LMCU High School Football Preview Show Week 9

Bret Bakita and Jason Hutton preview the last week of the regular season.

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 2 (00:17):
Looking look you nowhere to go? Gonna throw it to
the corner of the hands out.

Speaker 3 (00:20):
Oh he was crapping.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
I think you made the cats. He did want up being.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
Your tip Cats, I know. Plus, you'll hear from an
area coach every week and 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 nine and of the regular season coming up. Welcome
into this edition of the LMCU High School Football Preview Show.
Just two more shows, by the way after tonight. Every
Thursday night six to seven, we take you through round
two of the playoffs, so the district finals and as
we say that don't forget selections Sunday for the MHSA
High School Football Playoffs. So the perians and matchups and

(01:09):
everything that will happen this Sunday, four thirty to five thirty,
a little earlier than normal, and it will be on
what's called now the fan Duel Sports Network formerly Bally
Sports Detroit, same channel as you would know if you
were tuning in. And with that said, Jason, our favorite
time of the year. Forget about Halloween and the candy.
We just want the high school football playoffs.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, and I'm sure this four to thirty timeslot has
more to do with a Pistons game or a Red
Wings game or some programming on this television station that
I cannot learn how to say yet, But I'm glad
it's four thirty. Like, let's do this early every year.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Right after the Lions game. I'm ready to go right Like,
sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.

Speaker 3 (01:46):
Four pack segment coming up, By the way, Tom Kendra
buck Gino will join us. Jason Nuttin's got to go
to the Okay Silver Showdown for his game Belding hosting Hopkins,
where a winner take on the Okay Silver and then
I've got Unity Christian at Notre Dame. I'm really excited
about this matchup, Jay, because number one Unity Christian in
Division four in the state against number one Pontiac Notre Dame,

(02:08):
both unbeaten. Pontiac Notre Dame did not play last week though,
so an extra week of prep and I didn't think
about this at the time, But one of the things
I'm going to get into with the guys and get
your thoughts as well, is do you wonder if Craig
Tibby scheduled this at all one more challenging game before
you get to the playoffs. Now, I'm sure there's other
factors involved. Maybe no one wanted to play Unity Christian.

(02:29):
It's weird this year with the Okay conference alignment, but
this is gonna be like a final four or state
championship game.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Really. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (02:36):
I think it probably has more to do with the
difficulty of getting a game, because everybody's trying to get
four non conference games.

Speaker 5 (02:41):
Now.

Speaker 4 (02:41):
It was already hard enough getting two, but it does work.
It's an excellent point by you with giving them a
tough test here going into the postseason, because, of course,
in twenty twenty one when they were so good, they
hadn't really been in a four quarter game, and then
boom they get in the state championship game and there
they were from themselves in a four four quarter game. They
couldn't hold that big lead with still one of the
better high school teams I've ever seeing, even though they
didn't win a state championship. So yeah, it certainly works out.

(03:03):
It's interesting as to what's on the line here. Hopefully
both of these teams are saying we don't want to
get any big injuries, right because Prep the favorite, and
five uniqu Christian the favorite, and four and then you know,
I mean, it's it's a little bit of hey, we're
number one, we're against word number one, But ultimately you
just want to get a nice test going into the
playoffs and get healthy to the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (03:20):
A couple of programming notes. That's a six o'clock kick
over in Pontiac. We'll have updates during our broadcast on
Friday night of that game, so we'll keep you up
to date even though it's over on the east side
of the state. And then one other programming note, because
we were looking at this for our Lake Shore Game
of the week. West Catholic at Zealand West if you
don't know, because of a scheduling conflict with Zealand Municipal

(03:41):
Stadium and Zealand East playing on Friday night, which ends
up being the game that you guys are going to
do on one oh seven mes the Moose. That game
is going to be seven o'clock on Thursday night. So
great game to see if you want to West Cathic
and Zealand West for the varsity.

Speaker 4 (03:54):
Yeah, it's in what about fifty four minutes. It's coming
up here really quick. And you know that's that's tough
if I get it. Zealand shares the stadium, so you
got to do. You gotta do what you gotta do.
But I would argue that's the best game in the
area this week West Callocan Zealand West, isn't it? And
then unfortunately it's on Thursday. But that's that's the way
it goes.

Speaker 3 (04:12):
Monte Construction coaches corner Ed Caman going to join us
from Coopersville celebrating their one hundredth anniversary of football at
the school and obviously our game of the week on
ninety six to one. The game Friday night at coop
is going to be Cedar Springs and Coopersville. Winner of
this one gets a share at least of the River
City's alliance first ever crown. Of course, Lowell's got something

(04:34):
to say about that too. With only one loss in
division play, well, it's.

Speaker 4 (04:37):
A Pegitia in box, so you know it's going to
be a close game, right down to the wire because
that's how you guys do it, which is awesome. But
just when you look at this conference, I just I
don't see a scenario where this isn't a really close game.
I mean, saved last week. Every Cedar Springs game has
kind of come down to the end, and they've done
very well in close games, so this should be a
really close, competitive game with a ton on the line.

Speaker 3 (04:56):
All right, uptown, cheapskate players of the week to end
along with our rankings, I'm sure there'll be some shifting there, Jay,
and I'll go through those when we get there, but
let's dive right in division by division, and five outright
crowns were claimed this past week in Week eight, and
I'm gonna start with your game because even though it
didn't decide the Okay, Green Mona Shores of the champ,

(05:16):
they beat Reees Buffer forty to nothing.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
You had a will of a football game at wadel Field.

Speaker 3 (05:21):
Byron Center hangs on literally by just a few yards
to win over Miskegan seventeen to fourteen and thus set
what we think is a domino effect. Unless they can
beat Cincinnati Mueller, Miskegan, the defending champs Division two, could
be out of the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (05:34):
So much happening with that Byron Center went over Miskegan
last week because what it does is it's going to
keep Miskegan out of the playoffs even if they beat
Cincinnati Moeller. I don't think Miskegan's getting in the playoffs. Also,
Mint Moeller's unbelievably good, one of the best teams in
the Midwest, so beating Mohler is going to be a
tough test. Miskegan, in my memory, is certainly in the
conversation for best team to miss the playoffs. I mean,

(05:54):
this is a playoff team, There's no question. I've seen
a lot of high school football over the last two decades.
But the schedule was tough. They didn't win some close games,
and Miskegan's not going to go to the playoffs. So
unfortunate for the Big Reds, but they did have opportunities
and unfortunately for them, couldn't get some wins. The other
thing it does is Miskegan not getting in the playoffs
in all likelihood is going to send Byron Center to
the district with Mona Shores in Northview all three in

(06:15):
the top nine in the state and division two points,
the district of death is what it's going to become.
Had Miskegan gotten in the playoffs, it's more likely that
Byron Center would have went south and played the Portages.
So lots of domino effects from that game.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
And how good was Landed Tongue. You saw two good
quarterbacks Jay James Young and Landed Tung game. But tong
Gates numbers one hundred and forty four yards pass, the
one hundred and thirty two yards rushing and two touchdowns
and the Bulldogs defense welcome back Luke Lasker, remember he
didn't play in that Mona Shores matchup early on.

Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, Byron Center is pretty banged up in that Mona
Shores matchup, which makes even more intriguing if we end
up getting a rematch, likely in the district final. But
of course Northview probably gonna have something to say about that.
They've been overlooked all year, so they won't mind being
overlooked here too. But you talk about Mona Shores, they
have a very similar matchup to what Uni Christian has
this week because they're going to play the Toledo Central
Calf look out of Ohio. Their only loss was to
Detroit Catholic Central way back early in the season, so

(07:04):
that's a big time test from Mona Shorts going to
the playoffs as well.

Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, it's going to be at Mona Shores, by the way,
good one Friday night, seven o'clock. The kickoff for that one,
all right, our game of the week, okay, black It
was the blackout for the Wildcats and boy interesting first half,
but then Northview pulled away in the second half thirty
five to twenty the final. They did a good job defensively,
I thought, secondary coverage and getting some pressure on Evan Aberger.

(07:28):
He was eighteen of forty pass twe hundred and eighty
two yards in a touchdown. But the really heart and
soul of Northview, I thought in this game, and he
was thus our uptown cheap skate offensive player of the
game will seen Europe. Three rushing touchdowns won late in
the first half, then two in the second half, and
they just went to pound the football in the second
half for Norfew, and he was impressive.

Speaker 2 (07:49):
Didn't know if he'd play much on offense.

Speaker 3 (07:50):
He started on defense because he was banged up in
that Catholic Central win.

Speaker 4 (07:54):
Well, Northview is going to be fascinating. They've been fascinating
all year. We talked with head coach Ryan Aschnock on
this show weeks ago about confidence and how that grows
with a strong start. You know, early on they didn't
necessarily have a really tough schedule. Then they beat ease
Grin Rapids. The confidence continues to grow. They beat Catholic Central,
now they beat Hunt. They have a chance at an
undefeated regular season if they can beat Forstys too. That's

(08:15):
a really good matchup Friday night, Bratt because Forstall's Northern
has lost four games to what I would consider four
of the top eight teams as you'll get to my
top ten here a little bit later in the entire area.
So this matchup I think is really good. I think
this is going to be an excellent football game in
Northfew has continued to answer the bell every time this year.

Speaker 3 (08:33):
All right, let's go from the Okay Black North through
the Outright Champs, first time they've been eight to no
since nineteen seventy to the Outright Okay Red Champions. It's
been a while, their first Okay Red title since twenty sixteen.
But Outright you got to go back to two thousand
and four. The Eagles of Hudsonville get it done over
Caledornia thirty five to thirteen. And you've talked about it, Jay,
so many weapons. I know you love the athlete and

(08:54):
Braden van Lake and he just continues to come on.
They find different ways to get him the football.

Speaker 4 (08:59):
Well, and this is where you really have to give
credit to that Hudsonville coaching staff, offense coordinator Matt Meerman,
head coach Brent Sandy, because Brady Van Lake's a quarterback
and he'll be their quarterback next year, I think. And
he's an athlete. I mean, just watch him play speed, agility,
and so they're getting him the football in space now
as a slot receiver, they're throwing it to him, they're
handing it to him. He's a playmaker. And what's going

(09:19):
to be really fascinating is what happens with the Oka
Red in the postseason. Because what always happens, we get
an okay all okay red district.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
Right.

Speaker 4 (09:25):
Well, if Jennison can beat grand Haven on Friday Night,
and they would be favored to do so at four
and five, Jennison's going to be really close. Now they
need a couple other things to fall their way, notably
kelm Zoos Central to beat Lloyd Rix. But if Jennison
is in, we'll get five ok red teams in. We
would assume that Hudsonville, Grandville and Jennison would be three
of the four in the ok red district. So then
does Rockford go east or does East kent Would go east?

(09:47):
And which one goes in with Jennison, Hutsville, Grandville. So
it's going to be fascinating selection Sunday.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
Well, East Kentwood has East in their names, so I
would think it might be them. But I know what
you're saying, and we've seen that before.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
Technically Rockford just a Harry East if he's Kent with them.

Speaker 3 (09:59):
Yeah, but we'll see it. But you're right, it's interesting. Obviously,
no one's going north because there aren't Division one programs north.

Speaker 2 (10:05):
They would all be.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
East and East Kentwood might welcome that we'll see what
happens or whoever gets that spot. Speaking of Eas Kent,
when I want to give them some love quickly nice
went over Jennison thirty one to seven to get to
five and three.

Speaker 2 (10:16):
They'll end with Rockford at home.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
Junior quarterback Kade Kaufman thirteen of nineteen pass, one hundred
and eighty four yards, two touchdowns, and as you and
I talked about Jay, I mean didn't play the complete game,
but boy has he become really a valuable weapon for
them in that passing game.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
Yeah, Kaufin's outstanding and that offense continues to get better
and better. And Alex Smith doing a great job with
their defense. Ty Spencer doing an awesome job in his
first year at He's can't when you know next year,
I'll be lookout for you, k because you're two of
a coaching staff.

Speaker 5 (10:42):
Right.

Speaker 4 (10:42):
But this is a good matchup. Brockford and East Kent
went on Friday night. Two good teams, and there is
always the potential. Let's say Jennison doesn't get into the playoffs,
if they lose to Grand Haven or the other things
don't fall right, we could see these two teams turn
around pay each other again.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
In the first round the.

Speaker 3 (10:55):
Playoffs and coaches never like that now that I know. Anyways, Okay, Gold,
let's go there. No problem with Unity Christian over Zealand
East to claim an outright championship for them. They're first
since twenty twenty one, so not too far ago. But
fifty six to fourteen over Zealand East. It's a good
Zealand East team you're going to see against Hamilton trying
to fight their way into the playoffs. But a five

(11:16):
win improvement already for Craig Tabby the Crusaders. They were
three and six year ago that make the playoffs. They've
already got win number eight before they go to Pontiac
Notre Dame this week.

Speaker 4 (11:25):
Yeah, and that's a big task, but like you said,
important to get a good test here before you get
in the playoffs where they're going to be heavy favorites
to make a deep run. I mean, the division for
is pretty good, but you look at the Oka Gold
I mean they're beating up powerful Division three teams like
Zealand East, Celand West, Forest Hill Central. So I think
you uned Chritian's a favorite in D four, no question.

Speaker 3 (11:41):
And I think that was the deepest division of the
Okay Conference. No, you know fact to the Okay Red
if they do get five teams in the Okay Cold,
it was just a meat grinder.

Speaker 4 (11:50):
This year, I thought, well, the Oka Gold could get
five in as well. I mean South Christian is going
to be a bubble team here, right. Even with a
win of your Catholic Central they're in. But with a
loss they could get in as well. And I think
is the only needs to safe win or lose. So
I think there's a real chance he Okay Gold gets
five teams.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
The other one I wanted to hit real quick before
we rep of this segment obviously claimed outright was the
Okay White Division Crown by Wes Catholic. Now we thought
this might be a trap game, right They had the
big emotional winner for Forestills Eastern with the field goal
our game of the week at the end of the game.
And then they've got Zealand West Looming for Week nine.

Speaker 2 (12:22):
Even though it.

Speaker 3 (12:22):
Doesn't mean anything as far as division crown, it's still
you know, where are we as far as a litmus
test going in the playoffs against Steeland the West, they
stomped Hambleton, I mean fifty four to fourteen they jumped
out to a twenty six to nothing lead never looked back.
David Brittenfeld twenty six carries, two hundred twenty five yards
and three touchdowns on the ground.

Speaker 6 (12:39):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (12:39):
We talked Atlanta Grove a couple of weeks ago and
he was talking about his teams getting attle healthier and
started to peak a little bit. And they look like
they're playing some really good football. And I can't help
but look forward to the Division five playoffs and win
and where will the West Catholic Catholic Central game be
this year?

Speaker 2 (12:51):
Interesting?

