LMCU High School Football Preview Show Week 4

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
They motion purchase now sending him back play Bake Fiss
fires across the middle. Touchdown has this man on a
little crossing route. Juck Dahn holds it in in traffick
this with a bullet deer in South Christian on the board.
Fourteen to six hand off from left to right, cutting
off campaign us all Moore off to the races.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Twenty fifteen ten touchdown.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
He saw senior brother do what he said, I can
do it too. Campaign takes it from forty two yards
out and the Bulldogs extend their lead.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
It's almost game night, West Michigan. Time to hear from
the coaches and the guys who call the games in
the press box. Who's in this week's top ten and
what about the players of the week. No one covers
high school football like we do. This is the LMCU
High School Football Preview Show, exclusively.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Here on ninety six.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Won the Game and powered each week by Lake Michigan
Credit Union. We treat our members like neighbors and also
brought to you by Meyer Kids, Food Basket, Jay and
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(01:10):
MKD Funeral Homes, Win Shoolers, Delicious Cheese Spreads, Halse Jepson
Physical Therapy, Discountdor and Montel Construction. And now here are
your hosts, Brett Pekina and Jason Hutton.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Here we go Week four of the show.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
How about last week sixteen touchdowns scored in week three combined?
Do the math fifty dollars per touchdown. That's an eight
hundred dollars donation just for last week alone to our
Touchdowns for Kids campaign to benefit Kids Food Basket. Thank
you so much, Lake Michigan Credit Union and you can
find out more Touchdowns for Kids Kids Food Basket. Just

(01:46):
go to ninety six to one Thegame dot com or
one oh seven mus dot com and click on our
high school football page brought to you by Trinity Health.
Also when you're there, check out West Michigan Oksports dot com.
It's brought to you by our friends at Win Shulers.
To football fans in Michigan. Win Shulers cheese spreads are
like the players on our home team. Everyone has a favorite,

(02:07):
so make sure you have all four great flavors on
hand for your parties or personal snacks. High school football
in West Michigan wouldn't be the same without win Shoolers,
and they're fantastic cheese spreads. Well, we've got two great
coaches coming up on the show tonight, plus our top
ten rankings, our uptown Cheapskate players of the week for
both Jason Hutton and myself. But join us tonight in
the coaches corner. We've got from East Kentwood High School,

(02:29):
Ty Spencer. Remember that's our game of the week, East
Kentwood at Rockford for ninety six to one. The game
tomorrow night six o'clock starts the coverage, and then also
join us on the show tonight Joe Woodruff, head coach
at Zeeland East. The chicks are off to a three
and zero start. They've got a big game tomorrow night
at Younity Christian who's also three to zero. Our own
Lucas Simba will have game reports from that one during

(02:50):
our broadcast. Speaking of that, Scott de Camp will be
out at Muskegan Mona Shores High School Sailor Stadium. It's
their annual Sailor Salute. This will be the ninth edition,
and they've got rival with skiing and Reese Pumper coming
in for this one. It's their cool evening bringing awareness
to military police fired emergency responders. It goes back to
twenty sixteen when it all started. Let's go into the

(03:10):
Montel Construction coaches corner. We talked to area coaches, two
of them each week on the LMCU High School Football Preview.
It's being brought to you by Montel Construction for your
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Fifteen percent off plus eighteen months no interest, and they'll
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(03:31):
more at Montelconstruction dot com. Well, this guy, really for
JNI doesn't need any introduction because of what he did
at Detroit Martin Luther King four championships in eight seasons.

Speaker 4 (03:40):
There.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
People who follow high school football know what a great
program that was. But then last year he comes over
takes the East Kentwood job. Now in year two and
the Falcons are flying high at three and zero at
Rockford our game of the week, and let's welcome in
right now, Coach Spencer, I guess for me officially, nice
to introduce myself to you, and welcome to West Michigan.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
I'm a year late, coach.

Speaker 5 (04:03):
Man.

Speaker 6 (04:04):
It's all good NICs to me, and you appreciate you
guys having me on to that.

Speaker 7 (04:07):
All right, coach, So tell us you're a Detroit guy.
You played at Wayne State coaching Martin Luther King and
did so well. Tell us about the decision to come
to East kent Wood, why you wanted to do it,
and just how it's gone for you here in this
year plus.

Speaker 6 (04:18):
Yeah. You know, we did some great things at King
and you know, I thought I really took the program
as far as I could, and it was it was
time for me to move on and try to, you know,
seek another another challenge. And East king Wood job opened up.
I was a little bit familiar with it and just
intrigued about the opportunity to to try to turn it

(04:41):
around to perennial state power. You know, East kent Wood
has always had success here and there, but you know,
I thought it had the potential to consistently be be good.
And you know that's that's a challenge for us, and
that's why to the position Ty.

Speaker 1 (04:57):
I'm curious when you got to meet the kids, we
got to meet the people, got to see the facilities.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
I mean, it's almost like a small college over there.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
And I say that because I was a rock Ford
grat back in the day and the East Kat was
always the biggest school we had to deal with here,
and it still is to this day with enrollment. But
I mean when you saw it and actually put everything
together and went through that interview process, did it ensure
you even more that hey, this is the place I
need to be.

Speaker 6 (05:23):
Yeah, like we like, you know, I came up and
I mean you take a look at the stance and
I mean it's bigger than some division tools, you know,
like colleges. The way room was incredible. You know, we
have this indoor facility that's going to be opening up soon.
But just the facilities and then the alignment of superintendent

(05:43):
and principles and you know, the administration that just aligned, right.
They all had the same goal and focus. And the
kids were great, man, The kids just awesome. And you know,
really just being able to have the support of the community.
Teachers are awesome, and you know, it was just a
great place and so so really comfortable about it, and

(06:03):
you know in here with a pretty good.

Speaker 5 (06:05):
Team, man.

Speaker 6 (06:06):
I mean honestly, probably uh doing some things that I
thought would take a little bit more time, but you know,
the guys are are doing a great job and so
just excited about where we are right now.

Speaker 7 (06:16):
Last year, in your first year, you got to the playoffs.
Just tell us your impressions after one year of the
ok Rad West Michigan football. What were your biggest takeaways
after last year from what you saw?

Speaker 6 (06:28):
Yeah, my first my biggest takeaways were were just like,
there's no gimmes in this conference, man, Like I think
Jennison beat Rockford and and like, uh, you know, it's
just with Ida was always tough, like you you never
can just come in the game and just say I'm
gonna win this game, like there's with injuries and hot

(06:49):
stuff happens. It's like there's just no gimmes. The conference
I was in before in Detroit, it was really just
King Casts like any everybody else. We knew we would
win and beat, but King and Kas would be the game. Here,
it's like there's multiple teams you have to worry about,
and anybody can get to if you let them. And
so you know, you have to be really focused and

(07:11):
littlee strong and how you prepare and now let your
kids get too too too far up or too far down.
And so you know, it's a great conference. Man is
great to be a part of. It's some great coaches.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
East Kentwood Edd coaching his second season, Ty Spencer three
and Hlo.

Speaker 2 (07:27):
They open up. Okay, Red play.

