegon that was a kryptonite for the Pioneers as East hung tough all game, aside from what the scoreboard might have read at the final horn.

Electrifying plays by Coleman, Whiteside, and Washington were in abundance in the second half, as Muskegon was able to keep the pedal to the metal and finish off the Pioneers.

Things we learned tonight:

• Slow-Mo replay may be the only way to stop the rushing attack of the Big Reds
• Roth is as gutsy as they come
• The Muskegon defense is somethin’ to be reckoned with
• East’s defense demands respect

Alezay Coleman showed his wheels scoring from 14 yards out, as I cocked my head and thought, “okay, this guy can run a little bit”. Early in the 3^rd quarter Pfenning connected with Coleman as Coleman gave everyone in the stadium something to talk about. Coleman jumped for a ball in traffic, broke darn near 5 tackles, turned on the after burners and sped down the sideline into the end zone for 6, Alezay, that my friend is what I’m talkin’ about!

It was Keonte’ Whiteside’s turn next. With half a minute left in the 3^rd quarter Whiteside took the ball off tackle, disappeared for a few hundredths of a second, and then reappeared in the end zone… 76 yards later! We’re talking next level speed with Whiteside here folks.

Caleb Washington, it’s your turn. One minute into the 4^th quarter Washington ran the ball up the gut, bounced to the outside in the blink of an eye and torched down the sideline after being pushed out of bounds 72 yards later at the 2-yard line. Containing the Big Reds is going to be a challenge, there is no doubt about that. Coleman lead the way with 153 rushing yards on 17 carries, good for 9 yards per carry.

This marks back-to-back weeks that Mikey Roth has faced teams who aren’t afraid to bring the house. Yet Mikey was reluctant to shy away as time after time he sat in the pocket to complete a pass. Roth took a few hits while on the run as well; doing whatever it took to keep a play alive. Muskegon found a way to limit the Pioneers on the ground, as it is becoming more and more obvious each week how much AJ Zawacki is missed. Mikey’s effort in doing what he could to keep EGR competitive tonight was not over looked as the Big Reds out matched them. Roth found Jon Olsson for a 7-yard strike while taking a hit, resulting in the sole touchdown for East.

Muskegon did it on the defensive end as well. Taran Smith lead the way for Muskegon defensively with 9 tackles, 7 of which were solo, including 4 assists. Smith was able to create havoc all night for the Big Reds as EGR looked for an answer. When it wasn’t Smith it was Rowland Sharp with 5 tackles, 4 solo and 2 assists. Sharp was able to shed blockers left and right when getting to the ball carrier.

I saw a few hits by Coleman that made me question my own safety up in the press box. We’re just going to leave it at this, the kid can hit, too. Mark Edens (who punted for Muskegon) also got in on the mix as he delivered a few huge tackles on special teams. Punter? Get this kid at middle linebacker. 

The thing that has really stuck out this season for East has been the audacity and strength of the defense. Yes, Muskegon put up 37 points. No, that is not reflective of how tough this defense really is. For starters, Muskegon pushed the envelope a bit on the final drive of the game after things were very much out of hand which inflated the score a bit. But East had success on early downs as well as fought for control at the line of scrimmage. Multiple times the Pioneers had a runner stopped at the line of scrimmage but Muskegon backs were able to shed would be tacklers and rack up yards after contact. Michael Johnston led the way for the Pioneers with 7 tackles, 3 solo, and 8 assists. When East got beat, it hurt them as Muskegon was more than likely able to take complete advantage of their mistakes. Ultimately, the speed and up-tempo style of play tired out the Pioneers. Keep the heads up boys, and get ready for week 5.

It’s also important to comment on the play of QB Shawn Pfenning, as he’s likely overshadowed by his running backs. Pfenning did what he had to do and a little more tonight. He was 10 of 16 for 146 yards and one TD, while also notching two rushing TDs.  Most notably, he played smart and took care of the football.      