Speaker 4 (12:52):
Even with two straight losses in a five and three
record gerner Pits, Catholic Central still has more playoff points
than West Catholics. So that'll be a big factory in
Week nine because they both have tough games, Catholic Central
playing South Christian and West Calec playing Zealand West. But
a West Catholic win I think, no matter what happens
to Callock Central, with Zealand West being a bigger school,
is going to vault West Callock into a home game
against Catholic Central in the playoffs for a second straight year.

Speaker 3 (13:13):
We'll probably talk about Catholic Central more later in the show,
but I couldn't go without since our opening segment mentioning
that matchup with East Grend Rapids for two reasons. One,
it was a great win for East Grand Rapids thirty
one to twenty eight over Catholic Central. But I said
on this show last week, and I hold my self accountable,
book because I know you would. I said, I just
don't see Todd Colster losing back to back games. They did,

(13:34):
and now they have South Christian.

Speaker 4 (13:35):
I'm with you, I agree. I picked Catholic Central just
based on the fact that Todd Coulster had not lost
consecutive games in the same season since twenty fourteen. It
hadn't happened. But Easter Grend Rapids jumps out to a
thirty one nothing lead and they hold on. You know,
the Pioneers getting Laighton Kulk back at running back has
really been a big boost for them. You heard coach
Josh Shaddick talking about it on the High School Scoreboard
show last Friday night with Rick Burkey and East Grin

(13:57):
Rapids is an interesting team. They finished with four SO
Central this week, and what's going to happen in those
D three playoffs, I mean Eastern Forestyll Central Credinate Rivals
playing two weeks in a row, both.

Speaker 3 (14:05):
Teams five and three. The Cougar's a Catholic Central East
Grand Rapids. After that game, we'll step aside. We'll come
back with the Coaches Corner brought to you by Montel Construction.
Coming up ed Caban head coach at Coopersville. They got
a big matchup of Cedar Springs and our naety six
won the game game of the week to end the
regular season.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
We'll chat with him next. As you're listening to the high.

Speaker 3 (14:23):
School Football Preview Show, brought to you by Lake Michigan
Credit Union, exclusively here on ninety six to one.

Speaker 6 (14:28):
The game.

Speaker 1 (14:33):
For the best and most high school sports coverage on
the radio. Keep it tuned right here to West Michigan's
Home for Sports, ninety six to one the game.

Speaker 3 (14:48):
Let's going to the Montel Construction Coaches Corners where Jay
and I get a chance to converse with a head
coach from the area when it comes to high school football.
It's brought to you by my friends, my home team
at Montel Construction Roofing, Windows, so siding Deck and I
know we've had probably one of the best falls Jay,
we've had weatherwise in a long time, but you still
got to get those projects done before winter and schedule
your free and home estimate with Montel Construction at Montel

(15:10):
Construction dot com. Well, our game of the week first
every year of the Rivers Citi's Alliance in this game
will decide at least a piece. Lowe will have something
to say about that in week nine as well. But
Coopersville hosting Cedars Springs and that'll be our ninety six
to one the game game of the week. We've got
Coopersville at Coach Ed Caman joined us right now.

Speaker 2 (15:28):
How you doing, coach, Hey doing good?

Speaker 5 (15:30):
Thanks for having you guys.

Speaker 4 (15:31):
Coach first year at the River City's Alliance. I know
we're just getting started here, but just your overall thoughts
on this new conference and kind of how it's gone
for Coopersville here in near one.

Speaker 5 (15:40):
Yeah, it's been great, you know. I think the number
one thing we were looking forward to is building rivalries
with different schools and keeping some of the same ravalies
we had over the years, and that's something we've definitely
done this year. We've got some new ones started now
and definitely it's been an exciting thing for our school.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
In our our league, and I want to go back
to something you shared with us in the summer, and
then I saw you at your scrimmage and you were
really excited about it.

Speaker 5 (16:00):
Is.

Speaker 3 (16:01):
I don't want to forget about the one hundredth anniversary
of Coopersville football.

Speaker 2 (16:05):
You guys have been celebrating.

Speaker 3 (16:05):
It was big for Week one with your opener, I know,
but after that, just the fans coming back, the video
board and everything, and now a chance to play for
at least a piece of the conference crown.

Speaker 2 (16:15):
It's got to be exciting.

Speaker 5 (16:17):
Yeah, it is. It's been great.

Speaker 7 (16:18):
You know.

Speaker 5 (16:18):
The one hundred years celebration was obviously a big deal
the first week of the year, the first game, you know,
and there's obviously a lot of people there and a
lot of new things at the stadium were kind of
kicking off of the video boards, those things like you mentioned.
But overall, I mean, this is a football town. People
support our football team and our sports in general here
at Coopersville, and it's been you know, every time we
get a home game. It's awesome to play at home.
Our kids loving them, you know, love playing at home

(16:39):
in front of their students, action and their fans and
their community and they support us, and that part's been awesome.
So definitely a chance to play for a championship on
Friday Night is something our kids are looking forward to
for sure.

Speaker 3 (16:48):
I know my partner of the studio love the throwback
jerseys in Week one, ed that's where I was going.

Speaker 5 (16:55):
Those are straight out of like nineteen ninety seven.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
I think I wanted it.

Speaker 5 (17:00):
I didn't have the heart to throw them away back
when I was hired in twenty seventeen. They're in a
box in the back of the closet. I said, we're
going to calm him up and see how maney we got,
and we had enough so we made it work.

Speaker 4 (17:08):
It was awesome, So no chance of pulling him out again.

Speaker 5 (17:12):
Yeah, I won't say never, but yeah, it was a
cool look. It's kind of a different green. So it's
a Kelly green back then, is what they is what
they wore, So we're more of a kind of more
of a forest green now, so it kind of throws
off the color scheme a little bit, but we had
matching decals to go along with it, back from that
nineties look back from the heyday, so pretty cool. Kids
were kids were pumped about it.

Speaker 4 (17:30):
And you had me confused too, because Bo Harris was
wearing fifteen and it was the first game of the year,
so I was like, oh, did Bow change his number?
But apparently you probably just didn't have a one in
that jersey exactly.

Speaker 5 (17:39):
Yeah, whatever we had, we had. So we had some
kids that were in duplicates, so we had to get
strategic about how we kind of handed those out to
some of the younger kids and make sure we didn't
have duplicate numbers on the field. Obviously at the same time,
but some kids had to wear a jersey they didn't
normally normally wear.

Speaker 2 (17:51):
So real quick when we're on Bow.

Speaker 4 (17:53):
He set the Cooperville record for most passing tds in
a single season a couple of weeks ago. You know,
I know, talk to you about it him last year.
You had high hopes for him. He seems to certainly
have lived up to it. Just tell me what he's
meant to your program the last few years and what
he's doing here in his final go round.

Speaker 5 (18:09):
Yeah, Bo, with no doubt, you know, the leader of
our football team. He leads us and everything we do,
and he's a kid that is making really good decisions
with the football those are things where he kind of
really took that next step. Anytime you have a senior,
you know you want to take that next step, you know, No,
I guess no matter what kind of player there, you
want to see that growth, you know, and heading into
a senior year, like where can you get better? You
can get better at making better decisions, taking care of

(18:29):
the football, helping us run the football. And he's done
all those things. He's ran for a good money yardage.
He's throwing the ball well obviously down the field too
with all these touchdown passes and just making good decisions,
you know, with the football and keeping our offense.

Speaker 7 (18:41):
On the field.

Speaker 3 (18:42):
So ed you guys lose a tough one to Big
Rapids last week twenty four to seven. Before that, Keniwoock Hills,
who's an up and coming team as you know in
the River City's Alliance and Don Fellows doing a good job.