Speaker 1 (07:29):
At Rockford who comes in at two and one Friday night.
It's our LMCU game of the week with coverage stuarting
at six o'clock Buck Geo and I'll be up there
at Councilmonger Stadium for the call on ninety six to
one the game and coach, one of the things that
always impressed us when we'd watch you down at Ford
Field usually in the state championship games is the talent.
How many players that you sent to Division one programs,

(07:50):
let alone Division two or just playing college football, So
you've got an eye for what it takes to compete
at that level. With that said, talk about some of
the weapons you have, and of course it starts with
Division one quarterback committed to Michigan State and Kate Kaufman.
What impresses you about his game?

Speaker 6 (08:07):
Yeah, Ky is just one. He's turned yourself into a
pretty good athlete where he can run and throw the ball,
but you know he processes thing as well. He makes
great decisions. I think he's around seventy five percent on
his completion rating right now. You know, he's just made
those good decisions for our team. He's a phenomenal leader.
So you know, having having a guy like him leading

(08:30):
your team your offense is really going to set you
up for success most of the time. And so just
happy that he's with us.

Speaker 7 (08:37):
Football is the ultimate team game, right, So I'm as
big a Kate fan as anybody, and he's great, But like,
how about your team? Like who I mean, Mighty Edmunds.
I'm a big fan of him, But you got a
lot of guys, right yeah, man, Like.

Speaker 6 (08:49):
You know, it kind of starts there with him, and
then like you move over, you know, to some of
the guys that are taking a load off of them,
like Niles Williams at running back, Jessee Phillips, you know,
Bam Nettleman. Those guys have been our seniors that have
been carrying a load. And then at receiver, my emn's

(09:10):
probably one of the better receivers in our league. We
have Owen Vanderveen who came off acl surgery, who had
a really big game against Byron Center. You know, Steph
Jones is playing lights out for us right now. And
then the old Line, man, I got a shout out
to the old line, like they are. They are a
really good, solid group. Again, they're not the big sexety guys,

(09:32):
but like I told somebody before, like you will not
take their lunch money man, like, they are some tough
guys football players for us, and you know, really like
how they are performing right now.

Speaker 1 (09:44):
I'm sure a lot of people have told you about
the rock for these Kentwood Royevy at least through the years.
And like I said, I grew up with it. There's
gonna be nothing as you know, coach like kyleson Munger
Stadium Friday night, with this matchup and where the two
teams are at, how do you embrace that with you kids?
Are they having fun this week? I mean because they know?
But you know, is it one where you have to

(10:04):
keep them down a little bit with their dobbers or
do you let them just enjoy it?

Speaker 5 (10:08):
Well?

Speaker 6 (10:08):
I think honestly, I mean I look at it like this,
any game that you play and you know we've we've
had this thing with the King Cash rivalry. You know,
like you don't want to be too up, you don't
want to be too down. You know, you got to
have this this kind of middle of the road kill
about yourself because you know, you got to control your emotions.

(10:29):
And at the same time, you know, you you don't
want to be two lax where you know you you're
not even playing at a high level.

Speaker 5 (10:36):
But at the end of the day, like you know, in.

Speaker 6 (10:40):
Order for us to make it a ribberry, we got
to get a win. We gotta get a dumb So
for me coming in here as a as a new coach,
you know, and for our program and for our staff,
we're we're trying to like just get get this thing
back competitive, you know, and and that's our goal. So
really it's it's really you know, the robbery and all

(11:00):
that is fine. We want to make it a robbery.
We want to make it a robbery. And we got
to go win a game to make it a robbery.
And we got to win one in Mongers Stadium on
Friday night. So you know, that's that's really where all
the focus is. And and you know, we kind of
gonna let the chips forward. They may as as we, uh,
prepare our butts off.

Speaker 7 (11:18):
He's come with head coach Tys Spencer joining us. Coach,
we look at this matchup with Rockford, you know, I mean,
you're gonna have to play well to win. But what
are the things you look at as things you have
to do well here Friday Nights come out.

Speaker 8 (11:28):
With a victory.

Speaker 6 (11:29):
I think I think Number one, we got to contain
their quarterback. They have a pretty good quarterback. He was
he was really good last year. You know, we got
to contain him. He's a He's a capable thrower, a
well capable thrower as well as a runner. So we
have to do a good job of containing him and
making sure we don't give up big plays on the outside.
I think, uh, you know, the Rockberds has always been

(11:52):
a big play team, and if we could take those
big plays away and containing the quarterback, you know, I
kind of I like our chances against these guys.

Speaker 2 (12:03):
Coach.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
I go back in history, but then I'm always reminding
when I see it, whether it's the lower levels or whatever.
I think of two things and one that stands out
in a big game like this for both sides who
win special teams, right, because when I think of East Kentwood,
with your track background and the athletes you have, you
can take it to the house at any time, whether
it's a pump return, kick return, and as you know,
that emotionally lifts the team. And here we go and

(12:25):
for Rockford with what they do with the starbars, play
and some different things well coached on the special teams, right, yeah.

Speaker 6 (12:32):
Oh, most definitely that's another part of the game. I mean,
you know, you've got to be silid on special teams.
You can't let any of that stuff. You know, you
can't give a anything cheap. You want everything to be earned,
So you know, making sure you're aligned properly and given
great effort on those teams, we won't be extremely important
on Friday, all right.

Speaker 7 (12:50):
Real quick, and we're gonna let you go. Well, you've
brought it up a couple of times, King and Cass.
It is King Cass week, So first of all, tell
our audience what that week is like from an insider's
perspective and what you expect in that battle on Friday.

Speaker 6 (13:01):
Yeah, it's it's it's real different, like it's a it's
it's similar to that Ohio State Michigan rivalry. Man, it's uh,
it's definitely something like that. Uh. But again, like I said,
like you you you try not to let the emotions
get too high because everybody in the community talked about it.

(13:21):
Everybody is is you know, want to know, you know
who who's playing, who's hurt, and this and that. But
you really have to just stay process driven and you
can't really get too caught up in the hype because
the hype is for everybody else. The hype is for
the fans, the hypers for the student section. But you really,
you really want to stay process driven because if you

(13:45):
let your emotions get too up, man, you'll you'll lose
the game. And it was one year we were supposed
to dominate them, but we were we were just we
had too much emotion and they just I mean it
was a round o'clock and and this was a team
that we want to stay championship with and we just
didn't beat them. And you know, it's just like that.

(14:05):
So sometimes it's about you know, who have the oldest
kids or who have the kids that've been in the
r RITA most. But I think it's a fine line
between getting your guys up and making sure that they're
prepared for it. You got to like really be careful
and and kind of know your group really well.

Speaker 1 (14:22):
Second season at East Kent, what is their head coach,
Ty Spencer joined us coach.

Speaker 2 (14:26):
Really a pleasure.

Speaker 1 (14:26):
Congratulations on the three and zero start with looking forward
to Friday night with the call best of luck to
you and the Falcons up in Rockford.

Speaker 5 (14:33):
Thank you God, I appreciate it. All right.