Muskegon seems to be as good as advertised, proving their #1 position in our Power Ranking Poll and no. 2 in the AP Division 2 Poll. If they remain focused and disciplined, the sky is the limit.   

The latest AP poll rankings came in earlier this week as we saw the OK-Red represented very well with 4 teams cracking the top ten.

Hudsonville: The Eagles come in at the 2 spot this week in Division 1. This could come as a surprise to people, but if you recall from earlier this summer they were in fact a team that we were prepared to see break out. Dual-threat quarterback Mason Opple has the Eagles firing on all cylinders and hasn’t been afraid to make some noise of his own along the way racking up 11 total touchdowns. Running back Kyle Toth has himself 5 rushing touchdowns on the season giving the Eagles a nice 1-2 punch in the run game. Hudsonville has outscored opponents this year by a score of 115-25. Week 4 poses a highly anticipated matchup between the Eagles and the Rams that could possibly be an early peek at who will hoist the crown for the OK-Red.

Rockford: Rockford has themselves at 3-0 and is no stranger to the AP poll (no. 4). Last week the defense turned some heads slowing down and nearly dominating the Mona Shores offensive attack limiting the Sailors to just 7 points. Rockford seems to have a different player step up each week to help the Rams pick up another victory. One week, it’s Landon Haney and the next, it’s Jake Sendzik or Tyler Bradfield. When it comes down to it, Coach Ralph Mungor has one expectation. Win, bottom line.

East Kentwood: Sam gave us his forewarning about these boys as he selected them to be his boldly predicted team to win the OK-Red. The Falcons come in at the number 6 spot in the AP rankings before conference play kicks off. The Falcons are averaging a whopping 43 points per game after 3 games this season as running back Michael Ivy is averaging close to 130 yards on the ground per game. Oh yeah, and their defense has only yielded 21 points to opponents.  

Grandville: No, Andrew Hawken, Brad Iciek and that nasty Bulldog defense from 2004 haven’t suited up this season (the last time the Dawgs were ranked in the state poll). This Bulldog team may be much more legitimate than people are willing to give them credit for. Let’s hope that they can bounce back from the well-fought week 3 loss to the Big Reds of Muskegon (ranked #2 in the state in the Division 2 AP poll and on top of our Power Rankings) as Grandville still has things to prove now that conference play is starting. Brian Cappiello, Noah Meekhof, and Ben Sinclair have been key pieces to a deceptive ground and pound offense for first year head coach Eric Stiegel. Don’t overlook the Grandville defense, as they went chest to chest with Muskegon while only surrendering 24 points.

All this being said, the OK-Red has flexed its guns in non-conference play. It will be interesting to see who can survive and represent the OK-Red as conference champions when it’s all said and done. (It’s important to note that Grand Haven had a perfect non-conference record as well and this week they battle West Ottawa who sits at 2-1.) Similar to the OK-White, we’re going to have huge matchups week in and week out. When you play in a conference as strong as the Red, some very solid teams are going to come away with blemishes week to week.

Buckle up! Week 4 is right around the corner and it is time to battle for conference braggin’ rights!

BOOYAH

It’s up…. It’s good!

John Masselink put a 23-yard field goal through the uprights to send the South Christian faithful into an absolute frenzy as the Sailors outlasted the Crusaders of Unity Christian 33-30 in overtime.

As of right now my biggest concern is whether or not I’ll get to see a game and not get rained on. But let’s talk about what unfolded between South and Unity tonight.

Things we learned tonight:

• You're going to need riot gear, a bulldozer, and possibly a small army to slow down Jeff Snikers
• Wassink may spend more time using his legs than we expected
• Unity is a three-headed monster
• South is right on cue

Man oh man is Snikkers a punisher! Weather it’s between the tackles, or around the end, Jeff Snikkers protects the football and gets downfield. Run after run Snikkers was lowering his shoulder and making tacklers pay for getting in the way. I’m not sure if he is more hurt or helped by the Wing T though. I think Snikkers is tough enough to work in a pro style offense, but obviously the Wing T works just fine, and has been for a while. I just think it would be interesting if he could turn 20 carries into something like 30. Ironically, Snikkers was stopped on the goal line on 4^th and goal from the two in over time. Don’t let this confuse you however; he’s getting the ball in that situation 100 times over. Keep your head up my friend, and I’ll make sure to never get in your way.