Speaker 2 (18:51):
In year one.

Speaker 3 (18:52):
There Where is this team at right now as far
as trying to keep them focused and concentrated. It's probably
good that you're still playing for something week nine.

Speaker 5 (19:00):
Right, Yeah, no doubt. I mean winning is a week
to week thing, you know, And I think that you know,
every week you go through your week of practice and
you don't just win on Friday, you went on Monday
and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, and you know, I
think that's where our reset and our refocus comes each week,
and that we need to get better in the games
that we lost. We had you know, a lot of

(19:20):
conversation about that the last couple of days, just about
you know, because everybody said, you know, what happened. I mean,
that's the number one question. Everybody asked you what happens.
It's like, we'll get number one. Give those teams credit,
you know, they're a good job. They beat us, right,
but we also have things we need to fix and
get better at, and that's what we need to focus on.
So it's easy to get caught up and kind of
what happened, But the important thing is focusing inward on
us and what we need to do to improve and

(19:42):
getting back to practice and take care of those things.

Speaker 4 (19:44):
And your opponent you know pretty well, right, Theedar Springs,
So you've played the postseason a couple of times. Just
you know, what you get with them when they run
the wing tea and they're physical and what they want
to do. What is important for your team here to
have some success Friday night.

Speaker 5 (19:56):
Yeah, you know, and time you play theear Springs and
gust does a great job with those guys. You know,
they're going to come right at you with their t
offense and you got to get some stops. The key
is not giving up, you know, big big plays. If
you can kind of you know, limit the big plays
to a situation where they have to earn their yards
and make their way down the field, that's a positive.
And you also need to try to treat them and
you know, create some negative plays early downs so they

(20:17):
get off schedule a little bit. That way, they don't
have to you know, settle because you don't think it's
the fourth down their midfield, they're going for it. So
you want to try to put them in a situation
where they have fourth and long and they get the
punt team on the field, So that's critical. And then offensively,
it's one of those things where every possession is critical.
You know, you're gonna want to make sure maximize your
possessions and limit turnovers and take care of the football

(20:37):
and run the football. You know, have a way to
you know, keep them off the field that way by
by running football yourself. So it's going to be a
really good opportunity for our kids to go compete playing
for a championship, and it'll be a great game, no
doubt about that.

Speaker 2 (20:48):
Nostalgia, it's an old school I love it.

Speaker 3 (20:51):
Like Jay said, we've seen this matchup in the playoffs before,
but I know you have the utmost respect for Guska
Polk and I can't think of two better guys to
watch on Friday night than you with Brizville and what
you've done with this program and Gus with Cedar Springs,
and it's just so fun to see. I know the
fans will enjoy it, they'll be packed there. But I
mean this one actually feels like a playoff game.

Speaker 5 (21:10):
Yeah, no doubt about it. I mean there's obviously a
lot a lot of steak here and with the First
River City's Alliance championship on the line, and you know,
there's a lot of you know, kind of I guess
the red tape there in terms of like all the
different like bylaws and the tiebreakers of that. But you know,
if we win this game, we hold the tiebreaker over
loll and we are the conference champions. So our kids
are well aware of that we're excited for the.

Speaker 3 (21:31):
Challenging rate a roll obviously beating them head to head
big there. You know, it wasn't just bo who had
kind of a school record situation already this year too.
You've had other guys step up, But talk about Brooks
had and what he's done not only as a receiver
but just a good all around player for you.

Speaker 5 (21:47):
Yeah, Brooks is a really savvy football player. It's just
a really sharp kid. Plays free safety for US, hand
wide receiver, like you mentioned, broke the school record for
touchdown catches in the season at fourteen. He's actually one
interception away from time the school record interceptions of the season.
So he's got a couple of those things there under
his belt there. But just the kid that's just super smart.
You know, he's a kid that knows the game, knows

(22:09):
situationally what he needs to do, and has an unbelievable
you know, knack for playing the football, whether that's going
to pick it out of the air defensively and read
routes and those things, or if you're talking an offensive
situation where you put him in a jump ball fifty
to fifty, you know, situation where he goes up and
makes a catch. So he's been a great playmaker. Fortunately,
he was up as a sophomore last year and played
two ways and was kind of under the radar. And

(22:31):
then as you look at him, you know, I always
say the eyeball test. He's one of those kids. Were like,
You're like really, and I'm like really, watch him. Put
on the film and watch the kid play and he's
an unbelievable player and leads their team. So excited to
watch him go make some plays on Friday as well.

Speaker 4 (22:42):
Talking about Brooks. One thing I love to watch is
players like him. You know, last year in the Allendale game,
Brett and I were there when you beat Allendale in
the regular season finale last year, he causes that fumble
that clinches the game for you guys. And I got
watch him play basketball as a sophomore and he's making
making and taking big time shots in a district game
against rock Ford. I know, I know you've seen him
on the basketball court as well. Just no fear is

(23:03):
what I think of when I think of bricks Hatton.

Speaker 2 (23:04):
Is that accurate?

Speaker 5 (23:05):
Oh yeah, he done flinch. He's one of those kids
that wants the game, you know, in his hands. You know,
wants to do those like little things, wants to do
the dirty work. You know, he's not afraid to do
the little things like he's a great blocker on the
perimeter for us when we throw screens in those things.
He does a great job blocking on the perimeter. And
then basketball, you'll see him defensively. It's not stuff that
shows up in a stat book, but the kit will

(23:26):
you know, bend his knees and defend the basketball as well.
So it's pretty impressive.

Speaker 3 (23:30):
Ed came in joining us Coopersville head coach here the
Montel Construction Coaches Corner, and I want to put you
to school here for our audience because I hear this
from a lot of people, and just to clarify a
little bit from your perspective because you've faced a lot
of these teams. You know, people debate back and forth.
I know that it's a straight tea or the full
house backfield. It's not the wing tea.

Speaker 2 (23:49):
It's not this.

Speaker 3 (23:50):
There's variations of the tee formation. And talk about what
it's like to prepare for a Cedar Springs compared to
a Unity Christian, compared to a John Shilitte Zealand West
because they all have their little flair about them, don't they.

Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, they do. They're all a little bit different, you know,
so I would classify, you know, sear Spring. It's kind
of in that power tey family. So so Gus and
John Chilotto are pretty similar in a lot of ways.
They do some similar things. John has a little bit
more flavor. Maybe it was just a few more you know,
bells and whistles off of everything I would say. And
then you know you look at un they Christian and Craig,

(24:23):
what those guys do. They're just a little bit different.
They do. You know, they break the tea formation, they
get into a wing, they'll get into a double wing,
and they'll do some other things that are kind of
one off the real tenante breaker type stuff. They can
cause you some issues, which we you know know from
playing them in the league a few years ago. So
they all kind of have their different flavor. But at
their root, it all comes down to, you know, from
our standpoint, playing discipline football, trust in your eyes, you know,

(24:45):
having great eye discipline and reading your keys and doing
your job. So that's going to be a big focus
far week is making sure your eyes on the right
spot and We're trusting our keys and making plays defensively.

Speaker 3 (24:56):
It's gonna be a lot of fun looking forward to
a coach. Congratulations on the one hundredth anniverse And as
you mentioned, you win this thing, you win it outright
first ever. That's something the kids will always remember. History
making night coming up on Friday night.

Speaker 5 (25:07):
Yeah, we're looking forward to it. Kids are Pumpton. We're
have a good week of practice. Will be right a
role he is.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
At came and Coopersville head coach joined us in the
Montel Construction coach's corner. We'll take a short time out.
We'll come back with more. You're listening to a week
non edition of the LMSU High School Football Preview Show,
brought to you by Lake Michigan Credit Union.