Speaker 1 (14:48):
It's one of our favorite parts of the show always
we bring in our partners in crime when it comes
to Friday night with the broadcast, Buck Gino, Tom Kendra
for the four pack as we go around with four
different games than our games of the week, and guys,
we have great games here in week four. We're excited
about some maybe opening up conference or division plays we
mentioned at the start of the show. And this segment

(15:09):
being brought to you by J and H Family Stores
with now sixty plus locations across Michigan to serve you.
We stop at them. You can stop at them and
get geared up before or after a game. J and
H's Family Stores stop in on the way to your
next high school football game. All right, gentlemen, let's go
through the games, and we'll start with you, mister Hutton.
And this harkens back to Thrilling Dylan Karchwsky for me,

(15:31):
and East Grand Rapids and Catholic Central George Barchesky, Right,
I mean, so many great names involved with this rivalry.

Speaker 2 (15:38):
And it was a good game last year. We expect
to be a good game this year.

Speaker 7 (15:41):
It was And I go back to the first ever
game at Cougar Stadium, right, you and I were there.
It was East Grand Rapids and Greenham Scotch Direct for
Week one twenty sixteen. That was a big Cougar's win
as they unveiled that new stadium. And now they're in
the same division and we start division play and it's
you know, East Grand Rapids. The sky was falling after
week one when they get blown out at home by
Lowl but Olive you Donald's turned around to shut out

(16:01):
South Christian and then dominate the rival Grand Rappts Christian.
But does anybody really know what we have with Grand
Rapids Catholic Central because they were playing in Indiana. Then
they were at home to play a team from Canada
and they went all the way to lum and Christie
we haven't really seen much of Catholic Center business.

Speaker 5 (16:14):
I know.

Speaker 7 (16:15):
I think Odin Spencer is even better. Right, he was
a freshman last year. Now he's a sophomore. So this
Catholic Central offense against that East Ground Rapids defense, I
think it's gonna be a great game. And what I
think is a really deep okay black all right?

Speaker 1 (16:25):
Before I toss it to the guys to analyze even further,
I just want to point out right there what you said.
I love this quarterback matchup because Odin Spencer had a
big game last week. We know he's a mobile quarterback
that can make plays with his feet as well as
his arm, and he's so young. And then you got
senior quarterback East Grand Rapids Josh mcchown. Do you see
what he did last week? One hundred and seventy three
yards passing eight of nine, two touchdowns, but ten carries

(16:48):
for seventy four yards. I saw that a little bit
in the scrimmage with him in two rushing touchdowns. So
the quarterback matchup alone is great in this one, buck Gino.
Since you covered East Grand Rapids for so many years,
did to tell you about this rivalry?

Speaker 4 (17:02):
No, you don't actually the game that Jasoner first, who
was our first game together, Brett, and that was also
the first game of the era that did not include
Peter Sturzma, so it was Casey Longo at that time.
It was his first game coaching the Pioneers, so it
was a lot going on in that game.

Speaker 5 (17:18):
But boy, this is a great rivalry.

Speaker 4 (17:20):
As you said, this goes back a long way, and
I actually would credit Todd Kolster for kind of rekindling
it because it did fall off a little bit when
coach Peter Sursan was there, and then Todd came back.
Of course, being an EGR guy, he brought that back
and then they've been able to continue that and now
they're in the same division. So as the rivalry continues.
And I think you made the points of the quarterbacks,

(17:41):
I'm going to look at the defensive I was watching
the East kind raft of the defensively during that scrimmage
and I was really impressed by what they were able
to bring to the table. Now, I think the Lowle
game was a little bit of a mirage. That was
a game where I think that they got down a
little bit too fast, a little bit too early, and
things just kind of got away from that, and then
they played a South Christian team last week where we

(18:03):
saw that team first hand. Brett and They've got some weapons,
They've got some guys that can do some big things
on that field, and Uskan Rapids was able to basically
handcuff them. And so this is going to be very interesting.
I don't know anything about the first two teams that
Catholic Central played. I will say that Lum and Christie
going there and beating them, that's a big win for

(18:25):
Catholic Central. I really think it kind of stamps them
as all the way back after last year with their
struggles a little bit, and now this is going to
be a big opening game for them in the division.
I think it really got to come down to defensively
for East Grand Rapids. Can they limit what Odin Spencer
is going to do. Can they keep them in the pocket.
Can they make sure that they can cover all the

(18:46):
talented drive receivers and the running backs that he has
at his disposal. That's going to be a tough job
for them. They played loll that was a big physical team.
I'm not saying that Catholic Central isn't physical, but that's
a whole different ballgame when you're playing a team like well,
now they're playing a team is a little bit more
on the perimeter.

Speaker 5 (19:02):
We'll see what.

Speaker 4 (19:03):
Happens in this game, but I think it's going to
be one of the old school games that we were
accustomed to seeing in this rivalry.

Speaker 1 (19:10):
And Tom Kendra, I know you spent a lot of
your time covering games on the Lake Shore the MA
Skiing Chronicle, but I think you know a little bit
about East Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

Speaker 9 (19:18):
Right, Oh, absolutely, no doubt about it. Two of the
blue blood programs you know in Grand Rapids. But you
know for Grand Rapids Catholic, it's a lot like last
year where they started off playing teams from out of
the area, and now we get to see what they're
really made of. And something tells me this team is
one of Todd Colster's really good teams once again. You know,
Odin Spencer, what jumped out at me from last week

(19:40):
is the one hundred and eighty three rushing yards he
had against Lum and Christie. I mean, everyone knows Spencer,
big kid with a strong arm, but if he can
run the ball like that, you know, watch out because
that makes them just a really tough team to stop,
and then just quickly on East Grand Rapids. I think
you've got to give credit to Josh Shaddock and his
staff that's losing forty to seven in that opener as

(20:02):
Jason that's not mentioned, but then being able to rally
the troops twenty one thirty eight to seven the last
two weeks, a great job put them in positions have
a great game this week.

Speaker 1 (20:12):
Buck Gina, let's go to you next year going River
City's Alliance Cedar Springs at Kenna Hills, both teams coming
in at three to zero.

Speaker 4 (20:20):
Well, these are two teams that I thought we're going
to be battling for the top spot in the conference
along with Wowell, and we get to have the in
an early season matchup with Theedar Springs and Kenowa Hills.
I think last week, you look at their results, Kenna
would be in the Allendale twenty eight to ten, Theeedar
Springs beating Greenville thirty one to twenty one, and Pepike. Boy,
you know that's super impressive for two teams that are

(20:41):
supposed to be really good. Well, I think both of
them are looking ahead to this week to be quite
honest with you. I heard from multiple people that Theear
Springs didn't look sharp, Kenawa Hills didn't really get things
going until later on in the game. And so you
look at this team, these teams and they know this
game is coming up.

Speaker 5 (20:58):
Last week was.

Speaker 4 (20:58):
Kind of just a dresser rehearsal, and I also think
they probably kept it very vanilla. I mean, we know
what Duskapolka and Seedars Springs do. I mean, we know
what that game plan is going to be. But for
Donfellows and the Knights, pretty sure they weren't kind of
use all the cards in their deck to be now
and Dale Falcons team that has struggled recently, So this
is going to be a really good matchup. And you
have Kennella Hills who's played a pretty tough schedule so

(21:21):
far and they're coming out three and oh, and then
you have Cedar Springs, who also has some momentum. A
lot of people thought this was going.

Speaker 5 (21:28):
To be a big year per Seedear.