Week 3 has come to an end and I’m sort of still waiting for Wassink to have his breakout game through the air. Nonetheless, he has impressed me with his ground work. Wassink is hurt by the injury to top receiver VanVoorst (after coming off of a 9 catch 170 yard performance in week 2) as VanVoorst was a HUGE homerun threat every time the ball was in the air. Wassink isn’t looking to run first by any means; he’s just being smart with what defenses are throwing at him. I’m not disappointed with Wassink; I just know he’s capable of even more. Tonight Wassink tallied up 149 rushing yards and 2 scores on 23 carries, as well as completing 12 of 18 passes for 150 yards and 2 touch downs. At this level versatility is key, carry on, Jon.

The Wing T probably isn’t going to keep anyone on the edge of their seat for too long, but when it is run as fluently as what Unity was able to do tonight it can be a thing of beauty. The three headed beast that is Snikkers, Byker, and Bos (add another Bos and Hoogterp in the mix) makes a coaching job just a touch easier. The three of them combined for 305 yards on 39 carries, good for 7.8 yards per carry and 3 scores. The Crusaders threw the ball just two times as VanderPloeg tossed the second for a touchdown with 28 seconds remaining to tie things up after a successful two-point conversion. The deception that comes with the Wing T is going to bring success and tonight Unity was, what seemed to be just a single carry away, from gutting out a victory.

South Christian had a “slow” start as they began the season at 0-2. The Sailors remained competitive in challenging matchups with teams from division 2 and 3 in the first 2 weeks. As for coach Tamminga and the Sailors, it was do or die tonight as they put together a gutsy performance to get a much needed win. South’s schedule isn’t going to get any easier as they host a tough Forrest Hills Eastern squad next week followed by Catholic Central on the 26^th at Fifth Third Ball Park. Look for these boys to really dial things up as they look to make another run at state with a loaded and experienced roster. I was impressed with the performance of South’s offensive line tonight. I thought that Wassink had a comfortable amount of time on his pass attempts as well as them being responsible for 393 yards of total offense.

*** Something worth noting was the performance of Sam Heyboer on the defensive end tonight tallying up 11 tackles, 8 being solo, and assisting on 6. Big ups to you, Sam!      

One step at a time

You’d have to imagine that both the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids and the Bengals of Ottawa Hills have a bit of a sour taste in their mouths after tonight’s performances. In the end it was East that was able to emerge from a lackluster evening and improve their record to 2-0 defeating Ottawa Hills by a final score of 24-7.

Admittedly I shouldn’t be as harsh as I am for a few reasons. The Pioneers have proved that at the end of the day they can win ball games, pretty or not. Inclusive of that they did it while starting running back AJ Zawacki was sidelined after a hit in the first half that left him in a sling for the remainder of the game.

Things we learned from the game:

• Ottawa Hills has potential, but they need to become more disciplined
• Rain, hail, sleet or snow, EGR defense will keep them in games
• Special teams has been more crucial than we think
• Mikey Roth is going to need some time.

Drive after drive was stalled for the Bengals as penalties crippled them throughout the entirety of the game. Sophomore quarterback Jeremy Glasco showed at times that he has what it takes to command a talented Ottawa Hills team, but no matter how well he is running things, penalties prevail. Several times the Bengals were faced with 3^rd and 4^th and what seemed a country mile. Glasco has playmakers in Samuel Beal (Western Michigan commit) and running back James Wyrick. Wyrick wasn’t used as often as the Bengals would have wanted to use him on account of the fact that they faced long yardage on early downs. We saw in week 1 that Ottawa Hills can score the ball, (putting up 57 points on Union) but tonight miscues prevented the Bengals from getting anything going. It starts with discipline at the line of scrimmage, limit mistakes and it’s a different story.

