LMCU High School Football Preview Show Week 10 2024

Bret and Jason preview the first week of playoff football.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Getting you ready for West Michigan High School football every
week into the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
They've got Sexton in there as well. They want to
go powerhouse football.

Speaker 3 (00:07):
McDonald over the right Side, reaches out.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Touchdown with game previews and analysis from our broadcast crew.

Speaker 3 (00:14):
Songgate looking his way, takes a snap from center.

Speaker 4 (00:17):
Looking look, you know where to go, Gonna throw it
to the corner of the hands out.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh he was crapping. I think he made the catch.

Speaker 5 (00:22):
He did. Want up being your tip cats Io.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Plus, you'll hear from an area coach every week in
our Coaches Corner segment. See where the guys sit on
their top ten team rankings and who will be named
the Uptown Chiefs game Players of the Week. It's the
LMCU High School Football Preview Show powered by Lake Michigan
Credit Union. Now here are your hosts, Brett Bakita and
Jason Hutton.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
Week ten LMCU High School Football Preview Show. And you
know what that means when I say double digits, It
means the regular season has come to a close and
here we go on the fun ride that always is
the Drive to Forward Field, presented again this season by
our friends at Vanderlin Home Improvement. Check out vanderalin home Improvement.
If you need to get an exterior project done before winner,

(01:08):
go to Vanderlin's double A on lines dot com or
caller at Grassmander Screw Direct at six one six six
six ' nine eleven eleven.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
We got a great show coming up. Jay Mark Sisko.

Speaker 3 (01:18):
Was going to join us Byron Center head coach in
the Coaches Corner, brought to you by Monte Construction. And boy,
how about the draw for them? What did you call it?
The District of Death?

Speaker 6 (01:27):
Yeah, that's what it is.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Eight and one Byron Center. We know how good they are.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Their lone loss to Miskegan Bona Shores against nine and
oher Ryan osknocks Northview wildcatch champs of the OK Black
first time they've had a perfect regular season since nineteen seventy.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
But they've got to be.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
Like, we're nine and zer and didn't even get a
home playoff game.

Speaker 7 (01:46):
Can we talk about that? I understand that this is unfortunate.
It has a lot to do with luck. I mean,
remember when this happened to Comstock Park in twenty twenty one,
right went nine to zero, had to play at West
Catholica game, that I moved to Housman Field.

Speaker 6 (01:58):
It comes down to a lot of luck.

Speaker 7 (01:59):
Norfew has the ninth most playoff points in the state
in Division two. It just so happens that geographically they
are located near two teams that have more playoff points
than them. And if you're going to do the system
the way the NHSA currently does it, they have to
be in the same district. Now, there are those that
would argue people don't care about travel, let's just see
the whole tournament.

Speaker 6 (02:17):
And that's an argument for another day.

Speaker 7 (02:19):
And that's a better argument for Northview, who would certainly
have a home game in that scenario.

Speaker 6 (02:23):
But this a lot really comes down to luck.

Speaker 7 (02:25):
I mean, when we looked at this season coming in,
I said, Northew is going to have a good season.
I never predicted Dyna. No, I did not think that
would happen. Right, But their schedule because they moved into
the OK Black, which has smaller schools right Division five
Grand Up, It's Catholic Central Division four, Holland Christian Division three,
East Ground Rapids and thorn Apple Kellock. Their Division two
Byron Center goes into the OK Green, where they have

(02:49):
bigger schools, Mona Shores, Muskegon Reesspot for Forestills Northern All
Division two. Ultimately, that is the differences. Byron Center played
three Division one schools, five Division two schools, and one
Division three schools, and that is why Byron Tenner has
more playoff points despite a loss and a home game. Really,
it's bad luck when you talk about geography and the
way this tournament is made.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
Can't wait to talk to coach Cisco for the first
time this year. And by the way, our LMCU high
school football game of the Week to start the playoffs
on ninety six to one, the game bucking.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
I'll be out there Waddale Field.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
You guys were there a couple of weeks ago Byron
Center hosting Norfew six thirty. By the way, the Janie's
Family stirs pregame show because Rick and the rest of.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
Our crew off.

Speaker 3 (03:30):
Now come playoff time and you guys have a good win.
By the way, for the Lake Shore game, I love this.
One of those Muskege Grand Rapids crossover games. Whitehall at
six and three out of the West Michigan Conference, that's
the Lakes Division coming over to take on for stools.
Eastern Hawks had a great year seven and two right
there against West Catholic trying to go for that Oka
White Division Crown didn't pull it off for the lake

(03:52):
field goal, But does that now feed them and a
chip on their shoulders still get that monster win they're
kind of looking for as a program well.

Speaker 7 (03:59):
Wide up in dish in my opinion, Obviously, Big Rapids
is the one seed and that went over Coopersville in
Week eight, and I think a lot of people are
pointing to Big Rapids that saying they're the team to be.
But Forest Hills Eastern has played a tougher schedule in
my opinion, out of the OK White and I think
they'll have a chance, but they're gonna have to get
by a Whitehall team that's been really good, especially with
Camden Thompson at quarterback. Now they're banged up, no question

(04:19):
about it. They had lost Parker Mount, their outstanding garden
linebacker for the season, way back after the Week three
game against Theland West. They had recently lost Ryan Goodrich,
another outstanding two way player for the Vikings. They've had
other guys that have been out that they are hoping
to get back.

Speaker 6 (04:35):
Their health will.

Speaker 7 (04:35):
Be a big factor in this, but we do expect,
and they'll have Camden Thompson in there, and when.

Speaker 6 (04:40):
You have him, you always have a chance.

Speaker 3 (04:41):
A couple of things, Big Rapids remember, people forget this
was the team that ousted Whitehall in the playoffs last year.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
It was a bit of a surprise.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
And as far as Whitehall and their health, they're also
licking their wounds a little bit because they ran into
the buzz saw that as Portland. A tough Week nine
non conference matchup for them as they lose that one
on Friday night forty nine to seven.

Speaker 7 (05:00):
And as much as they missed those guys that have
been out offensively, they really missed them defensively. I mean
cam Thompson I watched the first half must have made
eight nine tackles in his safety spot in the first
half against a really good Portland ground attack.

Speaker 3 (05:13):
All right, let's take a look at some of the
other games. We've got our top ten rankings coming up
at the end. I've got a new number one. I'll
tell you about that, and also are Uptown Cheapskate players
of the week for the Lake Shore and the Grand
Rapids area. But let's start with the River City's Alliance
matchup that we had Coopersville if they won that game,
Jay would win it outright, and they did at home
thirty five to twenty one Overseedar Springs. They end of

(05:36):
the year at six and three, seedar at seven and two,
both good teams coming out of the River Citi's alliance
that got four teams in the playoffs. But I was
impressed with bo Harrison Coopersville. They needed to bounce back
back to back losses with Kenaway Hills and Big Rapids,
and they did it and they hoisted the trophy on
Friday night.

Speaker 7 (05:53):
Well, they had to get the offense back right because
the Kenwa Hills lost. They get outscored but seven points
and I lost a Big Rapids. Something wasn't right. And
that Coopersville offense. They got back to running the football
downhill with Bobby Lemieux and Bill Harris and then we
know they can throw it downfield with Brooks Hadden. But
I thought Sam McDonald had a really good game catching
the football as well for Coopersville. So the offense back
on track. That's what they need now is they get

(06:13):
a rematch with Kenwell Hills in the postseason.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
How about Brooks heading by the way interception number seven.
We didn't think what happened against Cedar Springs and they
don't fill the football a lot, but they were forced
to because the Coopersville defense played well and they got
behind as far as on the scoreboard for Bo Harris,
as you mentioned in three rushing touchdowns won through the
air as well in the victory. All right, let's go
next to the other conference crown. It was up for
grabs going into the final week of the regular season.