Speaker 4 (21:29):
They had a lot of guys coming back that played
and had experienced last year and that team that made
the playoffs. So this is going to be a critical matchup,
not only for the River City's Alliance. But also because
if you're looking at future playoff points, and this is
a big one because whoever wins this game, the other
team's not going to go on a big losing streak.
They're going to win a bunch of games too, so
you're going to get some of those bonus points coming in.

(21:51):
So a lot of spoils go to the victor in
this matchup. I think it's going to be a really
good one. And I just look at this and Theedars
Springs always plays teams to just the styles that they play.
It's very hard to beat him by multiple scorers. And
we'll see what Kenawa Hills is made of. They've beat
Northern in a close game fortles are than the Coast
game in the Week one, so they're conditioned. But this,
I think is going to be another one that goes

(22:12):
down to the wire.

Speaker 7 (22:13):
Can we talk kickers for a second, I mean really,
Riley Smith for Kenaway Hills hit the game winning field
goal to beat forts Nor in the Week one. Avery
Humphrey kicked a thirty nine yard field goal for Cedar
Springs last week against Greenville. If this one's close, we
got two really good kickers here, could make a difference.
You know, watching Cedars Springs against Greenville last week, it's
really fascinating. They're running plays out a shotgun. They're throwing

(22:33):
the football with junior Nick Robinson on first down. Like listen,
Gus Kapolk is going to do what Seedars Springs does.
They're going to run trap in power, but they can
do more things. What they have to do here is
possess the football. Kenaway Hills only had two first half
possesions against Soundale last week, both way inside the ten.
Both resulted in zero points. Cedar needs to possess the football.
Try to keep Grayson Fellows off the field.

Speaker 2 (22:52):
Tom Kendrell, let's go to you next.

Speaker 9 (22:54):
You know, one of my impressions a third of the
way through the season is overall, I think in Westmans
she and we're seeing a lot more parody in a
lot of these conferences. I mean, maybe the good teams
are not as great as they've been in past years,
and some of the lower teams have really improved. So
and I think that's true in the River City Alliance
for sure. You know this game, I think the winner

(23:17):
of this game really takes a huge step forward. Is
maybe the favorite in the league, but they have to
watch out for an upset at any time, and we
saw that last week.

Speaker 6 (23:26):
You know, at.

Speaker 9 (23:26):
Kenawa playing against Allen Dale. Everyone thought that would be
a one sided game, and Allen de Heal leeds ten
nothing at halftime before London Hampton and the guys got
going a little bit. So you know, I look at
this as a huge game for Kenawa Hills playing at home.
I know they're looking to build off that second half
they had last week. But meanwhile, Cedars Springs, I think

(23:46):
it's been a little more impressive so far this year.
So yeah, this should be a great matchup right down
to the wire.

Speaker 1 (23:52):
I like it because it's what both coaches really like
in their programs and teams. For Cedar Springs, it's a
blue collar RedHawks team. They play good defense, they do
all the things right. Like Jay said, maybe they're throwing
a few more wrinkles in offensively. They've got a kicker,
so right up Ghost Kapolca's ally, and I think he's
really excited about the potential of this team. And for

(24:13):
Kenowa Hills. What do we know from Don Fellows? He
always has athletes at different positions, a lot of weapons,
especially offensively, and he's got this this year with his
son at quarterback. London Hampton only did last week one
hundred and eighty seven yards rushing in two touchdowns on
twenty eight carries.

Speaker 2 (24:28):
He's got wide receivers. I mean, they're dynamic.

Speaker 1 (24:31):
Like Jay said, you got to keep the football away
from them, and they can do that.

Speaker 2 (24:34):
So this is gonna be a fun game. I like
Kenwy Hills at home.

Speaker 1 (24:37):
And by the way, you don't think the Night Nation
is going crazy right now? The first time they've started
three and zero since nineteen ninety two, guys, And here
you go, Tom Kender, you're MHSA history guy.

Speaker 2 (24:47):
That's back when they had double b oh for sure.
So they are fired up.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
It's gonna be a good one at Kennowa Hills coming
up with that matchup with Buck Chino. Let's go to
Tom Kender next. I love this one, especially this story
of the Orioles in Luddington. What a game, Tom Kendra.

Speaker 9 (25:04):
That's right Oakridge at Lovington and in the West Michigan Conference,
you know, for years it's been the Muskegan County teams
have dominated the league. You know, you look in the
River's Division North Muskegan has been dominant, but well, you
know what about Shelby. They almost knocked him off. So
that's a Northern team that's making some noise. And then
here in the Lakes Division, the Lovington Orioles, they look

(25:26):
like they are for real a special story, bruin. You know,
they've got a dynamic player, senior quarterback Cam gun So
six three one ninety already committed to Farris State, and
his dad, Charlie Gunzo, is the coach. He's in his
twenty second year. He told me this is his final year.
He wants to see Cam go out as a senior.
His other son, Wilson, is one of the assistant coaches

(25:48):
for the Orioles. And I interviewed Cam and he told
me he grew up, you know, playing building forts with
the blocking Dummi's at Nottington football practices and here he is.
So far this year, he's thrown for one hundred and
sixty seven yards in three games, seven touchdown passes, rushed
for eleven more touchdowns. So and he's also a great
player on defense at free safety. He told me, my

(26:11):
dad doesn't know this, but I like playing defense better
than offense. So well, now, his dad doesn't know it,
but you know this is you know last year Luddington
broke through and beat oak Ridge down at Oakridge. That
was a score that caught everyone's attention. This year they're
coming in as a clear favorite in this league, so
kind of a different role for Oakridge. Tim Parker in

(26:32):
his first year. They're off to a three and zero
start and they're playing great defense. They held Man of
Seed at just one hundred yards of offense last week.
Preston six as kind of the ring leader with Evan
Vandenbosch on the defensive line. He had three tackles for
loss last week. So really a great matchup the offense
of Luddington led by Cam Gunsel. He's got some other weapons,

(26:55):
Taj Williams, Kyle hin Zach Graham. So the offensive Luttington
versus the defense of Oakridge and a great matchup. Whoever
wins this. They have their upper hand in the league,
with Whitehall the other team blooming well.

Speaker 7 (27:09):
We shouldn't be surprised at oakredg just playing so good defensively,
right Tim Parker, the longtime defensive coordinator under carry Harger
now the head coach, and you're exactly right, Tom, But
I look at it on the other side of the football,
It's just like the Kenaway Hills Seedar matchup in my opinion,
Like Oakridge has got to run the football, stay in
the field and keep I mean Kim Guns will be
on the fields. He plays defense, but keep that Luddington
offense off the field. You know, Jordan Guerrero McGrady is

(27:32):
having a great season. I remember last year's a junior,
he was the player that stood out Jordan Daily. Like
Oakridge loves to run the football, They're gonna have to
have success there to give their defense and breaks.

Speaker 1 (27:40):
Jason, I'll just comment on that real quick before we
go to buck for final thoughts on this one. And
that's exactly what I was going to say, don't you agree.
I think Oakridge and Cedar Springs have to keep this game,
these games in the twenties if they want to win.
If it gets too far above that, which certainly Kennaway
Hills can put points on the board, the Orioles can
put a ton of points on the board. If it
gets north of twenty eight, it's not going to loom

(28:02):
well for Oakridge or Cedar Springs in those matchups.