East Grand Rapids has proved to have a rather stout and extremely physical defense after the first 2 weeks of football. Ben Wollet was all over the place tonight for the Pioneers getting in on 7.5 tackles, 4 of which were solo, and 7 assists. Carter Masek chipped in with 5.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks, including a fumble recovery, and Jon Olsson had a key interception in the first half for East.

This East team is physical and we knew that coming in. Offensively it has taken the Pioneers a touch longer than we expected to get things rolling, but the way that this defense has been playing shows that there needn’t be a rush. The Pioneer defense has given up 21 points in 2 games to teams that are no stranger to the end zone. Nicely done fellas.

We’ve seen Salasky come through when called upon time after time in the first two games whether that means in punt formation or lining up for a field goal. He added another 30-yard field goal tonight that may have been good from 50.

East gave Ottawa Hills fits on special teams tonight from the defensive end. Ottawa was searching for help as their starting punter Devon Morgan went down in the first quarter with an injury. The Pioneers made good use of a few botched snaps and punts and were able to put points of the board as a result. East had 14 points resulting from excellent field possession from special teams errors. Field possession wins.  

I mean this in two ways. Yes, I think that Mikey Roth needs better protection when he is passing the ball. The Pioneers are a run first ball club, but in order to be effective when Roth drops back, he is going to need more time. Often times Roth elects to throw to his first option simply because it doesn’t appear that he’s getting the time to progress in his reads. I believe in the Pioneer front 5, it’s early.

Roth also needs time to settle into the speed of the game. Mikey had both of his last two seasons cut short due to injury and it may take him another game or two until he’s completely comfortable. I like his footwork but he needs to let the offense come to him a little bit. He’s got options offensively. Patience my friend.

The standout from week two may have been the dominance of the rain throughout the Midwest. Teams are starting to establish themselves and we are one week closer to conference play. I like what I’m seeing and I hope that you all are enjoying the site. Stay tuned for what’s to come!

It was a tale of two halves at Eagle stadium as Grand Rapids Christian ousted the Sailors of South Christian 28-14 in week 1. Luke Thompson was running his way to a big game for the Eagles, but was sidelined after the first play of the second half. Senior quarterback Patrick Hall stepped in to fill the shoes of Thompson making a few timely throws to help lead the Eagles to a victory. Hall was intercepted two times, but proved down the stretch that he could be clutch when needed most as he connected with Alex Bos to seal the deal.

I like what Hall brings to the table, though I think the offense is a bit more dangerous with Thompson running things. When Hall found time he was able to make some good plays and found success along the way. He remained composed, as you expect your senior to be when called upon.

Things we learned from tonight’s game:

• ·         GR Christian does in fact have the fastest defense in West Michigan
• ·         Jon Wassink is a warrior
• ·         The only thing more impressive than GRC's linebackers may be… their secondary
• ·         South Christian’s defense is going to bring it for 4 quarters

If you feel like you got whiplash from tonight’s game, it’s probably because you did. This Christian High defense really gets after it. Bates played about how we expected him to, doing the Ray Lewis smeared eye black look a justice. Qi’antae Ewing was flying all over the place for 4 full quarters, and everything that the Sailors were going to do all night was going to have to be earned. South Christian didn’t put up the kind of numbers they are capable of largely because of the pressure that was on Wassink all night, as his stats took a hit as well. Grand Rapids Christian is going to be one of the toughest teams around, and that’s not an excuse because South Christian was right there all game. You just kind of had the feeling South could only hang on for so long. Which leads well into the next thing we learned.