(06:36):
Remember a lot of these games were non conference last
week and that was in the ok Silver You're Black
Knights and Bell then got it done, rolling again Jay
forty to nothing over Hopkins. Congrats to Monty Price and
another Okay Silver championship for them. They finished the year
at eight to one, six to zero, perfect mark of
the ok Silver.

Speaker 7 (06:53):
Yeah, that's three straight conference titles. They get Dawson Donovan
back in there to play quarterback this week the junior
you know that's going to be important. They're going east
here for this district tournament and they're going to play
Swan Valley at home redn Field on Friday night. You
know they're gonna have to be balanced, and I know
they've been trying to do that they've been throwing on
first down, they've been throwing earlier in games, and Dawson
Donovan coming in for Gavin Andrews who's lost for the season.

(07:14):
But running the football with Hunter Conrad, running the football
with Cody Manley, that's their bread and butter. And you know,
a looming district final with Frankenmuth. That's a really tough
game if they have to go to Frankenmuth in the
district final. Obviously the Eagles are really good and they're undefeated,
so we'll see what happens there.

Speaker 8 (07:29):
All right.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
I want to go back to the Division one district
that we have, the All Olk Red District and talk
about those games and we had finished. So Rockford gets
it done over East kent Wood forty five to twenty seven,
looking kind of like the Rams of old. They finished
the year at seven and two, EK at five and four,
but they get in. Jennison beats Grand Haven and we
talked about this last week thirty four to fourteen and

(07:50):
nice year for Josh Lucas and year one at four
and five had that upset of Rockford, but they do
not get in, and tough one for the Wildcats there
they would love to have obviously extended their season.

Speaker 7 (08:00):
Well, they sure would have, and I thought they were
going to get in because what they really needed was
kam Zoo Central to beat Lloyd Norx. And I spent
some time on this over the weekend and I still
can't figure out how exactly it went down where a
team like Utica got into the postseason and jumped Jennison
with the points. But that's exactly what happened, and the
Wildcats ended up the first team out. But four and five,
that's a good start till year one with Josh Lucas.

(08:20):
Next year they'll try to take another jump and get
into the playoffs. But what that really does is that
set us up with that All Okay Red district. We
thought East Kentwood or Rockford would potentially go east with
grand Ledge and Howell and kaalam Zoo Central, But now
we have the All Okay Red District. And you said
at the Rams of Old. I was able to watch
a little bit of this game on the stream against
East kent Wood. They look like the Rams of Volt
And the key here is Isaac Poot another monster game.

(08:42):
How many times can you get him the football? Now
that it's playoff time. You need thirty four to be
touching the football for Rockford. They look really good. That
game was not as close as the final score indicated.
Rockford really dominated that.

Speaker 3 (08:52):
So guess what you get one of your favorites Rockford
and Grandvill because Grandville takes care of business, taking on
called on it. We thought they would be in any
ways at four four, but now they you know, just
punched their ticket in at five and four. Caledon He
is not getting obviously at four and five. But forty
nine twenty one led by Tank Terry twenty one carries
two hundred two yards two touchdowns in that win.

Speaker 6 (09:11):
Well, and so we have the rematch.

Speaker 7 (09:12):
You called this game in week three of thirty seven
to twenty Rockford game. I believe that was the game
they lost. Kate Friesing, yes, and so the first half
I'm hearing that he may be playing this week, and
that would be huge for that Rockford defense because you
know the challenge you're trying to slow down Tank Terry
and Ethan Newville and Eastern Sedinsky and this Grandville offense.

Speaker 2 (09:30):
Could it be a shootout?

Speaker 7 (09:31):
Rockford's done really good against Grenville's Ring Tea and We've
seen some classics in the playoffs between these two Bulldogs.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
Let a half remember going into the locker room in
that going to be interesting. So Grandville, Rockford, East Kentwood,
Hudsonville sent for Division one. All right, I want to
go back to the River City's Alliance. Now, Lowell had
a chance. If Coopersville would have lost to Cedar Springs
and they beat Greenville, which they did in a shootout
on Friday night fifty five forty one, they would have
been your outright champs. But Lowell gets to play for

(09:58):
another day and the redit was right now how playing
some pretty good football, at least scoring a lot of points.

Speaker 6 (10:02):
They are scoring some points.

Speaker 7 (10:04):
They've won six straight games, and they get a home
playoff game, a rematch with Cedar Springs. They won at
Cedar earlier this year. And it's interesting with four of
the seven River City's Alliance teams getting into the playoffs.
Cedar and Lowell are playing each other, and they're North.
Gret Kenwa Hills and Coopersville are playing each other, and
they're staying around here and going south. So a River
City's Allions team advances, we wouldn't see them play each

(10:25):
other until the state semi finals. Of course, there's a
lot of really good teams they'd have to beat to
make that happen.

Speaker 3 (10:30):
Loaded as far as Division three with a number of
teams from West Michigan and all different conferences and divisions
being thrown into that lot. All right, one of the
games that had a non conference twist to it, but
it was one that we were keeping an eye on
just because of how good the team is. Muskegonmona Shores
ending at home with Toledo Central Catholic and wow, what
a barn burner. They lose fourteen to thirteen. How does

(10:52):
that affect Mona Shores? They get TC West in round
one if at all, as they finished the year at
eight one.

Speaker 7 (10:58):
But the only way it would make any kind of
impact as if they suffered any kind of serious injury,
which I don't I don't know that. I don't have
that answer. But as long as they're healthy, it doesn't
impact them in any way. I mean, we very well
could see Toledo Central cath that go win a third
straight state championship in Ohio and Mona Shores could go
win the state championship in Michigan. The game doesn't really
matter that it was two really good teams playing a
classic football game right down to the end, as long

(11:18):
as Motorshors didn't sustain any serious injuries. I still think
they have a chance to make a run here, But
as we already talked about, they're in a really tough
district book.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
I want to stay in that Division two district and
go back to Northview a minute. You called this last
week on the show, and you were right on, and
there were some other guys that agreed with you.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
It was going to be a good football game.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
But Norfew gets the perfect season first time since nineteen
seventy twenty eight to twenty six. They stop a two
point conversion for Forests Northern and that's big because Huskies
win that game, they get in right.

Speaker 7 (11:44):
Yeah, and Forest's Northern had some tough losses. I mean,
that's a good football team. You watch Forest's Northern play,
that's a good football team. And with Owen Ostipo the
sophomore quarterback, the future certainly bright for Forsts North. But
you feel bad for some of their seniors because they
have some really good ones, including his older brother Evan.
But and just like Mskegan, I mean Mskegan's not in
this Division two tournament either that in my opinion, watching
them play four times this year, I mean they're a

(12:06):
playoff team as well. Neither of them played an easy
schedule and neither of them won some close games and
so ultimately they get sent home and that's tough. But
Northern gave north View all they could handle. In fact,
they scored with under a minute ago or right around
a minute ago, went for two to try to tie
it because they had an extra point block. Extra points
become so important in these games. An extra point block
way back in the first quarter. They try to make
up for it with a reverse pass with Evan throwing

(12:27):
to Owen in the end zone. But nor Ife you
made the play. Give them credit. They've done it all year.
Nordfew has made the plays, and they did it again.