Speaker 4 (28:05):
Buck Well you know me, I like to go against
the grain a little bit. I look at this Oakridge team,
I think, clearly, you know the strategy is going to
have to be I agree with you there, They're going
to have to play a little bit of a conservative
brand of football. But I wouldn't be surprised if they
start to pull out the back pages of the playbook,
maybe see a little bit of trickeration some things that
Weddington has not seen. Weddington coach Gunswal has done a

(28:29):
tremendous job and finally culminating with his son being the
senior quarterback. I think this is a really big year
for them. I think they really want to get as
far as possible because not only is that their goal,
but also they want to send the gunsls off with
a high and note as possible. But I also think
I look at them and I'm like, man, this is
a team that loves to score points. Defensively, they have

(28:51):
always struggled and when they finally get to the playoffs,
they play teams that are really good offensively and that's
kind of been their downfall. I think, if you're Oakridge,
to find a way to not only keep this close
but also maybe have something in the back pocket, because
that's I think what they can get them this win.
They're going to play a team that is very offensive minded. Defensively,

(29:12):
they have struggled. That's where they're going to have to
come across, and they're going to have to find a
way because even though Ludington goes does give up a
lot of points, they have a pretty decent defensive front.
So if it's going to have to be something that
I think, you know later in the game, maybe that
they break it out or maybe early, but it's just
something that swings the momentum and gives them the upper hand.
Because Oakridge and Cedar Springs are very similar. As you

(29:34):
guys say, well, when they get up, they're like a
boweling constrictor. You don't want to get down to them
by many points because they can just wile that clock
away and just keep hammering away and play keep away
with the football. So I think if you're Oakridge, try
to get an early lead and then go to work
on that Ludington defense.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
All right, last, but not least, we'll have to move
quickly through this one. Guys.

Speaker 1 (29:53):
Byron Center at Muskegan Hackley Stadium. Both teams picking up
wins out of state last week as their first wins
of the season. No Eastern Whitchers, by the way, at
quarterback for Byron Center due to injuries, so Brady Hartson,
the junior came in and played campaign another big game.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
My thoughts on this is going to be tough.

Speaker 1 (30:11):
I think now we know that there's some injuries too
with Muskegan, so what's kind of the status there. But
I think Miss Skegan when you look at it, both
teams struggled against okay Red opponents in the first two weeks.
Muskegean maybe a little bit stronger here. Always tough to
go and win on the Lake Shore. Tom Kendratt, let's
go to you first on this one.

Speaker 9 (30:28):
Yeah, you mentioned the injury of Whitechers at quarterback for
Byron Center. Well Muskegan as well. You know, Jason and
I were there for the game of the week against Rockford,
and I tell you what, in that first half, senior
Lamar Bradford put on an absolute show at quarterback for
the Big Reds running that option attack. I mean, they've
had some great quarterbacks Khalil Pimpleton, Cam Martinez, McKai guy,

(30:49):
I haven't seen anyone run that option better than Lamar
Bradford was in that first half, Kegan led twenty to
three over Rockford. Then he got injured. I mean he
was hobbling around on a bad anchor and then he
was clutching his right arm. And this, I mean, this
is no knock against the junior Lou Greftit who came in,
but just a whole different team with Lamar Bradford healthy

(31:10):
running the show. He didn't play last week in Ohio.
I understand he was held out. As far as I know,
he's going to be playing this week, and I think
they need Lamar Bradford healthy in order to win this
game against Byron Center.

Speaker 2 (31:23):
Mark Gino your quick thoughts, and.

Speaker 4 (31:25):
We've seen that be a scene throughout the year, Byron
center losing his starting quarterback Miskegan. They're going to have
theirs back, it sounds like, but he's still not going
to be one hundred percent if he's coming back from
multiple injuries. So that's going to be something to watch.
I think, really who to boil down to execution, Who
makes the fewest mistakes the special teams is going to
be a big part of that as well. I think

(31:47):
you just have to play discipline football. You can't have
a lot of penalties. So whoever comes out in this
one is basically just going to be me who played
the better game and who is the error free We'll
have at.

Speaker 7 (31:57):
This Moskeigan defense. May They give up seventy four the
first two weeks and lost to Granville and Rockford. They
didn't give any points last week. They win fifteen to
eight against Garfield Heights. The only Garfield Heights touchdown was
an interception return for a score. I just think Shane
Fairfield coaching that unit, they're going to continue to get
better and better. It's a pretty young unit over there,
a lot of non senior starting. I just think Miskegan
defensively is getting better. But the boy they got it.

(32:18):
They got another tall task here. I mean campaign, I mean,
this is a good Byron Center team. So I love
this matchup. I mean, I think it's two top ten
teams even though they're both one and two.

Speaker 1 (32:26):
All Right, there you go, so many good games in
Week four. Hope you enjoyed this edition of the four.
Back in this Week four of the MCU High School
Football Preview, we'll come back with more after this as
you're listening to it live right here on your home
for West Michigan High School Football ninety six to one
the game.

Speaker 3 (32:42):
Catch our LMCU high school football games of the week
every Friday night with coverage starting at six pm with
the J and H Family Stores pregame show exclusively here
on ninety six to one the game in the Grand
Rapids area and one oh seven m us the Moos
and Miskegan and along the Lake Shore.

Speaker 1 (33:07):
Welcome back, and let's go into our second Coaches Corner
of the night. It's brought to you by Montel Construction.
He is Zealand East head coach Joe Woodruff. They are
off to a three and oh start and at Unity
Christian tomorrow night. Thanks so much for joining us here
on the show tonight. Congratulations on the three and oh start.
And I don't have to tell you before we get
into any more what looms ahead right with Unity Christian,

(33:29):
the defending champs in this new look ok gold from
a year ago.

Speaker 5 (33:33):
Yeah, they're definitely formidable. They graduated a lot of kids
from last year.

Speaker 7 (33:37):
They all right, Coach, before we get into this year,
I want to just touch a little bit on it
last year because you played a bunch of sophomore so
I was fortunate enough to call your game in week nine,
need to beat Hamilton, and he went five and four
got in the playoffs. But I'm recounting at least six
sophomore starting some of them. Both ways, have you ever
in all your coaching history played so many young guys

(33:57):
and just how proud were you of the way they
they fought because you played a really good schedule and
still made the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (34:03):
Yeah, actually had a frustrating under two as well, So yeah,
we were It was fantastic year for us. You know,
that was just one of those we had some of
the young kids. We kind of went them to the
attitude and a lot of these kids probably didn't know
that they shouldn't be playing and having that much success,
but we just kind of had his next man up
attitude and it kind of worked for us. And ironically,
we've got a lot of injuries happ with us right now,

(34:25):
so having a little bit of it this year too,
So we're getting a chance to play some young kids
too this year, So kind of a lot of lessons
learned last year for us. So yeah, it was great coach.

Speaker 1 (34:32):
One of the things we love to do with coaches,
and we get them on is let them tell kind
of their coaching history and what brings them to the
West Missionarya, or maybe brings them back to the West Missionarrea.
Because you've coached all over the state. So it's your
fifth season. Hard to believe time flies when you having fun.
Right coach at Zealand East and you took over for
Derek Pennington. But what is it about West Michigan High

(34:53):
School football and Zealand East that brought you to this position?