Jon Wassink carried the ball 21 times for 57 yards; he also dropped back 28 times, completing 16 passes for 186 yards and a pair of scores. It seemed that he got hit on most of the 49 times he was in control of the play. Wassink took his fair share of hits, one coming in the 3^rd quarter that I could feel from up top, but refused to stay down. Wassink found a way to rally his team in the second half while keep the Sailors in the game with his top 2 targets getting less than a handful of looks. Wassink was finally able to catch a break as he threw a jump ball up to Ryan Veenstra that ended 51 yards later in the end zone. There was life in the Sailors and there aren’t many other quarterbacks that you’d trust to lead a comeback than Wassink. All in all, I don’t think the Sailors will see a defense this tough for the rest of the year.

The main focus of the Eagles defense has been the linebackers and the pressure that they and the D-line are able to get on the quarterback. They make getting after the ball look easy. But my take away from tonight’s game was how huge of a factor Mitch Damstra is going to be for the Eagles. Damstra and Gabe Andree are probably the 2 most talented players in the secondary as they compliment one another well. Andree is more of a shut down corner, while Damstra is able to use his size and run around like his hair is on fire! Damstra is a gamer; let’s leave it at that. Meanwhile, the two-headed monster in Sam Heyboer and Eric VanVoorst who combined for over 1900 yards last season were held to 4 total catches and 21 yards. Wassink had to find a way to improvise as Christian High’s secondary was locking down like Fort Knox. Hats off to you, gentlemen.

Kevin Bouwman lead the way for South with 7 tackles and 4 assists, as teammate Jake Wierenga tacked on 6.5. South Christian was outsized, nobody was questioning that, but never once did that defense look intimidated. They banged and bruised all night only conceding 21 points (until a final second touchdown that really was just icing on the cake). South dug deep and found a way to shut down Christian for most of the second half. Granted starting quarterback Luke Thompson left the game early in the 3^rd with an undisclosed injury. This Defense showed a ton of pride tonight and were a near goal line interception away late in the game from making things very interesting. I like South’s defensive discipline, and toughness and only see them getting even better.  

The week 1 games of the week were about as interesting as they come, but for some reason I think we’re going to be seeing this kind of drama all season long.

BUCKLE UP!   

Annnnnnd exhale…!

What a game it was at Memorial Field in East Grand Rapids. The neighborhood rivalry gave us all we could ask for as the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids snuck their way past the Cougars of Catholic Central, 17-14.

Noah Salasky blasted a 25-yard field goal through the uprights and into the night’s sky, as the EGR fan base went wild and the final horn sounded. As expected the game was a battle in the trenches after a 14-point stalemate for nearly a quarter and a half. Outside of an impressive short pass turned huge gain from quarterback Joe Ens to Nick Marosi with 2:11 remaining in the game, this game was proven by the defenses.

Take aways from the game:

• ·         A.J. Zawacki is a handful and then some
• ·         Nick Marosi might be even better than advertised
• ·         Both teams are going to have to rely heavily on their defense
• ·         Noah Salasky proves how important special teams can be

After visiting an east grand rapids practice earlier in the week I was very interested to see what Zawacki was all about, getting most of all the first team looks. As I was taught early on, don’t let Zawacki’s size fool you. At 5’6” and about 140 pounds Zawacki looked dangerous in the open field and on several occasions was able to make something out of nothing with defenders in the backfield. Quickness isn’t his only facet, however. One thing I like most about A.J.’s game is that he isn’t afraid of contact. Zawacki took his fair share of hits tonight yet didn’t appear fazed by a single one. Zawacki can hang, there’s no doubt about that.

We knew Nick Marosi was going to be special, and he proved tonight that he’s going to be a headache for defensive coordinates all season long. With only 3 catches Marosi was able to crack the 100-yard mark receiving the ball (123) and showed his speed as he burned down the sideline after catching a short hitch taking it all the way to the barn. Marosi was able to tally 98 yards on 20 carries making him good for nearly 5 yards a pop. Marosi is a load to take down, and if you’re not going to gang tackle, you’re just wasting your time.

Both defenses looked sound, outside of a few lapses that lead to big plays. For a while in the second half it felt like we were watching a tug-o-war match. I’m convinced both of these defenses can hold their own. Neither offense looked terribly comfortable moving the ball, but you’re going to get that in week 1. Lets look for both offenses to put up better numbers in the week to come.