Speaker 3 (12:31):
All right, I want to We'll get to Zealand West
a little bit later on in our top ten rankings
and discussion along with Wes Cathock. They played on Thursday night,
Zealand West winning that thirty four to twenty to end
the regular season for both them. But I wanted to
end this segment with your Lake Shore Game of the
Week because it did matter especially for Zealand East who
got the win over Hamilton twenty eight to sixteen. Now
both those teams are playing again this week get into

(12:53):
the playoffs at five and four.

Speaker 7 (12:55):
Yeah, and now trace Lootok did not play in Week
four when they played each other, Zealand East and Zealand West.

Speaker 6 (12:59):
But this was a ball game.

Speaker 7 (13:01):
I mean it was fourteen to seven in the third
quarter and Zealand East had the football inside the five
yard line. They were two yards away from tying the
game in the third quarter. They ended up not scoring.
They ended up losing the game twenty eight to thirteen.
But I think this game is closer than most people think.
Although Trayce Slotalk back in there. He's a difference maker
certainly for Zealand West. But I love these young chicks.
I mean, sophomores all over the field. Will Drennick was outstanding.

(13:23):
But you need to fear this time of year. And
they got a couple seniors, Eli Walkket the running back
and Will Stahoward their inside linebacker. Nineteen tackles that went
over Hamilton. They got seniors. They don't want to play
their final game.

Speaker 3 (13:33):
Bird Bowl Round two had both get a home game
regardless of what it says as far as the schedule.

Speaker 7 (13:38):
Eel and wwustill where the White jerseys and stand on
the west sideline, but yes, both on their home field.

Speaker 3 (13:44):
All right, he's Jason, not down Brettpikeeita back with more
including our Coaches Corners segment brought to you by Montel
Construction with Byron Centred coach Mark Cisco.

Speaker 2 (13:52):
That's coming up next here on ninety six to one
The Game.

Speaker 3 (13:57):
You're one stop site for up to date schedulescos and
standings for the Okay Conference and River City's alliance. Visit
westmiscinoksports dot Com presented by Rapid Radios in ninety six
to one the Game. All right, Jaye, let's go into
the Montel Construction coaches Corner. We always talk to an

(14:18):
area coach each week here on the high School Football
Preview Show. It's brought to you by Montel Construction. I
know you're looking outside and saying, hey, the weather is
still good. That means get your exterior projects done because
you know winnow. B Here around the corner Montel Construction
dot Com to schedule your free and home estimate. That's
Montelconstruction dot Com. Let's welcome in Byron Center head coach
Mark Cisco coach, it seems like it's been a long

(14:39):
time since we've talked to you, but congratulations eight and one.
You guys finished off the regular season and you did
it against another out of state opponent, Morris Illinois forty
eight to twenty eight at home.

Speaker 2 (14:49):
What's it like playing these out of state schools?

Speaker 8 (14:51):
Coach uh unnerving a little bit just because you don't
have it, you know, you don't have a relative feeling
about what they're like. You know, how are they going
to play? You just kind of go off what you
see on film, and what you see on film sometimes
is hard. It's hard to tell because you don't know opponents,
you don't know film quality, et cetera, et cetera. But
if you do enough searching, you know, we do have

(15:13):
the Internet now, so you're enough searching, you know you're
gonna have your hands full. And that's really a proud area,
proud football area, proud program. And you can see it
just looking at their sidelines on film of how involved
their kids are in the game and so on and
fill plus and they just play so hard.

Speaker 9 (15:27):
Well.

Speaker 7 (15:28):
It was also your biite Cancer night nine and twenty
sixteen you started this up, and just tell us about
what that means to the Byron Center community and just
kind of how it's grown since you started this thing
nine years ago.

Speaker 8 (15:39):
Yeah, So we started that in twenty sixteen. We were
able to do it the last home game of that season,
which was cool because it was really a championship game
de facto championship game with Unity Christian and we had
you know, it was our first attempt at it, my
wife and I and seemed to go well, and that
was our only event really for the first couple of years,
and then since then it's kind of grown into a

(16:00):
multi sport event. We've done by cancer games for basketball
and then for volleyball and soccer, and we've done them
for We've did a bike cancer track meet, we do
them for hockey, and it's just an awareness thing, you know,
for our community. Our community has changed from a you know,
a rather rural, close knit community to a fairly transient
suburban community and sometimes, you know, in those older rural communities,

(16:23):
those types of things are always taking care of and
when you have people that come in and out that
don't really know other people, sometimes it's a little tough
it's a little tough to share that, and so we
were just trying to build a little community around people
that are really, you know, going through some tough times.

Speaker 3 (16:37):
Mark what I love about it too, And I live
in Byron Center. My kids go there, so I get
a chance to see it first and is And I
don't think you disagree with this, whether you talked to
Noel Dean or Peter Strosman back in the day when
they started their Cause Games, they said, you know, football
drives a community and it's the start of the year
and from that, because of multi sport athletes and just
the fan bases and everything, it can really carry over
to other sports. Well, you've done it with this fundraising effort,

(17:00):
which just kind of goes hand in hand with what
Byron Center is trying to do as an athletic department.

Speaker 8 (17:04):
Right sure. I just again, it's just really an awareness thing.

Speaker 1 (17:07):
You know.

Speaker 8 (17:08):
In terms of fundraising, it's limited. I mean, we really
we're a complete nonprofit organization and we just operate. You know,
our funds are raised by the few sponsors that do
that for us, and then just T shirt sales and
so and through that we're able to fund you know,
uniforms for kids, have a good ceremony for them and
their honorees, and you know, generate some some real good feeling.

(17:29):
And then we've been able to also offer up some
scholarships for seniors at the end of the year for
the past four years. So we're lucky. We're just trying
to build community. Our athletic departments trying to do the same.
We just want our people involved with what our kids
are doing, and that's just another way to help do that.

Speaker 7 (17:44):
Byron Center football coach Mark Cisco joining us any Montel
Construction coaches corner coach Nor Few this week.

Speaker 6 (17:49):
But let's just talk.

Speaker 7 (17:50):
You spend you know, three weeks before the season, then
you got nine week season. I mean really, you spend
all year round getting ready for this stuff. But here
we are, Well, this is what you do it for,
right the playoffs? How has this team evolved and how
ready do you think it is now to embark on
the postseason.

Speaker 8 (18:03):
That's a great question, you know, evolving is finding places
to plug people in. You know, you usually have your
seniors back you kind of know what they can do
for you. We were lucky to have some kids that
are multiple year starters for us. That helps, and those
kids have really been involved in helping getting younger kids
up to speed, so to speak. The injuries we had

(18:24):
early in the season really probably accelerated that back because
now we had not those younger kids who were trying
to find roles had to play significant roles. And so
we've had we've been able to play a lot of
kids and get get ready to do that. And then
in all reality, when you when we got to game
seven against four Sills Northern with them and Miskegan and
Morris sitting there, you want to make sure you could

(18:45):
get that six win as soon as possible, so you
weren't kind to make sure you could get six or
five to get in. And so I feel like, you know,
people say it's like we've been playing playoff games since
whatever week, but I feel like the guys has done that,
and it's really hard to do that weeks to throw.
It's hard for professional athletes to do that in a row,
much less high school kids time to finish off first

(19:06):
quarter academically and have all the other things going on.
And so from that standpoint, I've really been impressed how
kids have handled really it's not pressure situations, but just
the requirement of being focused for that many weeks in
a row.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
Land and tongu Gate has been amazing. Your senior quarterback
up on varsity at one point as a freshman. Uh,
you know, he can throw the football, he can run
the football.