Speaker 2 (25:23):
Here on ninety six to one the game.

Speaker 1 (25:30):
Brett Baketa, Rick Burkei Buck Gino, 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 (25:53):
All right, let's bring in the rest of our groove.
Tom Kendra, buck Gino for the four pack. It's brought
to you by Jane H's families with now sixty plus
locations across Michigan to serve you. Hey, you've got those
long road trips coming up, maybe following your team of
the playoffs. J and H Family Stores. Stop in on
the way to your next game or on your way home.
Welcome in, gentlemen, here we go. And of the regular season.

(26:14):
We've got some decent Week nine matchups. I know we
had a dig maybe a little bit harder for these.
And Tom Kender will start with you, Monas Shores hosting
Toledo's Central Catholic.

Speaker 7 (26:24):
Yes, it's very interesting, Brett. You know, in the college
ranks this week we got the battle for Michigan, m's
you at Michigan. But in the high school ranks here
on the Lake Shore, it's Michigan versus Ohio. We got
Cincinnati Moehler coming in to play at Hackley Stadium, two
of the most storied programs in the country. And then
we got this matchup Toledo Central Catholics seven and one,

(26:47):
two time defending Ohio state champions playing at undefeated Mona Shores. So,
I mean, just a great matchup. I think first of all,
you got to ask how did these games come about?
And really had to do with, you know, the changes
in the Okay Conference with the schools leaving for the RCA.
So now teams like Mona Shores in the Skegan, instead

(27:08):
of having seven conference games, they only had five, which
means they had to fill four non league games. And
when no one wants to play you, that's not always
easy to do. So Pruss, it's great we got this
blockbuster matchup. You know this team, it's the Fighting Irish Ship,
Toledo Central Catholic. I look at them a lot like
a Rockford, where they're good year in and year out.

(27:29):
They're really good on special teams. Some of the scores
that jump out at me. They beat Warren D La
Salle forty one to six earlier this year, and that's
obviously a score that gets the attention of Mona Shores people.
But as far as the Sailors go, you know, they
had those back to back emotional wins over Byron Center
and then the Skegan. We haven't talked about them a

(27:51):
whole lot since then, but just three big wins, and
I want to talk a little bit about their defense.
You know, we focus a lot on Jonathan Pittman and
Mike Stewart quarterback and running back one two punch. But
the defense Amna Shores is something special this year under
David check and I look at it starting in the middle.

(28:12):
They got a couple of huge defensive tackles in Jamari
Taylor and Vince Coleman. They kind of remind me of
Michigan's duo of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. They just
stuff up the middle, and then they have a great
middle linebacker and Solomon Robertson really able to shut down
the run and then you know, forced teams to go
to the air early, so you know, and I think

(28:34):
that'll be the case again this week. Toledo has a
great senior quarterback in Isaiah Fox sixty three, dual threat guy,
and it's just a great matchup going into the playoffs.
I don't know if Matt Koziak would have picked having
this kind of battle royale right before the playoffs, but
it is what it is, and I just think the
fans at Saylor Stadium they're going to be treated to

(28:57):
another great one this week.

Speaker 3 (29:00):
It's going to be interesting to see the mindset to
after these games. Tom to your point of how the
coaches feel obviously from Eskiging. It's kind of a must
win situation trying to get those points from Cincinnny Buller
after folling to Byron Center, just to try to get
into the playoffs. So it's kind of a showcase game
with lots of implications for them. But if your Mona
Shores and you've had an unbeaten regular season at this

(29:22):
point and then you lose, and let's say they lose convincingly,
is that tough trying to get your kids back up. Yes,
you get a second life, but still the egos may
be bruised a little bit with that. I don't know,
it's going to be interesting to see because we've never
had this before. To Tom's point, with the Okay Conference
in the way that they've had to fill four non
conference games, I know it hasn't been easy for Matt

(29:42):
Koziak and Shane Fearfield and some of the other ones.
Byron Center, by the way, he has to play a
team in Illinois for their ninth game. All right, let's
go to Buck Gino next on this matchup. Go ahead, Buck, Yeah.

Speaker 6 (29:51):
I mean listener the Catholic It's three and one against
teams from Michigan. They are now in the Catholic League,
so they're battle tests that we kay can go with
some common opponents, or at least have a little bit
more of an idea of how good they really are.
I think the game against Delasal is a little bit misleading. Yes,
it's a detentionion driver for sure. I think DLSL just

(30:11):
managed to play one of the worst games and Toyot
Central Cava got to play one of their best games.
That happened at the same time, because if you look
at the other teams in the games they had against
teams like Detroit Catsick Central who beat them, Orchard Lake
Saint Mary's who took them all the way to the
layer in the very close defensive game seven to six.
This team is impressive and the resume is impressive, but

(30:32):
they should not scare the more the shores. And I
think this would be a positive learning to the playoffs
because even if they were going to lose this game,
they can measuring stick themselves against those traditional powers like
DLSL in Division two because they know, Okay, we've played
this team, we saw what they did to DELSL, we
had an X result. We know where we're going to
be and we know where we're at. So yeah, it

(30:53):
may not be if if they lose a perfect season
and some guys, you know, I feel a little bit
about that. By all, their goals still be in front
of them, and I think for them as a tremendous
test right before the playoffs season to get them ready
for what should be a very difficult playoff roal. To
Looking at a Division two there's a lot of teams

(31:13):
that it could end up in the Ford field.

Speaker 4 (31:15):
Just for some context here, Toledo Central Catholic won the
Division two state championship in Ohio two years ago twenty
twenty two, sixteen and one. Last year they win the
Division three state championship in Ohio sixteen and oh and
this year their only losses to Tree Catholic Central, who
goose poop has is the odds on favorite to win
the Division one state championship. I think Bellville's the odds
on favorite, but his computer model has to Trae Catholic Central.

(31:36):
So this is a huge matchup for Mona Schors. But
it's like the Uni Christian Nerdame Prep matchup. It doesn't
really matter. I mean, if you lose this game, both
of these teams can still go and win state championships,
and that may very well be the case. You want
to get through this healthy, you want to test yourself
against a really good opponent.

Speaker 2 (31:50):
Should be a great matchup.

Speaker 3 (31:51):
I'll just end up by saying this, I kind of
looked at the negative viewpoint. Depositive would be if they
somehow beat Toledo, then you know, catapulting your kids going
into the playoffs and a perfect season.

Speaker 2 (32:00):
Nine to zero for Matt Koziak and the Sailors.

Speaker 3 (32:02):
All right, let's go to Buck Geno next, and of
course he's going back to his roots here East Grand
Rapids for Still Central.

Speaker 2 (32:08):
Wait, they're playing again, that's.

Speaker 6 (32:09):
Right, they're playing a non conference regular season finale, and
both teams for so Central. If you look at their records,
you know, six into a fine season. We had them
when they beat out Christian. Their combined record of the
losses that they've had the two teams right now is
fifteen and one with Unity Christian and Zealand left. So

(32:31):
that six and two record stands up even more when
you consider who they had the two losses against. Strand
Rapids had a rough stretch in the middle of the season,
but fought back last week with the win over Catholic
Central and a big rivalry game to secure win and
really get them enough points regardless of result tonight for

(32:51):
Friday Night for what happens to get into the playoffs,
because it was looking pretty dicey if they lost that game.
So a big win for coach Josh Shaddick in a
rivalry game gets that enough momentum. And this is going
to be interesting because the game that we have Brad
Coopersville in theear springs USILL projects to be the one
of the teams in that district with fac and the

(33:13):
East Grand Rapids, And based on what happens on Friday,
both in this game and in our game with Coopersville
and Theater, this could be a rematch in Round one
of the playoffs. So it's could be very interesting to
see how these coaches play it because Dave Routine on
his first year, has done an outstanding job and Josh
Shaddick has gotten his team back to the playoffs again.