East Grand Rapids was able to make better use of big play opportunities, which appeared to be the difference when it was all said and done.

Late in the second quarter the Pioneer goal line defense flexed their guns stopping Catholic Central on 3 straight run plays to turn the ball over on downs. Not long after, it was that pesky defensive front that was able to force Marosi to cough the ball up in his own end zone. And finally, East capitalized on an unfortunate sequence of events to end the game as Jon Olsson fell on a muffed punt that lead to the eventual game tying filed goal.

Special teams played about as crucial a role as could be in tonight’s thriller, and when coach Stuursma called, Salasky answered. Not only did Salasky do his job and then some, with a punt that pinned Catholic Central inside the 1-yard line leading to the second touch down, but it was his no doubt rocket that split the uprights and ultimately gave the Pioneers the 1-0 record that they were looking for.

Let’s be sure not to write the Cougars off however. For a majority of the second half, they made a case as the better team. Mistakes happen, limiting them is what you have to focus on. It’s hard to win a game when you turn the ball over, and that’s the trouble that Catholic Central ran into.

What an exciting way to open week 1! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store, as we will be headed to Grand Rapids Christian High. It will be the Eagles taking on the Sailors of South Christian at 7:00 PM. We should be in for a real treat!

To all my fans!.. Okay, Dear Mom,

It’s that time of the year again! Week 1 is just 2 days away and I hope you’re all as excited as I am. We get a little double order of fun this week as there are games to be played on both Thursday and Friday. Sam and I are going to be at East Grand Rapids on Thursday, our site for the GOTW (Game of the Week). The Pioneers and Coach Peter Stuursma play host to Coach Todd Kolster and Grand Rapids Catholic Central. We’re back at it on Friday night at Grand Rapids Christian and Don Fellows as they welcome in Mark Tamminga and the Sailors of South Christian.

There are a handful of other intriguing matchups across the board on Thursday and Friday as teams look to make a statement in week 1.

Detroit Catholic Central visits Muskegon (Friday)

Detroit Country Day visits Zeeland West (Thursday)

Grand Rapids West Catholic travels to Muskegon Oakridge (Friday)

Holt will be making a visit to Hudsonville (Thursday)

The West Michigan Football Network was busy the past 2 weeks getting over to practices and checking out some of the tops teams in the area. It’s always a treat to get out to preseason action because that gives us the ability to judge both the beginning and finished products of teams come November. A common trend from coach to coach has been the preaching of development and getting better each week. I look forward to seeing players develop, breakout, and mature as the season carries on. The best teams are going to find themselves playing their best football down the stretch and I think a lot of that has to do with on field leadership.

One of the many beauties of high school football is that you’re not defined by one loss along the season as you are at the colligate level. There are some tough conferences out there like The OK-White and OK-Red in which there could be 2 or 3 different teams who take home the crown in their respected conferences. The magic number for these teams is 6 and sometimes it takes an early loss to really find what some teams are made of.

Fans, get out there and enjoy yourself some fantastic matchups in week 1 and make sure to checkout more of our stuff as things unfold!

Opening kickoff for the 2014 season is so close I can't even take it anymore. We just visited East Grand Rapids, where we checked out the Pioneers practice and caught up with Coach Stuursma afterword. Check out the video below for our 'Quick Hits with Coach' segment.

We also recently put out some of our predictions for the 2014 season including our Preseason Players of the Year so make sure you check that out. If you are confused on where to find that, I would just click HERE!

I will be hanging out in the press box on Thursday night as the Pioneers take on Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Then on Friday I will zip on over to check out South Christian take on Grand Rapids Christian.

The season is almost here and I can't believe it. I might have hit the panic button already...

Friends, family, and even that psycho football fan we met last week…

First things first, if you didn't get a chance to see last week's coverage of South Christian check it out. SC Team Preview

Today, we continued our coverage of practices and stopped at West Catholic. It was very effective and convenient to cover them in the presence of scattered showers.