Speaker 2 (19:32):
Isaac Lee. We've talked about.

Speaker 3 (19:34):
I wanted to spend a minute here, coach and talk
about just what you said some of those other guys
that maybe don't always get the headlines but have been
tremendous for you. And I'm just looking at guys as
I roll down and scroll and look at your defense
like a land and Conrad, a Kellen Payne in that
Modus Shorts game that we covered, having to carry the
football for you and carry the Lotus walls play defense

(19:54):
because Luke Alaska is out. I mean, the list kind
of goes on and on for you. Oh, Eli Farrell
was another one with two picks six is the and
that against Forest Hills Northern.

Speaker 8 (20:01):
Sure, we've been blessed with a lot of those guys
like that. You know, in Landing Conrad's case, he was
about one hundred and fifty pounds, you know, sophomore safety
that was we thought could be pretty good. And all
of a sudden, he just grew, you know, and he
he nomi weatehs one hundred ninety pounds and he's a
grown man out there basically, and he's gotten a lot
better footballs and he had a really good season last

(20:22):
year and he's continued his upward trend. In terms of Kellen,
you know, he didn't play last year. He's getting ready,
you know, trying to figure out, you know, what he
could do with baseball. But he's that guy, like he
plays tight end for US. He's played wing back, he's
played running back, he's punted, he's played d line, he's
played linebacker. And so to have a kid come back
after a year off and not really playing varsity football.
He played a little bit for US as a sophomore

(20:43):
at the end of the season. But and to be
able to do all those things and to do it
in a manner that you know, it's it's for the team.

Speaker 5 (20:51):
You know.

Speaker 8 (20:51):
The guys love him. He's hilarious. The coaches, you know,
we enjoy being around him. He's just a fun guy
to be around it. And but he knows what's going
on and when he does, and he'll call and you
know ask you to you know, hey, I need to
know this for tomorrow or whatever. And then with Eui,
like he's the smallest guy on the field, right, he's
five six, he's one hundred and fifty pounds, fifty five pounds.

(21:13):
He might be our best tackler. He played. We brought
him up as a sophomore for the playoffs. We played
him on our kickoff team. He did a great job
there and he again just in terms of learning his
role in the game, He's figured out his position and
he really jumped a couple of balls there in the
Forstfield Northern game and made big plays for us.

Speaker 7 (21:31):
Brett talked about Landon toung Gate and Isaac Lee and
how much varsity football they played for you, but also
guys like Luke Alaska and Counter Bovia. I mean, you
have a lot of guys that have played excuse me,
Jackson Bovia, you guys, you had a lot of guys
that have played a lot of football for you and
in a lot of playoff games. How much does how
much more does that make you feel good about this
team now as you get ready for a playoff game?

Speaker 1 (21:51):
Well?

Speaker 8 (21:51):
Sure, I mean you know the same you know, Luke
Spinning he's a four year varsity player for US. You know,
he returned kicks for US as a freshman. He's played
a number of positions, so it just kind of makes
fun of him, like this is like your fortieth varsity
game and you did that?

Speaker 5 (22:04):
Really? Come on, man?

Speaker 8 (22:06):
And you know Landon played for US a bit as
a freshman and then he was an All conference safety
as a sophomore. Land and Tonguay was you know, Isaac
Lee got hurt as a freshman. Oltherwise he probably would
have some varsity experience as a freshman. And you know,
Jack and Bobia played for US as a freshman. So
when you have guys that have been around a lot
of games, when you get in tight situations, they just

(22:27):
don't panic. And that's the biggest difference. There's there's not
a word they get said, and they just kind of
go about their business. They know if they can keep
things close, they have a chance. And that mentality really
really just you know, is excuted throughout the team all
of a sudden, because hey, if that guy's been here
for four years and he's not worried, then why should
I be worried.

Speaker 5 (22:47):
Let's go play.

Speaker 8 (22:48):
And I think that's the biggest thing with that. I
mean you can probably talk to the stream Perield about that
last year with his running backs. I mean there had
to be one hundred and sixty high school games between
those four kids, and so that that really makes things.

Speaker 5 (23:00):
He's the other head coach for sure.

Speaker 3 (23:02):
Coach breakdown for us. I love talking to you about
this when you're you know, dissecting a team.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
Ryan Oschnach.

Speaker 3 (23:07):
You know you have a lot of respect for him
and his coaching staff in Northfiew nine and zero coming in.

Speaker 2 (23:11):
What do you see in the Wildcats?

Speaker 8 (23:13):
Uh, they're pretty good, right. I mean, you don't win
nine games. You don't win nine games on accident. You
gotta have a lot of things. A lot of kids
do a lot of good stuff for you in a
lot of different style of games. And they've won in
every style of game possible. The Irving kid is we
thought it was really good last year as a quarterback
and he's done. You know, he's done a really good
job at quarterback. He throws the ball well, he can
run the ball. You know, he's the number one sprinterer

(23:34):
in the track team. You know, the scenario kid, he
was a good player for him last year. And now
he's filling roles all over the field, which he did
last year. People didn't know that, but you could see that.
And now he's just continued to improve his body and
improve his play. And then really they're in you know,
the gang kid at running back who was a really
good baseball player for them, he's been a nice fit.

(23:54):
But the biggest change I think for them is they've
been really good in their offensive and defensive lines. They've
done a really really nice job up there just getting
guys in the right place, you know, finding guys that
can do certain things, and then just really disciplined. You know,
they do a lot of stuff formationally, which means that
you have good leaders because they can they can handle
that situation. Young guys don't hamp that very well, and

(24:17):
they can move the ball offensively. And they've also won
in defensive battles too. So he's really put together a
nice team. You know, he's always got things, new things
for his opponents every week. And then the special teams
they just challenge you like crazy because of the punts
and that's the different extra points setups and the different kickoffs,
so they got the full bag coming at you. You
bet you better be ready to go.

Speaker 3 (24:38):
It can be a lot of fun. Week one hard
to believe a matchup nine to zero versus eight and one.
Waddale Field is going to be the setting and we
will be there for the ninety six one the game.
Game of the week, six thirty starts our coverage on
Friday night Byron center d Coach Mark Cisco coach, thank
you so much, congrats on a great year and best
of luck against the Wildcats.

Speaker 8 (24:56):
Thank you, appreciate you guys.

Speaker 3 (24:58):
We'll come back with more of this edition. Yelling see
high school football previous show. After this short timeouts you
run ninety six to one the game left side Harris,
big hole.

Speaker 4 (25:08):
The left side now bouts outside thirty twenty five twenty
has to cut back of the fifteen does ten five
touchdown po Harris his third touchdown at night, this one
on the ground, a forty four yard rushing score for
the Bronco All right, let's go.

Speaker 2 (25:30):
Into the four pack.