Speaker 5 (34:57):
Well, you know, I, oh gosh, I want to say
up in Oakamus got started real, real young, I think
right out of high school. And I was a head
coach at Chippewa Hills when I was twenty two or so,
and it came down to Comstock Park. Spent a bunch
of years down there, learned, and then you know, kind
of got a little bit anxious, I think, went down
to Florida for a year, spent a bunch of years

(35:17):
down in North Carolina, ben mother in law, got sick,
came back up to Michigan, spent some time over on
the east side of the state over at Lakeland High School,
had a lot of success there. I had a lot
of great times over there, and then you know, right
around COVID. You know, my wife and I always had
had you know, we loved West Michigan. It was you know,
we loved our time here. Our kids at that time
were going to school at Hope and Grand Valley, respectively,

(35:40):
and it was COVID and gosh, I don't know, I
didn't know if we wanted to move, but it met
the administrators from Zealand, from Daland, and we just really
kind of hit it off with them, and and you know,
just kind of came over here. We loved, you know,
we loved the area, loved the people, and you know,
they've been great to us over here and just had
a great time them. Was obviously very very competitive foot
and I think that goes without saying, so, yeah, it's

(36:03):
great West Michigan football.

Speaker 7 (36:04):
So tell us about the dynamic and and just kind
of how you've adjusted to that, right, because Zealand is interesting.
Then you have East and West and yes it's two
different athletic programs, but essentially it's one school, like these
kids go to school together. Just how have you kind
of adjusted to that style with with the East West
thing going on there?

Speaker 8 (36:21):
Is Zealand.

Speaker 5 (36:22):
I tell you what, during the interview process, it was
really unique. John Shiltel was very involved in the process.
I had. I had some real good conversations with John
Shilotol about it, being a excellent Pea guy myself. So
John and I would talk a lot about it, and
I got brought up in the interview process, and I
think the first thing that, you know, they asked me
what my opinion of the whole situation was, and I said,
whoever you hire, you better hire a grown up, because

(36:42):
if you don't hire grown ups, and you know, if
you're not going to be able to handle a situation
of you know, I've got West football players in my
class every day and vice versa. I walk down the
hallway and there's less kids in the hallway. There's we
share a football field. There's you know, there's days that
I think today at practice, they're going to be on
the games field practicing. We're going to be, you know,
fifteen yards away from them on adjacent practice field having

(37:06):
a practice. Now we're not playing them this week, but
next week we do. It is a very very unique situation,
you know, to say the least, it's just something you
got to kind of live with. When I go around
the country and talk to different schools, people just shake
their head like how do you exist? And it is
very very unique, but you know, somehow we make it work.
So yeah, it's it's definitely interesting.

Speaker 2 (37:28):
Joe.

Speaker 1 (37:28):
You've had a lot of success there. Three out of
the four seasons you've made the playoffs. This is year
five off to that three and zero start. And one
of the things, ironically enough, that you know about in
talking to coach Shilato is defending the tea right and
everyone has their own little variation of what we call
the wing tea or the straight tea or whatever. As
you look at Friday Night. Another guy who's pretty good

(37:48):
at along with John Shilaito is Craig tibbyat Unity Christian.
So how different kind of take our fans behind the sea,
How different, if at all, is Unity Christian and what
they do compared to what Zealand West, your rival school did.

Speaker 5 (38:00):
Well, you know, like I said, for I want to
say back and I started running the Delaware Way tea
back and she's back in nineteen ninety six. And I
had a lot of IRV Sigler when he was at
Belding a lot of his h kind of influences from
way back when, which I know he influenced you know,
Chilitou and you know Tibby kind of came from the

(38:20):
Bob Blackweiler family and the Rex Weaver at Hopkins family,
which was similar. So stuff you're gonna see. They don't
have a lot of wide receivers in their version of
the wing team, which in ours we always did. So
that's what you're gonna see. I mean, you know, you're
not gonna see a lot of wide receivers. You're going
to see a lot of trap and a lot of power.
They're going to run the quarterback a lot. They're going
to run you know, a lot of counteraction. They're gonna

(38:41):
run a lot of fake polls. Really, John took that lot,
that really took that offense to the next level. Craig
has been able to kind of add his little flavor.
He's going to throw the ball probably more than John does. Really,
I think Tibby's, you know, Tibby's side of it. He's
going to run the quarterback a lot this year. It
looks like they're very fast and physical. Like I said,
they spread the field out really good, throwing the ball wise.

(39:03):
He adds the no huddle aspect of it in there,
which is kind of a unique thing. Normally, when you
think of the win tea, you think of a you know,
three hours and a cloud of dust and all of
a sudden, here comes Unity Christian and they've got risk
bands on and they're running like, you know, a play
every thirty five seconds or something. So you know, every
every wing tea team has their own little flavor to it,
and it makes it very very difficult to defend. And

(39:24):
we've gotten better at defending it, but we're are in
no way shape, matter of form, you know, masters at it,
and we still let up a lot of points and
you know we have a long way to go.

Speaker 8 (39:34):
So well, you're not alone.

Speaker 7 (39:36):
Joe Woodriff zeal And East head coach, joining us in
the Montel Construction Coaches Corner.

Speaker 8 (39:39):
Coach.

Speaker 7 (39:40):
I asked you a little bit earlier about all those
young guys you played last year. I mean, what I
do is very unofficial, but I had your first seventeen
returning starters this year. You know, it's one thing to
have all those guys back. How have you seen those
young players that have varsity experience progress from last year
to this year.

Speaker 5 (39:55):
Yeah, I think we have you know, we have been
I'm not gonna liep. I mean I think if you
come to our games, I think we do have a
lot of injuries right now, and we've just been kind
of we've been hitting by a lot of injuries, some
really really weird injuries this year that have just been
really freakish kind of stuff. I mean, we've got broken bones,
We've got you know, our tailback got hit with an infection.

(40:16):
We haven't seen him all year. Just some weird kind
of stuff. And I know everybody has injuries, but we've
really we're down a whole bunch of starters. So from
that standpoint, that's kind of been a little bit frustrating
for us. But we have had a lot of the
kids who have been back. I mean, obviously we'll drink.
Our quarterback and our you know, our wide receiver corps
has just really really been lightened up the last couple

(40:36):
of weeks and they've been doing a great job. Our
linebackers on defense have been really really where we thought
they would be. They've been, uh, you know, kind of
holding it down on the defensive side and really really
had a nice season thus far. So you know, really,
really we have a lot of kind of an inopportune
time that we got to play Unity this week and
Yealing West next week, and you know, we got to

(40:57):
get healthy real quick, and that's going to be a
hard thing to do. But yeah, we're you know, we're
happy that, you know, the kids who are healthy have
been really really growing and we're having to kind of
have a next man up attitude with a bunch of
our other, you know, younger kids.

Speaker 1 (41:09):
Coach, when you look at it in year five and
get perspective on the program and where it's at, where
would you assess it right now? What's the big goal
you want to accomplish in this season?