I had the chance to talk one-on-one with QB Travis Russell and TE/DE Bryce Witham as well as shooting some extra footage for a really fun video you can expect to see sometime next week.

West Catholic has some holes to fill on the offensive end, but reloading a roster hasn’t slowed down this team in the past. The Falcons are no strangers to Ford Field as they have made appearances in ’10, ’12, ’13 and held the crown of division 5 in both ’10 and ’13.

With senior QB Travis Russell navigating the offense for the 3rd straight season, we’d be crazy not to like West Catholic’s chances in the upcoming 2014 season. (Oh and by the way, coach Dan Rohn… Mr. Ford called, he’s expecting your check for rent in the mail this week.)

The Falcons have been plagued in recent seasons with slow starts. In the 2013 campaign they started 1-4 before firing off 9 straight wins as well as doing the same in 2012 after starting 1-3 (lost in D-5 final to Portland 12-9). Nobody is really sure what the deal is there, but Coach did say something about his flare for the dramatic...

Practice was capped off with yours truly being bullied yet again by a few offensive linemen. In all reality, the big ole hog mollies just may be my favorite group to be around!

We’re just about a week out from game 1 and I hope you all are as excited as I am. Check back soon for complete coverage of the Falcons as we head into 2014.

Until then….   

What’s up everybody,

Today was an awesome day for the West Michigan Football Network as we spent the entire morning and into the afternoon covering South Christian’s practice. It was definitely a privilege to get to cover such a great group of guys who truly love the game of football and are a riot to be around!

Here is a list of a few things that we have on the way for you guys to check out:

• Full break down of the offense and defense
• Key players
• Breakout players
  
• Video break down and video spoof with Jon Wassink and Casey Elzinga that you will not want to miss

We had some fun with a few of the linemen, so expect a video of them coming out pretty soon. (Quakkelaar, Huyser, J-Buuugy, VanSolkema, Elzinga, and Jonny you know what I’m talking about and I will get you back for that cheap shot!)

A special thanks goes out to coach Tamminga and Athletic Director Curt Copeland for letting us drop by practice and giving us access to their team.

Be on the lookout for a highly anticipated week 1 matchup between the Sailors of South Christian and the Grand Rapids Christian Eagles!

Until next time..

As we march to the 2014 season, we will be showcasing some of the top players in west Michigan for the 2014 season. Here are a few of the names you might have missed already.

• Allendale WR Nate Couturier
• South Christian QB Jon Wassink
• West Catholic QB Travis Russell
• GR Christian LB Jack Bates
• Mona Shores QB Tyree Jackson
• South Christian DB/WR Eric VanVoorst
• Hudsonville QB Mason Opple
• West Ottawa LB Mason Dekker
  

Be on the lookout for more player breakdowns as the 2014 season approaches. There are a lot of great players out there and we plan to showcase as many as we can before August 28 when the season kicks off. Have a teammate who deserves to be showcased? Let us know!

- Casey Rutledge

The 2nd annual Kirk Cousins 7-on-7 passing tournament was an awesome event and I was glad to be able to be there to check it out.

I had the opportunity to watch 17 teams compete, most of them from west Michigan, and it was a GREAT event.

Grand Rapids Christian beat South Christian in the final and those 2 teams are meeting to open the season on August 29. A rivalry is building there and I think that's what makes the week 1 matchup a game of the week.

I really liked what I saw out of several teams and there are quite a few players I am stoked to check out in 2014.

Check out the link below for a full recap and photos from the event.

Kirk Cousins 7-on-7 passing tournament

- Casey Rutledge

The 2014 season is fastly approaching and I can't wait for high school football this fall. Currently, I am working on my season preview and predictions. The West Michigan Football Network and I will be breaking down what we expect from the 2014 season. Here are a few things to look for soon:

Preseason watch list:

• All-Area Teams
• Breakout players
• Toughest Places to play
• Uni/Helmet watch
• Games to keep an eye out for
• And much much more...

- Casey Rutledge