Speaker 3 (25:31):
Now Playoff edition brought to you by J and H's
Family Stores with now sixty plus locations across Michigan to
serve you. Jynh's Family Store stopping on the way to
your next game and on your way home as we
bring in our color analyst, Tom Kendra along the Lake
Shore and Buck Gino, and we go around the horn.
Four different games than our games of the week, which
are just monster matchups guys. As we've said on the show,

(25:52):
Byron Center hosting again Norfew unbeaten at nine and no
doesn't get a home game here, but they are the
ok Black outright champs. And then the Lake Shore game,
Whitehall visiting Forest Hills Eastern, the Hawks coming in at
seven and two. That should be a good one as well. Well,
Tom Kenrick, you get first pick.

Speaker 2 (26:09):
I guess we just like you because you're along the
Lake Shore, So go ahead, Tom, all.

Speaker 9 (26:13):
Right, Yeah, I'm going to choose Montague at Diego. Kind
of interesting matchup with the West Michigan Conference against the
Central State League. And how about Ralph Munger in the
second year at Newego. He's now won ten games at
Diego after winning three hundred and thirty five in twenty
eight years at Rockford, eleven years at Franken moved, but

(26:33):
he's working his magic there. With the Lions seven and
two coming into this game. He's got a nice senior
quarterback in Blake Kerr, kind of a dual threat guy
and a couple of really good running backs the senior
Ethan Rayburn, but last week it was the junior Porter
Slaminsky with a big game one hundred and seventy eight
yards two touchdowns as they beat their bigger rival up

(26:55):
the road, Fremont twenty one to fourteen. This week an
interesting matchup with Montague that comes in at four and five.
The interesting thing about Montague this is two years, or
actually the third year in a row, they've come into
the playoffs with a losing record. Two years ago they
were three and six and made it in a Division six.

(27:18):
Next year they were four and five, and both of
those two years they lost their opener to Reed City.
So the Wildcats coming in again with a losing record
but hoping to change their fortunes at Uego Montague. They've
been a consistent playoff team. They're in twenty two of
the last twenty three years. Their problem this year has

(27:41):
been defense. They haven't been able to step people, including
and most especially against this wing tee type of offense.
They gave up sixty five points two weeks ago in
the loss against Manistee, but then sort of righted the
ship an impressive forty two to seven win at Revenge,
So I really think this is going to be a

(28:03):
close game. And you know, Montague there maybe they feel
like in the WMC they should win against the Central State.
I'm not so sure that Central State's red. It's pretty
good with Big Rapids, Reed City and Nowego, so I
think it's a very good matchup.

Speaker 3 (28:19):
All right, buck Gino your neck of Woods. I think
he mentioned in there your old Alma mata, right the
Fremont Packers.

Speaker 5 (28:26):
Yeah, they did take one on the gin last week
against Relph Flunger, but boy is going to do it.
I'm happy thro out you leave the two games that
Nowego lost, and they lost to Reed City and Big Repids,
both playoff teams and Division six and Division four respectively,
And they also beat Kent City and countrymont Com the
two top teams in the lower division of the Central State.
So Nowegoa has played some good teams, had nick results

(28:48):
playing against Montague. Had Tom mentioned mone of you plays
in a much tougher league, I think top to bottom,
especially in their Division sixteen, and they're playing bigger schools.

Speaker 1 (28:57):
But I think.

Speaker 5 (28:58):
Nowego acquitted itself pretty well against some similarly science schools
and Ralph just doing a great job up there at Douego.
Getting that program back on the right track and getting
into the playoffs is a big game for that community.
They get to host it obviously with Montague's having fewer points.
Montague just scratching in to the playoffs again at four
and five when there justin Denett because of that tougher schedule,

(29:21):
they get the point balance and playing those teams. What
I look at is this, I mean, you take the
in the bad for Montague. They like to be physical
and run the football, but also has given up a
lot of points on the defensive end at times. So
I think it's going to be a pretty interesting matchup
in times that it's close game. I agree, this is

(29:42):
really going to come down to, like most playoff football
games do, who makes the big mistake, who has to
turnover deep in somebody's territory, or who gets the big
play and really what swing of the game. Because I
think both of these teams are pretty evenly matched. The
question is going to be who executes down the stre
Diego has done a pretty good job of that throughout

(30:03):
mom You has having their ups and downs. With this
team being a little bit younger, their experience is still
young coming up with sophomores and juniors now, and so
this will be an interesting game. I like the matchup,
and man I said, it's just great for a team
like Noego to get back in the playoffs and give
the Central States another playoff team in Division six.

Speaker 7 (30:25):
Well, they say everybody's record now is zero and zero,
and that's fitting here because I don't care about seven
and two and four and five.

Speaker 6 (30:30):
I mean, this is a pick them game.

Speaker 7 (30:31):
This is is even steven as it gets in terms
of a first round playoff game, because we don't get
a lot of close matchups like this in the first round.
And you look at what Neego did last week that
came from behind to beat Fremont. They're down fourteen to
seven in that football game. And Blake curR is a
really good quarterback, second year starter with head coach Ralph
Munger and his second year leading the charge. He's playing
hurt right, He's on a bum ankle, but he's a

(30:52):
tough kid. He's a competitor and he's still out there
getting it done. The closer he can get to one
hundred percent the closer in Newego's chances go up to
winning this fotball game.

Speaker 6 (31:00):
But I'll tell you what.

Speaker 7 (31:00):
The Lions struggled against freemountability to throw the football last week,
and we've seen Montague Tom Kender. They have changed up
a little bit what they did since we saw them
against Whitehall. They have gone back to Eli Peterson a
quarterback and his ability to get the ball downfield to
guys like Kellen Francis and Taylor Nagan. I think we'll
tell the story in this game, but I think it's
going to be right down to the wear game.

Speaker 3 (31:19):
I think it's going to be Lake Shore Crew versus
Grand Rapids Crew here. I'm gonna agree with Buck just
on the note of this that I think Montague's schedule,
even non conference, was tougher than Newego's, So I like
that come playoff time, and not just in this example,
but in other examples. I think it proves dividends we
always talk about if you can get outside of the
West Michigan area right and take on other teams from

(31:41):
north or from the south east side might be a
little bit different. But I like the factor of Montague
in this game and who they've played and also their
playoff tradition. I know we've talked about Nowego being there
a ton, but not the success that Montague has And
I know that's painful for me because I love Ralph Munger.
I would love nothing more to see the Lions advance,
maybe win a district crown if they can. But I

(32:01):
like Monague in this matchup with these two teams. Let's
go next to Buck Gino Lowell and Cedar Springs River
City's Alliance. We got two River Cities Alliance matchups in
Week one of the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (32:13):
Yeah, there's a rematch where Lowell won the first one
twenty eighth to fourteen, and we covered Cedar last week.
I got to talk to dasco pol come for a
good time before the game last week against Coopersville, and
Roll was a team because everybody, you know, all coaches
look at who they might play in the playoffs. I
know he had the game in the front of them,
but of course they're going to look at projections and

(32:34):
things like that. Stevensville Lakes, who are making the cut
at three and six, they were able to get in,
so that pushed a lot of teams in the round
and that pushed the loll into the district now with
Cedar Springs. Because Cedar Springs was supposed to be up
until Sunday, they were going north to play Potowski or
Cadillac or somebody like that. Instead, now they get pushed east.
Now they get to be in the same region as

(32:55):
Lowell and then also Wit and Saint John's. So now
that district becomes a pretty tall task for either of
these teams. But when I look at the rematch, I
have always said this, the game that's hardest to win
is the second one. So Lowell won that first game
eight to fourteen. Cedar did have the lead, but then
they had a touchdown called back and then gave up

(33:16):
a pick six like one or two plays later. That
really swung the momentum of that game and they ended
up going down twenty eight to fourteen. I think with
dus Kopolka what we saw with the talent that they
had last week. I know Coopersville got out big on them,
but they didn't stop fighting. I like some of the
tools that they have. The question is going to be
what are the adjustments at Lowell and Cedar Springs make

(33:37):
cam Lowell will be the same thing they did offensively
the last time they played in considered to put in
any new wrinkles. This is going to be another pick
them game just because both teams are familiar with each other.
They played each other already, and like I said, the
toughest game to win as the second one. Because Lowell,
those kids, it doesn't matter what you tell them all week,
Hey we beat this team before we can do it again.