Speaker 5 (41:19):
Well, really, I think when you look at our program
of where you're at, certainly our numbers are really really
something that we're really excited about. Our first year when
we walked in the door, I think we had fifty
one kids in our program and and and that was
kind of a that was kind of an eye opening thing.
I was. I was coming from Lakeland on the other
side of the state where I think we had and
we probably had well over one hundred down in you know,

(41:42):
North Carolina. We were somewhere in one hundred and thirties
or something, and you know, a half fifty that was really difficult.
You know, So we're up, we're up closer in the
you know, we're about ninety right now, so we're getting
our numbers up there. You know, our freshman team's undefeated,
so obviously we have three levels right now. Our JV
team currently is undefeated. Our seventh grade team is undefeated.
So we're you know, we're you know, we're building kind

(42:02):
of from the top down, and we're getting our numbers
up there and kind of building our systems from the
top down. So that's exciting right now, you know, being
able to do that, that's kind of an exciting thing.
We're still a young team because we were a bunch
of sophomores last years and now we're a bunch of juniors.
So surely we want to continue to grow and continue
to keep the numbers up there and continue to get
you know, quality football. But you know, like everybody else,
we got to get strong in the weight room, and
we got to get linemen, and like everybody else, we

(42:25):
just got to continue to improve every day.

Speaker 7 (42:26):
So Jo, I want to ask you, you're three and
zero right now, you've got nice wins of Reunion Flushing, Alpina,
But I want to ask you about the Flushing game. Obviously,
the way it ended a year ago was was crazy,
and I'm sure you didn't forget it. And then to
go to Flushing and win, and not just win, but
they score a touchdown with what thirty some seconds to
go and miss the extra point you win by one.

Speaker 8 (42:45):
You almost have to.

Speaker 7 (42:46):
Feel like now we're even right, like you were owed
one going into that game.

Speaker 5 (42:51):
You know, I tell you what it really did. There
was some Karra stuff going on there. That was a
really weird game. We had, you know, we lost a
couple of linemen in the game, and we didn't really
you know on the on on the defensive side. They
came out with just a fantastic offensive game plan and
they got a drive on the first The first drive
then went down the field and we had to adjust
and our defense is just a great job of adjusting.

(43:13):
And then I think they scored on a broken play
with like ten seconds left. They lined up for the
extra point to send it an overtime. I'm like, oh,
we're going to overtime, There's no way around it. They
had a fantastic kicker, and I mean he just I
don't know if it was a bad hole or a
bad snap, but I mean he kicked it right into
the line. And I'm just sitting there saying, this is
this is like karma or something going on. But yeah,

(43:34):
that was that was definitely a unique one right there,
and we definitely dodged a bullet. But you know the
year before that to lose on Adr hil Mary play
that bounced off four different people and you know, went
in there and it was just definitely an unfortunate thing.
Was you know, I guess that guy, I don't know,
maybe it was just good karma for us Jr.

Speaker 1 (43:51):
Last question for me, You've got unity Christian as we
mentioned coming up, but just looking at the Okay Gold,
I mean you stepped in with realignment to an unbelievable
division last year I think was the deepest, deeper than
even the Okay Red. Outstanding championship caliber coaching as you
know that you're going up against. But this year it's
a little bit different. A lot of those schools graduated
great senior classes, and Jay mentioned you were young, got

(44:13):
those kids experienced last year.

Speaker 2 (44:15):
How do you see the Okay Gold.

Speaker 5 (44:17):
You know, it's it's so hard because it's such quality
football program. I mean last year it was it was
such a joke when you look at like the fifth
place team in our league. Last year I think was
a semi final, right, you know South Christian you look
at like, you know, when you look at I think,
like everybody in our league and I think five out
of six made the playoffs and I think like everybody
like knocked each other out of the playoffs or something.

(44:38):
It was just a crazy, you know type of thing.
And you know, this year, I'm not convinced that the year.
I mean, I'm convinced that, you know, some teams might
be a little bit down, But I mean what does
that mean. I mean last year Saint Zealand West is
down for guys, thinks they want to stay championship. Last year,
I mean Unity christ you know they're down. Well, they
were as good as anybody last year. You know. I
I think that I think a lot of teams trop

(45:00):
I think it got a little bit maybe a little
bit closer, but I think it was pretty close last year.
I think you know, the teams that people have lost to,
you know, South Christian lost to West Catholic, who's obviously
a dominant football program. They lost to East Grind Rapids,
which is a story in football program. You know, you
look at out you know those losses are who they are.
You know, Forrest So Central's lost to Portage Central, who

(45:20):
looks really, really strong. They lost to Forest Hill's Northern,
who's a rivalrything. So I don't I don't know why
I can read into those losses. You know, Zealand West
lost to Whitehall, who had just a fantastic game plan.
I think on both sides of the ball against Zeeland West,
and I know, I mean, I know those guys from
across the path over here, they're going to rebound, and
I mean, we know a lot about Zealand West and

(45:42):
they're going to be just fine this year. So I
would imagine at the end of the season that you know,
our league is going to be as strong as anybody.

Speaker 2 (45:48):
Again, so it's three and oh versus three and oh.

Speaker 1 (45:51):
One of our game reporters will be out there, Lucas
Symbol Friday night, Zealand East at Unity Christian that's gonna
be played at Granville High School and head coach of
the Chicks, Joe Woodworth, in his fifth season. Excuse me
joining us here tonight, Joe, appreciate it. Good luck on
Friday night. Thank you so much for the time.

Speaker 5 (46:06):
Thanks a loud for having me on here. Guys, I
appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (46:20):
Man, really want to say thank you so much. We
enjoyed doing two coaches now this year. One change to
the show. And you just heard from Joe Woodriff in
his fifth season. Great job at Zealand East. They got
a big one to get CD Christian. Then Ty Spencer
in our game of the week East kent with at
Rockford and he's got the Falcons in his second season
at three, and oh, join us on the show. Always
nice to hear the coaches perspective. Let's get into our

(46:41):
top ten rankings Jay to wrap up this week four edition.
Also our Uptown Cheapskate Players of the Week. And I'll
go first with my top ten rankings because I know
last week a bonu contention was Zealand West. They did
lose to Whitehall, so here we go. I got Hudsonville
won at three and oh right behind them East can't
wit so okay, Red dominant at three and oh oh,
let's throw in Granville at two. And one with their

(47:02):
lone loss to cast Deck At number three.

Speaker 2 (47:04):
For me, Unity.

Speaker 1 (47:04):
Christian is four, Mona Shores five at two and one
Rockford who will take on He's Kent win. Our game
of the week is at six at two and one
with their win over Grand Haven. Then I moved up
and I flip flopped Portage Central at seven. Northfew went eighth.
They're both three and oh. But I'm so impressed with
Mick Enders and the Mustangs. They haven't given up a
point now through the first three weeks. Now I think
that conference is down a little bit, but still they're

(47:26):
putting up monster points. And then nine is Catholic Central
big win over Jackson, Lowe and Christie at three and oh.
And then I've got Zealand West hanging on there at
my number ten spot with their first loss of the
season to Whitehall last Friday night.

Speaker 8 (47:38):
You're like a magician.

Speaker 7 (47:39):
You're like, look over here, so I don't see the
real issue, right, Like you want me to not worry
about Zealand West. You're like, I'm just gonna flip port
in Central Northview. That'll get them all crazy. Like no,
if you won forty nine and nothing, like I would
get it if he did it the week they beat
Vicksburg on a field going the last play, but you
waited until they beat Sparta four Central.