(33:35):
What do you do? Do you throw the kitchen thing
and try to win a big game to propel yourself
into the playoffs with the momentum, or do you kind
of hold it close to the best because you don't
want guys like Nick Williams or Carson Thornton going out
with injuries or other guys that have been contributing to
the team for the year. So this is gonna be
a very very interesting matchup simply because we've seen it

(33:59):
with Rock and Call in years past when they knew
that they were probably going to beat up. I mean,
these coaches really may not bring out the good stuff
until the playoffs, and so it's going to be very
interesting to see. But of course you want to win
the game because that gets you to the points and
helps you with seating further on. So a lot going on,
but also just being a rivalry game between these two

(34:20):
schools puts a lot into the mix, so to be
very interesting to see. I'm wondering to see what Forest
Central is able to do against the defense that East
Happens has. Like I said, the Easter Gonna Happen has
struggled at times offensively, we know that Central defense can
be a bear. So very interesting matchup, but a good
way to end the regular season because not only does

(34:42):
it give you a measuring stick of what you need
to work on, but you might need to do that
very quickly because you could see the same team in
round one.

Speaker 2 (34:49):
Tom Kenra, let's go back to you and get your thoughts.

Speaker 7 (34:52):
Well, I just want to pat myself on the back.
First of all. I picked that win East Grand Rapids
over Catholic Central last week.

Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yes, you did self for that.

Speaker 7 (35:01):
Yeah, twenty four to nothing at halftime, Carson Thornton and
company go up on the Cougars and then they have
to kind of hold on for dear life to win it.
But and now they got another huge challenge this week.
You know, I've been impressed with forest Hill Central. Like
Buck mentioned, they're only lost is unity in Zeeland West.
No shame in that, you know. I look at the Rangers.

(35:24):
You know, obviously their identity has always been their defense,
and that's still very very good. But this offense is
really coming on junior quarterback Nick Williams. You know, if
they can that offense keeps coming the way it has,
you know, watch out for the Rangers in the playoffs
because they also have that defending state champs. You know,

(35:44):
people say when you're a defending state champ, is they're
less incentive or more I always say, there's just more
incentive when you've won. That just sets the bar higher.
I look at forest Hill Central as a very very
tough out come playoff time.

Speaker 4 (35:58):
Well, you look at this matchup rivalry. For Ceil Central's
won the last four, He's gonna have to scored a
total of sixteen points in those four matchups, including getting
shot out last year. So there's a lot to play
for here. And you look at the Pioneers. They've had
some close losses this year. There was by two touchdowns
to South early, but you called that game closer than that.
Finals score indicated one point loss Toyland Christian, four point

(36:19):
loss to Northview. They finally got a close one to
go their way last week, even though they nearly with
a thirty one point lead, they won a close one.
That's got to do wonders for their confidence.

Speaker 3 (36:27):
I look at Forestil Central, I go back to what
Tom Kendro is just harpening on, and that is the defense. Defense, defense,
defense wins championships in Forestfield Central. I thought they might
drop off a little bit with the players that they've lost.
They've done solid job this year, especially in a tougher
I think conference that maybe they were in a year ago.

Speaker 2 (36:43):
I know Byron Center was in there as well.

Speaker 3 (36:45):
But you look at it with the Okay Gold and
the different looks that they've had to prepare for with
the Wing Tea and the different formations with Zeland West
and Unity Christian and how they run it.

Speaker 2 (36:55):
I've been very impressed.

Speaker 3 (36:56):
I would like Forestill Central, I think in this game,
because I think they have a little bit more offensive firepower.
We'll see what happens for Still Central East Grand Rapp.
It's just good to see games like this being played
at FHC. Coming up, All right, let's go next to
Jason Hutton then, speaking of going back to your roots,
Belding and Hopkins for the Okay Silver crown outright.

Speaker 4 (37:15):
Yeah, it's the winner take all in the Okay Silver Bellion,
Hopkins and the Black Knights going for three straight Okay
Silver crowns. It's been a nice bounce back year for
the Vikings, right, they were two and seven last year.
That is not like their program a year in and
year out, a playoff contender, really like Zach Weringa, and
you know they run the wing tea and Belding runs
the wing Tea, but you know, the Vikings have been
a little more multiple. They'll be in gun they'll be

(37:37):
in you know, four wide and one back. But I
just I think Belding's a pretty good favorite here. The
Black Knights have been battling injuries. They lost their senior quarterback,
Gavin Andrews. That's a huge blow that lose him. At
the beginning of the Comstock Park game, junior Dawson Donovan
steps and they don't seem to miss a beat. And
then last week donovand Dawson misses the game and they
go to Blake Peasley, their senior who had played quarterback
up through the Rocket ranks, and they beat got them.

(37:59):
By the way, that game was interesting, much closer than
that final score indicating I mean that game was fourteen
to seven late in the third quarter. It was thirty
to twenty I think at the end of the third quarter.
So don't be deceived by sixty eight twenty six. But
I still think Belding's a pretty good favorite here.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
Absolutely well. Two kickoff returns for touchdowns helps as well.

Speaker 4 (38:15):
By Cody Manley, who also ran for a fifty ear
touchdown and caught a sixty five yard touchdown.

Speaker 3 (38:19):
I'm just going to say this before I go to
Tom and Buck, you know, I've loved Belding. Their lone
loss was Dionia, Who's going to make the playoffs this
year in Division four, they're five and three and since
that time they have rolled seven straight and they haven't
just rolled. Twenty seven points has been their closest margin
of victory in those seven wins. Now, say what you
want about the ok Silver did an impressive win with

(38:39):
spring Lake.

Speaker 2 (38:40):
Belding.

Speaker 3 (38:40):
In my opinion, it's the real deal and I like
them this game at home against Hopkins.

Speaker 2 (38:44):
With that we go to Tom Kendra.

Speaker 7 (38:46):
Yes, you're right, Brett. Their average margin of victory since
that opening loss at Ionia forty points, so they're just
absolutely rolling over people. And yeah, I got them as
a big favorite to win another Okay Silver title. Here,
you know, I like in our quour pack we have
mentioned some of the other players you may not see
like in the newspaper every Saturday, but you look at

(39:09):
some of the guys up front for Belding leading the way,
Isaac carry Levi Linoba. These guys are you need those
kind of big dominating linemen, you know when you're running
the wing tee like money Price loves to do. I
just think they're going to be too good upfront for
Hopkins this week.