(34:00):
Pender's a relaxation of that. I know Jacob Penicky will
try and not let that happen. But I think Gus
Kapolka the role going going against Wall in this game.
I think he's going to have some things up to
sleeve that they didn't do the first game, and it's
going to be how Ll reacts to those. They get
the home crowd at Bob Perry Field, Man, I think
this is another Pickham game just because of the way

(34:21):
the first one played out and because they're complaied with
each other.

Speaker 9 (34:24):
Gay nobody's done a better job this year against that
Cedar springs wing tea than Lowell. You look at that
they held him to a season low fourteen points in
that game, and even more than that, they forced Cedar
to throw the ball eight times in one game. That's
like crazy numbers for the red Hawks. But you know
in the rematch, yeah, I think Cedar Springs is going

(34:46):
to be better prepared. I think they're going to be,
you know, looking to avenge that loss, and there's something
to be said for revenge. I don't know, Early, I
really like the red Hawks in this one.

Speaker 7 (34:56):
Well, I'll tell you what, Guskolka. One of my favorite
Guess Kapolka stories is he doesn't believe Ama. He just
doesn't think it matters. And that's good because Lowell's won
six in a row. Is gonna say he better hopeing
doesn't matter because I think Lowell is getting better every week.
I think they're trending right now, and I think they're
the favorite in this game in their home field.

Speaker 6 (35:12):
It's kind of old school Lowell.

Speaker 7 (35:14):
I love what they have going now with Logan Dawson
at quarterback Casey Ingle at running back. I mean, they
want to pound you between the tackles, and that's what
they've done two hundred and twenty one yards rushing for
Dawson last week. The quarterback Ingle had three touchdowns. So
I think this is going to be a ball control game,
maybe one of the quicker games this weekend, and possessions
are going to be.

Speaker 6 (35:31):
At a premium.

Speaker 3 (35:32):
Let me just piggy back your point, because that's where
I was going to go. Jason Nutting, so sixty one
against Marquette, twenty eight against Cedar Springs has got a
pretty good defense. We saw it first hand buck Friday
night against Coopersville. I know coopers will put up some points,
but that's a pretty multi talented offense there. Fifty six
against Kennewall Hills, forty nine against Aladanio, thirty five against Sparta,
fifty five against Greenville. They have just gotten better and

(35:54):
I wouldn't want to face them if I'm Cedar Springs.
From what I saw, I just don't think Cedar Springskings
scored enough po points to win this game against Lowell.

Speaker 2 (36:01):
I mean, Lowell's going to give up some points.

Speaker 3 (36:03):
We've seen that guys, but I just don't see them
scoring enough points offensively against that low defense.

Speaker 2 (36:09):
Let's go next to Jason Hutton.

Speaker 3 (36:10):
Staying in the River City's alliance, Kenawa Hills and Coopersville.

Speaker 7 (36:14):
Ye another rematch. Week seven. Kenaway Hills knocks off Coopersville
forty three point forty one at Kenawa Hills. But the
Broncos get home field here. And I'll tell you what.
I watched the replay of that Kennaway Hills Coopersville game.
I mean, nobody was making any stops. I mean a
huge play in this Two huge plays in that game
came in the first half. Coopersville threw a long touchdown pass,
they got called back on an offensive holding penel they

(36:36):
did him not scoring on that drive, and they played
from behind. But really the difference in the game was
after Kenawa Hills scored their second touchdown, they bobbled the
hold and the holder was able to run around the
end and score and get a two point conversion. And
Coopersville went for two early in the third quarter and
didn't get It was twenty two to twenty, and so
they continued to be behind by two scorers and could
just never get over that hump. But it was two

(36:58):
offenses they couldn't stop the other one. And I gotta
tell you this, airk Lion's really good defensive coordinator for Coopersville.
They need to get some pressure on Grayson Fellows because
he was way too comfortable in that game. And if
he has that kind of time and that kind of
ability to find his receivers, notably number one Will Fussman.
It's going to be another long day for that Coopersville defense.
I think the Broncos will adjust on the home field.

Speaker 9 (37:17):
Tom Kendra, Yeah, you look at these teams, and we
talked a lot about ken Oa Hills with those three
super sophomores, you know, Grayson Fellows, London Hampton, Will Fussman,
you know against the Coopersville how about Bo Harris. I mean,
he really came up big last week. They had lost
two in a row, They had lost to Kenawa and
then they went up and lost at Big Rapid. They

(37:38):
really needed that game for a lot of reasons last week.

Speaker 5 (37:41):
You know.

Speaker 9 (37:41):
For one thing, it gave them a share of the
RCA title, you know, with that win Overseeder last week,
and you know it's kind of a deceiving final score.
Coopers are really dominated that game. They were up thirty
five to seven late in the third quarter. You know,
this is a great matchup. I really like Coopersville at
home in this one. The senior experience I think with

(38:03):
Bow Harris might give them a little bit of an edge.

Speaker 3 (38:06):
I'm going to disagree with gus Ka Polka live on
the radio. I think momentum does matter. I think Coopersville
got it. Back to Tom kendris point, I just wanted
to jump in here and say, I think it's a heck.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
Of a football game.

Speaker 3 (38:16):
But I like Coopersville with a revenge factor and everything
they have going and at home, and from what I
saw last week is like Tom said, it was a
little bit deceiving. This is no knock on Cedar Springs,
but Coopersville did control that game, and then Cedar Springs
had a couple of scores late.

Speaker 2 (38:30):
So I like the Broncos. I think they're rolling right now.

Speaker 7 (38:32):
Jay Well, Kenwall Hills has momentum too, Bratt. I mean,
they are a team that's gotten better at the end
of the season and they've won three in a row here,
So I think both teams have momentum right now.

Speaker 2 (38:40):
But Gino, you saw what I saw last week. What
do you think?

Speaker 5 (38:43):
Well, I think with Coopersville, we talked that game after
the game, both on and off air, and I think
that when we look at injuries, that's always a big factor.
Goosville is limping around a little bit. I know they
were dominant to a point to a game against Cedar Springs.
There's going to be some injuries that are going to
have some big holes for that team. And just like

(39:05):
Jay said, they're going to have to get pressure on
Grayson Tahoes because you can't let them stand back there.
They also have the talented running back that they have
at their disposal, and they're young. They're playing with house
money right now. This is literally farther than they thought
they would be at this point of the season, and
so they're going to be playing pretty confidently and pretty footless.
So if you're Coopersville, you know you have some kids

(39:25):
that are playing their last game. You know, potentially with
Bo Harris, you have that factor coming in. I think
experience wins out in this game. I think that it
can get it done in Coopersville, but bad it's going
to be a battle because Kenewa Hills coming into this
game knows what they're able to do last time, and
with the injuries that Coopersville potentially could have with kids

(39:47):
being out, they're be very confident and boy, I think
this is another tight game. I just think Cooper' Zilt
with their experiences we saw last week, is going to
be to win out.