Speaker 1 (47:55):
Has him given up a point Jay a point. That's
tough to do.

Speaker 8 (47:59):
That's a lot of up on your team, all right,
So let's talk Zealand West. Ok.

Speaker 7 (48:02):
So it's almost as if someone could have seen this coming.
How is Zealand West in your top ten? But White
Halls not Whitehall beat them head to head?

Speaker 1 (48:09):
Because I have a lot of teams that are like that, Lowell,
you can make a case for right, it's not in
my top ten. Kenaway Hills isn't in my top ten.

Speaker 8 (48:15):
But none of those teams have beaten a team in
your top ten.

Speaker 1 (48:17):
I have teams that I'm watching with losses like it's
so interesting this year. Look at I watched Forestolls Norther
with my own eyes and they got beat at home.
Granted some injuries, but those interests didn't go away. They
got beat pretty good by Ajenisen, team that they beat
the year before. I can't explain how they went out.
I mean, I'm happy for Eddy Ostapo and Foresto's Northern.
They ended a twelve game losing streak to the rival

(48:39):
Forest Till Central. That was a three point game last year.
They crushed them. I mean, wow, there's a lot of
things I've been unable to explain. East Grand Rapids is
another one. Imagine if East Grand Rapids goes out and
beats Catholic Central, right, we both agree that could happen.
And how do you explain East Grand Rapids losing forty
to seven to Lowell.

Speaker 7 (48:58):
So you have a harder time explaining White Hell beating
Zeland West, and you do Zealand West winning on a
hail Mary over West Ottawa.

Speaker 8 (49:03):
I just I don't I don't understand that.

Speaker 7 (49:05):
All right, let me do my top ten Okay Hudsonville one,
Grandville two, East Kent with three Mona Shores for Rockford five.

Speaker 8 (49:12):
Here we go.

Speaker 7 (49:12):
I got Byron Center six, Muskegan seven. I just I
know they have two losses.

Speaker 1 (49:16):
Plaining each other and the Okay Green Division open at
Hackley Stadium.

Speaker 2 (49:19):
It's gonna be fun.

Speaker 7 (49:19):
And then Northew stays number eight with their forty nine
nothing win Grenaman's Calolic Central nine, Kanawa Hills ten. I think,
what's fun to talk about? And we don't have time,
But like, how do you put those everybody greaves those
three okay red teams are one, two, and three, but
in what order?

Speaker 8 (49:31):
Like right?

Speaker 7 (49:32):
People think eas Kent should be one. A lot of
people think Grandville should be one. You and I have
Hudsonville one.

Speaker 1 (49:35):
And you and I looked at the schedule. You know
how we always complain about no good games and we
ate a week nine. Boys, you look at the ok
Red it's gonna be decided, not in two week nine.

Speaker 2 (49:44):
I think we can both agree upon.

Speaker 8 (49:46):
That those three play each other in week seven, eight
and nine. Pretty cool, and.

Speaker 1 (49:50):
I'm looking forward to East Kent Wood Rockford our game
of the week, brought to you by LMCU on the
Lake Shore. You guys, have a round for a game Whitehall.
By the way, you'll get a chance to see the
Vikings fresh off that win over Zealand West at Montague.
Do we know enough about the Wildcats? We know it's
a great rivalry. I know you love it, but Montague one.

Speaker 7 (50:07):
And two, it just hadn't been close in the last
four years when Whitehall's won the Red, White, and Blue Belt.
So is this the year we finally get a close one?
It feels like it, But I think we thought that
last year and it didn't happen.

Speaker 2 (50:17):
Six o'clock.

Speaker 1 (50:18):
Both broadcast starts on ninety six to one the game
and one oh seven mus the Moose with our own
Rick Burky of course taking you through the Jay and
as Family Stores pregame show before we head out and
give you the calls of those games on Friday night.
All right, it's time now for our uptown cheapskate players
of the week and Jay. Since you let me go
first for top ten, I'll let you go first. I'm
gonna go Forestie's norther.

Speaker 7 (50:37):
You touched on it with Northern getting that win over
for Cells Central forty two to ten. Colton Sawyer, their
senior running back, nineteen carries, two hundred and twenty two
yards and four touchdowns. And listen, I'm not here to
tell you Foresteels Central is as good as they've been
the last couple of years. But Forestiels Central's always been
a really good defensive team.

Speaker 1 (50:52):
Well, they beat Reese Puffer in week one, and you
just saw Reesepuffer beat Spring late.

Speaker 8 (50:55):
Ree Puffer's got an offense.

Speaker 7 (50:56):
So two twenty two and four touchdowns, that's incredible from
Colton Sawyer first win for the Huskies in that rivalry
since two thousand and four. Now they had a break,
they didn't play between twenty six and twenty sixteen, but
still twenty one years since they won that game.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
I'm gonna go with senior quarterback Braidon Daniels. Now, I've
been a little bit tough on him as far as
consistency in the passing game for Rockford, but how do
you not just tip the hat to this kid for
what he did, and again with some injuries on their squad,
and they played a pretty decent Grand Haven team. He
was perfect jay eleven of eleven passing two hundred and

(51:29):
forty seven yards, four touchdowns for the year, and then
he rushed for sixty three yards. You forget about that
part of the game on just six carries, and he
had a twelve yard touchdown run. There five touchdowns when
they needed I was a big win for Rockford. But
Braidon Daniels, I mean, if he plays like that, and
he might need to against de Sketwood, it's gonna be
fun with a quarterback play on Friday night.

Speaker 7 (51:47):
Well, and you know he stepped up, No, Luca hearn
I know Luca Hearn's a defensive guy, but I saw
him against Miskig in the Week two and they won
that game because Luca Hearn's ability to run the football.
So with Luke out, Braiden Daniels really stepped up. Impressive stuff.

Speaker 1 (51:58):
They both get a twenty five dollars gift card. Do
some shopping on us Uptown Cheapskate brought to you by
Uptown Cheapskate with locations in Granville and Kentwood. Buy what
you loved yesterday, Sell what you want today, clean out
your closet and cash for your clothes. Plus you can
become an Uptown Insider and get monthly deals at Uptown
cheapskate dot com. It's that simple. Well that wraps up
this week four edition for Jason nuttnam Brepikita. Enjoy the

(52:20):
games tomorrow night and keep it tuned right here to
ninety six to one The Game or on the Lake
Shore on one oh seven m us the Moose.

Speaker 3 (52:27):
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the LMCU High
School football preview Show and exclusive presentation of ninety six
one The Game and iHeartMedia powered by Lake Michigan Credit Union.
Find out more at LMCU dot org and also brought
to you by Meyer Kids Food Basket, J and H
Family Stores, Van der Lonholm Improvement, Trinity Health, Sporting You,

(52:49):
Wing Doozy, Straight Line Fence, Rapid Radios, Uptown Cheapskate in
Granville and Kentwood, MKD Funeral Homes, Winsheeler's Delicious Cheese Spreads, Pulse,
Jepson Physical Therapy, Discount Door and Montel Construction. And just
a reminder that you can follow all of the high
school sports action this fall with conference schedules, scores, and

(53:11):
standings for your favorite teams by logging onto West Michigan
oksports dot com