Speaker 6 (39:28):
Yeah, I mean that going and everything that everybody has said,
I mean, Building has been ripping off seven straight wins
and doing it impressively, going through three quarterbacks and doing
all sorts of things just to make sure that they
win the game and they do it convincingly, and they've
been able to do that Detentially, I want to point
out that, I mean, yeah, running the wing tea, you
feel like it's easier on the defense, but they score

(39:51):
so much that it does put some pressure on the
defense because the other teams are getting the ball back
and trying to get into the shootout of mentality, because
that's the only way they really feel like they can
keep up with a high octane offense. And I thought
the defense really put out some pretty good efforts, especially
you know, you look at the Oakridge game. I know
Oakridge is a little bit down, but I mean they

(40:12):
held Oakridge no touchdowns and really held them down for
the balance of the game and allowed their offense to
work through some things because they were going through some
quarterback changes. And I think this game is going to
be very key because going into the playoffs. As Jason said,
they're on their third quarterback and they're trying to get
him back in the full hopefully that Dawson and return

(40:32):
at some point. But boy, you know, you're looking at
a game that means a lot. It's a conference championship.
But Belding was rolling right now. And I look at
last week Hopkins. You know, you talked about Belding rolling late.
But Hopkins played the Cator who's very good in D
seven and they got to shut out by a very
good Decator squad. So I think for Belding, defense is

(40:53):
going to be the name of the game because the
Cater very good defensive team was able to hold Hopkins
score less. And I think Beldingham's just too much or
more on that side of the ball. So it's to
be very difficult for Hopkins to get things going. And
Belding with their offense even running at lesser than one
hundred percent capacity with a backup quarterback, and they're still
very impressive. So I think Building can win this one

(41:15):
and perhaps plenty it going away.

Speaker 3 (41:16):
All right, we got to roll through this one rather quickly, guys.
Unity Christian at Pontiac Notre Dame is my game on
the east side of the State will be an earlier
kickoff six o'clock and we will have scoreboard updates of
this game from some of the Unity Christian fans as
you're listening to our broadcast, So stay tuned because it's
number one in Division four United Christian unbeaten against number
one in Division five unbeaten Pontac Notre Dame, who was

(41:39):
off last week, So an extra week of preparation.

Speaker 4 (41:41):
Jason Nutt, Well, that's the big thing, is Notrdame prep
had been approached. I'm told for to play games last week,
but they declined and they get two weeks to prepare.
I don't know if that's enough. Is there enough time
to prepare for this Union Christian offense, because I think
UNI can tell them what they're going to run and it
still gonna be pretty tough stop.

Speaker 3 (41:57):
Well and again they get a nice challenge before the
plays for Unity Christian and Craig Tibby, Tom Kendra your thoughts.

Speaker 7 (42:03):
Yeah, you look at this Unity Christian that went over
Zealand eph last week fifty six fourteen. It was the
crazy eight the Crusaders that eight drives, eight touchdowns averaging
eight yards per carry to improve to eight to no
I'm with Jason Hutton on this one. Notre Dame's been great,
but I just don't think they can stop Unity.

Speaker 6 (42:24):
Well, let's say two weeks of preparation, including getting hit
in the face with a bet about thirty times. I
don't know if they're going to be able to may
fit the Unity's physical nature. I mean, Craig Tibby and
has that team rolling, and they are just uber physical
that every time I talk to somebody about Unity Christian,
that's why I hear about how physical they are and
how good they are up front. And I know Norday

(42:47):
dominated Catholic Central, but that's a completely different team. I'm
the side of the state than Unique Christian is strength
and discipline always translates, and I think Northday preps going
to have their hands full. It may be a close game,
but I think Unity Christian is just going to be
able to keep on rolling and play that physical discipline
style and take it to victory to propel themselves into

(43:08):
the Division four playoffs.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
Gentlemen, always a pleasure.

Speaker 3 (43:11):
Enjoy the regular season finale broadcast, and we'll talk to
you guys again next week. We're talking about playoff pairings
and matchups. In our four pack. You're listening to a
week non edition of the LMCU High School Football Preview Show,
exclusively here on naughty six to one.

Speaker 2 (43:25):
The Game.

Speaker 3 (43:28):
Your one stop site for up to date schedule, scores,
and standings for the OKA Conference and River City's Alliance.
Visit westmiskanoksports dot com, presented by Rapid Radios in ninety
six to one, the game.

Speaker 2 (43:46):
Back for one final.

Speaker 3 (43:47):
Segment for this week not edition of the LMCU High
School Football Preview Show. It's brought to you by a
Lake Michigan Credit Union. By the way, if you've got
a high school senior out there in your household wanted
to win a two thousand dollars scholarship for college and
mom and dad miight o, grandping Grandma, LMCU has their
hut Scholarship program going on right now. Learn more at
lmcu dot org backslash hut that's LMCU dot org backslash.

Speaker 2 (44:11):
Hut hut t.

Speaker 3 (44:13):
The entry deadline is January eighth, twenty twenty five, so
time still to get it in during the Christmas break
with LMCU. And by the way, our Touchdowns for Kids
campaign twelve more touchdowns combine this week and other six
hundred dollars to the total that pushed us to fifty
seven hundred dollars. Thank you so much the donations from
Lake Misking Crediting fifty dollars for every touchdown for our

(44:35):
game of the week for the Grand Rappas area as
well as the Lakeshore game. And we have one week
left in the regular season to push that hopefully over
six thousand dollars for our year.

Speaker 2 (44:44):
Number three.

Speaker 3 (44:45):
All right, Jasonutting, it is time to do our top
ten rankings, and you went first last time, so I'll
go first year. Going into week nine, I've got Mona
Shores one still at eight to er Outright champs obviously
in the Okgreen forty to nothing over Respuff for last week.
Unity Christian comes in number one ranked team at Division
four in the state and the AP rankings, and they
are number two for me.

Speaker 2 (45:06):
Easy win fifty six to fourteen last.

Speaker 3 (45:08):
Week over Zeeland East to win the Outright Okay Goal
Division championship. That's saying something because I thought that was
the toughest division in the Okay Conference this year. As
far as depth, Byron Center comes in at number three,
huge win over m Skegan, I think the first time
ever in their history over the Big Red seventeen to fourteen.

Speaker 2 (45:23):
They get it done.

Speaker 3 (45:24):
Zealand West is four for me at seven to one,
beating South Christian thirty four to twenty one. Hudsonville rounds
out my top five. By the way. For the Eagles
outright Okay Red Champs, congratulations Northfiet number six, first chance
to see them in person, and they got the nice
victory over Holland Christian thirty five to twenty outright okay
Black Division champs, Rockford seven, Forest Hill Central eight, and

(45:46):
West Catholic nine. All of those teams at six and two.
Remember West Catholic will play tonight against Zealand West. That'll
be a seven o'clock kickoff at Zeland West. And then
I've got your Black Knights of Belvy going for the
ok silver out right crowd against Hopkins Friday night. They
are number ten at seven and one after their victory
over cowin Heights.

Speaker 4 (46:05):
I have very little changes to my top ten from
last week and only one different team than you. I
do not have Belding in my top ten, so I
have won to shoors one Byron Center two, Hudsonville three,
Unity Christian four zero and West five and Rockford six.
None of those have moved in I think four weeks
number seven. I have Northview at eight to oh moving
up a spot. I have Force Till Central at six
and two moving up a spot, and I have West

(46:26):
Catholic at number nine moving up a spot. And I
bring Grandville back in the top ten. The Bulldogs are
four and four and they played their best defensive game
of the season last week in a thirty eight three
win over West Dottawe.

Speaker 3 (46:36):
All right, in your second five, who do you think
could catch fire and make a deep playoff run in
your second five?

Speaker 4 (46:44):
I think there's multiple. I would start with Rockford. I
like you think that coming in with two losses might
be a little different for the Rams and might actually
help them as they get into the postseason. And I
also think West Catholic is the potential of it too.
Of course, a big stumbling block would be Catholic Central.
We'll see what happens there.

Speaker 3 (46:59):
I have Norfew six, So it would be tough for
the Wildcats because I think they're looking at a Byron
Center opening round game and then Mona Shores in a
Division two District final. That's pretty tough to ask, but
I would agree with you on Rockford. I was gonna
say ahead of Rockford, though, if I'm looking at mine
at number nine West Catholic, what you said in Division five,
I think West Cathay could be the team to beat
in the area, especially with Granpit's Catholic Central back to

(47:21):
back losses. When's the last time we've seen that from
a Cougar's.