Speaker 3 (39:57):
All right, got about a minute a half left for
this last game. I saved mine for last air it
out Baby, Holland Christian taking on South Christian to East
Kentwood High School. South gets in at five and four,
but they beat Catholic Central. Last week Holland Christian loses
surprisingly to Grant Appets Christian. They finished at six and three,
but two very good quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
You can throw the football. I just love this matchup. Jay,
I love it too.

Speaker 7 (40:20):
I mean this has last team with the ball all
over it, which is not good for Holland Christian because
we've seen Carson VISs time and time again this season
in the last team with the ball wins and it
always goes the way of the.

Speaker 6 (40:33):
Blue and white.

Speaker 7 (40:33):
The teams that have beat them Zealand West Zealand Unity Christian.
Those teams kind of put some distance between them and
South Christian. So this will be My son would love
this game. Carter Hutton only wants to see passing. He
doesn't like going to high school Gas because they run
the football too much. I'm gonna get Carter a ticket
to this game.

Speaker 3 (40:47):
And by the way, Tom Kendra some very good wide
receivers on both sides as well.

Speaker 9 (40:51):
Oh, no question about it. And I look at this game.
The loser of this game, at least they can say
to themselves, wow, well, at least we don't have to
play Unity Christian, because that's that's what the winner of
this team gets. But if any team has a chance
against Unity, it's Sell Christian with Carson VISs, just because
it gives them a puncher's chance against anybody. Yeah, how

(41:14):
about sealth Christian won four games, then lose four in
a row and then win last week. I don't know.
I like Carson VISs and Sell Christian in this one, Buck.

Speaker 3 (41:23):
Gino, you get the best for a last and the
reason is is because Bucks. You know, at Holland Christian
way back in July, he liked their schedule like this team.
So here you go, Buck, and they pull it off.

Speaker 5 (41:33):
Well, you know, I love what Dave Amberger has done
with them and his son Evan a capable quarterback. Unfortunately,
we go look at the injury situation we saw against
north View. They lose their starting running back Mired and
they had lost Cole Misty to a broken leg the
week before against CC and from two weeks before against CC,

(41:54):
so these injuries are starting to pile up and they
lose to Granner Frins Christian and I know that Kurt
Sundberg and Rumor really try to coach their tails off there,
but Christian just not a good football team. Ran Raptids
Christen this year and Holland Christian losing that game going
into the playoffs, I don't I agree with you, guys.
I don't agree with us. I think there is something
with momentum. Unfortunately Holland Christian is a downslope of that

(42:16):
right now due to injuries and really playing a couple
of good teams in SEC and Northview that is kind
of laying the dud in their last game of the
regular season. I think South Christian wins is going away
because I don't think Holland Christian can keep the ball
long enough out of Carson Diss's hands to stop that
or counteract the scoring that Salis Christian can do.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
All right, gentlemen, enjoy the games coming up on Friday night.
It's the Drive to Ford Field presented by vandalnom Improvement
and this four pack segment being brought to you by
J and H's Family Stores with now sixty plus locations
across Michigan to serve you jade H's family source.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
Stop being on your way to your next game or
on your way home.

Speaker 3 (42:52):
We've got more of the LMCU High School Football previous
show coming up after this short time out.

Speaker 2 (42:57):
You're on Naughty six to one the game.

Speaker 1 (43:01):
Bret Bageta, Rick Burkey, fuck Gina, Jason Hutton and Tom Kendra.
Nobody beats our team when it comes to covering high
school sports in West Michigan. Right here on ninety six
won the game.

Speaker 3 (43:14):
Final segment of this week ten LMCU High School Football
preview show. And that's where I want to start before
we get to our top ten rankings and our uptown
cheapskate Players of the Week. Is a thank you to
lmc as we wrapped up another season touchdowns for Kids
year three. We do it for the regular season nine
weeks with all the touchdowns for Jay and Tom's games

(43:34):
for the Lakeshore Game of the Week as well as combined
with our touchdowns and LMCU is so generous in a
fifty dollars donation for every touchdown for the whole season,
and we had one hundred and twenty eight total touchdowns Jay,
over the nine weeks. You do the math, there's sixty
four hundred dollars donated by LMCU, our title sponsor to
Kids Food Basket. We can't say thank you enough. And

(43:56):
to find out more about this great organization that is
feeding our kids West Michigan, go to Kids Food Basket
dot org. But such a great cause, Jade, I'm glad
you guys were a part of it this year.

Speaker 6 (44:05):
Yeah, it's always fun.

Speaker 7 (44:07):
It's a great cause, and keeping track of all of
these touchdowns is always fun because the more we get,
the more exciting it is for the cause of the
game too. So I really appreciate ELMS and all they
do for everybody.

Speaker 3 (44:16):
And they're so big in the communities and especially with
the school ties because they used to be the groundrappets
teachers Credit Union. So don't forget for seniors out there,
appearance of seniors. They've got their Hut Scholarship program going
on right now. It's an essay contest. You can find
out org LMSU dot org backslash hop, but you could
win a two thousand dollars scholarship for college courtesy of
Lake Michigan Credit Union. That's just the folks that they

(44:36):
are LMCU dot org backslash hut hutt. All right, let's
start with our top ten rankings before we get to
our uptown cheapskate players of the Week. And I believe
Jason Hutton, you are going first in this edition.

Speaker 5 (44:49):
All right.

Speaker 7 (44:49):
I had a really tough choice here at number one
because I had Mona Shores number one. And I'm not
necessarily going to punish the Sailors for losing to Toledo
Central Catholic too time defending state champs out of ohiobio
single point right. I love Matt Kozic deciding to go
for two and try to win the football game, but
I am gonna punish them.

Speaker 6 (45:06):
I'm gonna move Unity Christian to one.

Speaker 7 (45:07):
I went to Brettmaketa rout on this one, just so
impressed with the Satyrs to go to Paniac Nerdame Prapp
and win that football game, handing them their first loss
of this season. So I did elevate Unity Christian all
the way from four to one. So I as Brett
pikeitda as you like to say. Now, maybe I'm welcome
in the city of Hudsonville because I had them ranked
the head of Hudsonville, but I still love the Eagles
as well. So I went Monashores two, Hudsonville three, Byron Center,

(45:29):
fors Zealand West five, Rockford six, Northfewt seven, Foresivil Central eight,
West Catholic nine, and Grandville ten. So no changes for
me five through ten.

Speaker 3 (45:36):
And here's the thing with Unity Christian. For me, it's
tough to do rankings. And Jay and I talk about
this all the time. When you have Division IE schools,
Division two all the way down to really Division six, right,
they could be in there, I mean they could be lower.
But a lot of times for the West Mission area,
that's what we're talking about. And so how do you
compare a nine and o team that's Division six compared
to a nine oh team that's Division one. Obviously you're

(45:56):
gonna say, well, the Division one team is dominant. But
the way Unity Christian handled their schedule, and it wasn't
an easy schedule. I mean, what was the closest games
Zeland West to twenty eight to seven. I mean, they
just they took everybody on their schedule. And this was
a three and six team a year ago, remind people,
So they had a lot of those guys back and
led by a great senior class this year, guys like

(46:17):
this that stepped up Vancouvering. I'm just so impressed with
all the way around. Was a total team effort. And wow,
kudos to Craig Tibby and the Crusaders and they are
I think, I don't think you disagree the team to
beat in Division four in the state.

Speaker 7 (46:31):
Yeah, they haven't been quite as dominant as the twenty
twenty one team did, but don't remember, these guys were
all freshmen. The seniors were freshmen that year, and that
twenty one team was one of the best teams you
and I've ever seen at the high school level, but
they ended up losing at Ford Field. So this team
a chance to go finish the deal here five wins
away from the state title.

Speaker 3 (46:47):
That's why I love that Pontiac Notre Dame Prep game
in Week nine for them getting ready for the playoffs.
I mean that was number one ranked Notre Dame Prep
in Division five, unbeaten going to that game with a
week off, so they had two weeks to prepare for
that game. All right, I go Unity Christian one, Jay
Mona Shores two, Byron Center three, Zealand West four.

Speaker 2 (47:05):
Hudsonville rounds out my top five.

Speaker 3 (47:06):
I'm kind of guilty of after listening to you and
talking to you an okay Red champion at five, I
feel like I have Hudsonville too low.

Speaker 6 (47:13):
You've been yeah, you've had them way too low all year.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
But then I got Norfiew number six, they're nine, and
Zering they're number six.

Speaker 2 (47:18):
Then even crack the top five.

Speaker 3 (47:19):
But I think that's why the playoffs we're so excited
are going to be a lot of fun with these matchups.
Then you've got Rockford seven, forest Hill Central eight for me,
best seven and two team out there right now. When
you look at their losses right I mean Unity Christian
and Zealand West Belding. I flip flop with West Catholic.
So Belding okay, silver champs eight and one to nine.
Been impressed with them all season long. And it's no
discredit to West Catholic. They lost to Zealand West, they

(47:42):
finished six and three. I still think they might be
the team in this area to beat in Division five.

Speaker 7 (47:47):
Well, we if we get a Belding West Catholic playoff game,
it won't be until the semi finals. Because they went
their opposite way in the regions there, but Belding would
have to knock off franken Move to make that happen.
Of course, West Callock's probably going to have to beat
Granted up as Catholic Central as well, so we'll see, all.

Speaker 2 (48:00):
Right, it's gonna be a lot of fun.

Speaker 3 (48:01):
We got one more week with the rankings, one more
week with his show, by the way, and don't forget
for all the schedules who want to see everything finishes,
go to West Michigan oksports dot com with Don pattin
his crew. They do a great job and not just football,
for other sports in other seasons, winter and spring as well.
West Michkin oksports dot Com brought to you by Rapid Radios.
All right, uptown cheapskate Players of the week, let's start

(48:22):
with the Grand Rapids area. I'm gonna go with our
guy from Friday night that won it for the Broncos.
Coopersville senior quarterback Bo Harris, number one on your roster.
Ten of fourteen passes one hundred and twenty eight yards
and a touchdown through the air, twenty four carries though
one hundred and eighteen yards, showing his toughness and three
rushing touchdowns.

Speaker 7 (48:39):
Yeah, Bo's the man. I mean, you don't have to
you don't have to twist my arm. I know that
kid can play for sure. I'm fascinated to see where
he'll end up next year because I think he's going
to help somebody somewhere. He's a really good athlete, whether
it's a quarterback or they remember he played safety as
a sophomore for Peppersville. He's a football player and he
can certainly help you. I'm gonna go with lit to
a mention. I'm gonna go with Jayden Cockran, the senior
receiver from Sparta. He had nine catches for one hundred

(49:01):
and thirty seven yards and a touchdown as Sparta lost
to Kenwall Hills. You only two hundred eighty eight teams
can make the playoffs, right, and there's over five hundred
in the state of Michigan. So Sparta doesn't make the postseason.
But remember all those teams that don't make the playoffs
have a lot of kids that football means a ton
to them, right, And Sparta's got a bunch of those kids.
And Jaden Cochran's been a really good player for three
years on varsity for Sparta, So he finished out of
his high school career with a really good game.

Speaker 3 (49:21):
Just ask college coaches across Michigan, regardless of the level,
they're always looking for diamonds in the rough in West Michigan.
That could be one of those kids out of Sparta High.
Congrats to him our Lake Shore Uptown cheapskate player of
the Week this week. I'm going to go to Holland
High and you highlighted the story last week on whether
they could make the playoffs or not. They won over
Gobwin Heights forty eight to twenty four, did well in

(49:42):
the O case over this year, finished above five hundred
for the first time in a while five and four.
But their senior running back, Jacob Torres, what a night.
It's technically third and a half year on varsity because
they moved him up when he was a freshman after
a few games. Two hundred and seventy five yards rushing
in that game in three touchdowns. Congratulations to him. What
a way to finish his career for.

Speaker 7 (50:03):
The Dutch Yeah, and a big steppingstone for Holland Right
to get to five and four, first winning season since
twenty sixteen and to just build some pride around that
program and hopefully they'll be able to continue to grow
that with the Okay, so we've seen that with the
realignment here and that's part of Northview and a lot
of these schools that have seen success because they've changed
up their divisions. Holland finishes thirty fourth in the state
and playoff point so just two out of a playoff

(50:25):
berth but a great season in Mary Powell their quarterback
also really good player as well, So building blocks for Holland.
My honorable mention for the Lake Show. I'm gonna go
Will ste Howard who we call the Zealand East Hamilton game,
Tom Kendrick and I in the Lakeshore Game of the
Week nineteen tackles for the senior inside linebacker and that
win over Hamilton.

Speaker 6 (50:41):
That dude can play.

Speaker 3 (50:42):
Congratulations are Uptown Cheapskate players of the weekend and get
a twenty five dollars gift card. They can go shopping
on us. Trust me, it's a lot of fun Uptown
Cheapskate locations in Granville, Kentwood, and Holland. You could become
an Uptown insider and get monthly deals. Just go to
Uptown cheapskate dot com to find out more. That's uptown Cheapskate.
Enjoy the playoffs coming up. Don't forget our game's Friday

(51:03):
Night Northfrow at Byron Center on ninety six to one
the game. JADH Family Stores pregame show covered study at
six thirty same six thirty start for Jay and Tom
with the Lake Shore Game of the Week and they
are going to have a Division four Whitehall at Forest
Hill's Eastern on one oh seven point NINEFM one oh
seven m us the Moose. Enjoy your weekend and we'll
see you back here for our final edition all of

(51:24):
the twenty twenty four season next Thursday night, six to seven.

Speaker 2 (51:27):
Stay with us. Fox Sports Radio is coming up next.

Speaker 1 (51:31):
This has been another edition of the LMCU High School
Football preview Show and exclusive presentation of ninety six Won
the Game and iHeartMedia powered by Lake Michigan Credit Union.
Tonight's show was also presented by J and H Family Stores,
Vandrlnholm Improvement, Kids Food Basket, Trinity Health, Michigan Sporting You, Wing, Doosy,
Straight Line Fence, Halst Jepson Physical Therapy, Montel Construction, Rapid

(51:54):
Radios Uptown Chiefskate with locations in Granville, Kentwood and Holland
and MK Funeral Homes