Speaker 4 (47:24):
Team twenty fourteen, that was the last time we saw it,
So it's going to be interesting to see how they
rebound it with a young team like that there, certainly
we know their ceiling is very high. They just need
to play to it now.

Speaker 3 (47:32):
All right, our uptown cheapskate players of the week, I'll
start with the grand RAFFITZERI who is our player of
the game on Friday night, really was the heart and
soul and was the difference maker for Norfew in that
second half. We're talking about number six Will seniora three
rushing touchdowns. He had the one right before halftime that
kind of got it going for the Wildcats, then two more.

(47:55):
We didn't think, honestly from coach Oshnock, we would see
him on the offensive side of football. Well got dinged
up in that win over Catholic Central, but he started
on defense, then they needed him on offense to kind
of finish off that ground game, and he was impressive,
I tell you. And he's one of the reasons why
Northfiew we're talking about him at eight to zero at
this point.

Speaker 4 (48:12):
Well, we talked about Northview and all their experience they've
had from last year and the year before. I mean,
Senior was a huge part of their team last year
as a running back, as a linebacker, and we've seen
a lot of Jalen Gant this year. And it's nice
to have multiple options. For the honorable mention of the
Uptown Chiefs Kate Player of the Week on the grund
rapt As the edition, I'm going Kate Kaufman, the junior
quarterback from He's camp with thirteen to nineteen, one hundred
and eighty four yards and two touchdowns and most of
that done in a half a play against a pretty

(48:34):
solid Jennison team because he can't had such a big lead.

Speaker 3 (48:37):
And what do you think about the Falcons. I know
they get Rockford in Week nine at home, and then
they could face Rockford again, depending how that Division one
district sets up, like you talked about earlier in the show.
But could they be one of those teams that's dangerous?
I mean, I was impressed with a thirty one to
seven win over Jennison, who's been kind of I wouldn't
say lights out, but a dangerous team certainly in the

(48:57):
last four weeks and.

Speaker 4 (48:58):
A solid defense Jennison's spend too. I feel like ek
is getting better every week, which is what Ty Spencer
has done at Martin Luther King over his career. And
so they team, they seem to be trending in the
right direction here at the right time.

Speaker 2 (49:08):
All right.

Speaker 3 (49:09):
Now people are gonna argue is this really on the
Lake shore or not? But it's close enough for me
because I wanted to give the Eagles credit for Hudsonville
and what they've done. And one of their standout players
has been senior quarterback. He started last year form Griffin
Baker thirty five to thirteen. They beat Caledonia to get
that outright, okay red title and he was seven of
eleven passing very efficient ninety yards and a touchdown through

(49:29):
the air, but eleven carries sixty six yards two more
rushing touchdowns to lead the way for Hudsonville.

Speaker 4 (49:35):
Yeah, and they can run it, they can throw it.
Baker obviously does both. He's a dual threat quarterback. They're
really balanced on offense, makes them really dangerous. So for
the honorable mention the Lake Shore Player of the week,
I'm going Darryl Lawrence fourteen carries one hundred and thirty
three yards, three touchdowns. Spring Lake Puts sixty two up
in beating Grand Ardports Christian sixty two to twenty eight.

Speaker 2 (49:53):
All right.

Speaker 3 (49:53):
For our Uptown chiefs Gate players of the Week for
the Lake Shore and the Grand Affitts area, they're each
going to get a twenty five dollar the gift gud
do some shopping on us. It's brought to you by
Uptown Cheapskate with locations in Granville, Kentwood and Holland. So
a fishing for everybody. Uptown Cheapskate. We buy what you
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(50:15):
Insider and get monthly deals at uptown cheapskate dot com.
One final reminder MHSA Selection Sunday is this Sunday from
four thirty to five thirty now on the newly named
fan Duel Sports Network formerly Bally Sports Detroit. So if
you remember where that is, check out that location. We'll
be watching right with you. I'll be on for a
special Fox seventeen edition on Sunday Night in the News

(50:37):
with Remy Monahan on some of the matchups and where
we're gonna look, and we'll let you know come next
week on the show what our games of the week
are going to be. But for Week nine, Jay, you
guys have Hamilton at five and three at Zealand East
at four and four on one oh seven.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
Mus the Moose.

Speaker 3 (50:53):
Of course, it starts at six o'clock with the Jends
Family Stores pregame show, and we'll have the River City's
Alliance clash Cedar Springs. It's seven and one at Coopersville
at five and three for our game of the week
on ninety six one the game.

Speaker 4 (51:04):
Yeah, and so for Zealand East, I think in Division
three they're going to be in win or lose, but
a win could vault them maybe to a home playoff game.
We'll kind of have to see what that does. But
for Hamilton, there's a scenario where the Hawkeys get in
with a loss. They of course do not want to
play that game. They'd rather just win and know they're
in and vault up the Division four seedings a little bit.
But you know they could potentially get in at four

(51:27):
at five and four with a loss. I'll tell you
look at that Division four bubble. I mean South Christian
is going to play a big, big role there right
If they beat ground up as caloch Central, we know
they're in. But South has lost four games in a row.
We know that rivalry with South and Catholic Central is
a good one and anything can happen. If South Christian
loses and drops their fifth straight, there is a scenario
where they still get in at four and five. But
do you really want to go likely play Unity Christian

(51:48):
on the heels of five straight losses. So I'm really
interested in that D four bubble. You know, big game
in D seven Montague and Ravena, I think winners in,
losers out. I think it's that cut and dry big
game there in the West Michigan Conference. And you look
at Division three, I think there's a scenario where thorn
Apple Kellogg wins against Wyoming where you might consider them
a favorite, and they would get in at three and six.

(52:09):
Tough schedule. I know they've been beat up with injuries,
but Whaland as well. Whyaland currently in right now the
last team in. They play Hastings this week. I think
there's a scenario where they could get in no matter what,
but a win over Hastings would potentially get them. And
Hastings is having another really strong season. I think that's
a really good game. And Holland is really interesting to me.
The Dutch a four and four. They play Godwin Heights

(52:29):
this this Friday night. I think that's a very even game,
one that could go either way. Holland's got to win,
have any hope even then It's gonna be tough, but
some things fallow the right way and Holland could qualify
for the playoffs for the first time since twenty seventeen.
Fascinating bubble.

Speaker 2 (52:42):
It is a great story.

Speaker 3 (52:43):
And go back to Middleville TK that tough loss to
Holland Christian right where Holland CHRISTI came all the way back,
got the two point conversion. They get that one. They're
probably in looking at this going into week nine. Great
stuff Futton always appreciated and our special thanks to Ed Caman,
head coach at Cooterersville, joined us in the Montel Construction
Coach's Corner. The drive to ford Field is almost here.
Of course, we'll have it for you all the way

(53:04):
to Ford Field. On ninety six won the game in
one oh seven mus the moves for Jason Nutton. My
name is Brett Pikita, stick around Red Wings Hockey is
coming up next right here on ninety six to one
the game.

Speaker 1 (53:14):
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,
Van der Lon Holm Improvement, Kids Food Basket, Trinity Health,
Michigan Sporting You, Wing Doozy, Straight Line Fence, Halst Jepson

(53:35):
Physical Therapy, Montel Construction, Rapid Radios, Uptown, Chiefskate with locations
in Granville, Kentwood and Holland and MKD Funeral Homes