LMCU High School Football Preview Show Playoffs Week 1

LMCU High School Football Preview Show Playoffs Week 1

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
They motion purchase now sending him back played bake fist
fires across the middle. Touchdown has this man on a
little crossing route. Jack 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 more off to the races. Twenty
fifty ten touchdown. He saw his senior brother do what

(00:24):
he said, I can do it too. Campaign takes it
from forty two yards out and the Bulldogs extend their lead.

Speaker 2 (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 1 (00:47):
Here on ninety six.

Speaker 2 (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
H Family Stores, Van der Long Home Improvement, Trinity Health, Sporting, You, Wing, Doozy,
Straight Line Fence, Rapid Radios Uptown, Cheapskate in Granville and Kenwood,

(01:10):
MKD Funeral Homes, Win Shoolers, Delicious Cheese Spreads, Halse Jepson
Physical Therapy, Discount Door and Montel Construction. And now here
are your hosts, Brett Pekina and Jason Hutton.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
We always like to start of the show going into
one of two coaches corners. Hearing from area coaches is
what we love to do on this playoff edition the
High School Football Preview. It's brought to you each and
every week by LMCU and this segment being brought to
you by Montel Construction. They're still doing exterior workout there.
The snow isn't flying yet. Find out more and the
great fall savings deal they have going on for roofing,

(01:44):
Sonny windows, whatever it might be at Montelconstruction dot Com. Well,
we were talking about Jay, one of the teams that
we haven't covered yet as a game of the week
and we're excited to see now in the playoffs. This
defense in the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids coming at
seven and two. They're going to take on Cedar Springs
at eight and one. Out of the River City's Alliance
and joined us right now is the head coach of
the Pioneers, finishing up his fourth season. They're at the helm.

(02:06):
Josh Shatick and coach. I've heard so much about this defense,
and we were scratching our heads after week one. I'm
sure you and the coaching staff and the players were
two with that lowl game where you guys fell forty
to seven. But since that time, boy, it's like a
different football team.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I mean it was. I give Roll a ton
of credit. It was the perfect storm. They had a
great plan for what we were trying to do offensively.
You know, we overhauled our offense in the offseason, and
it was the worst possible team to come out the
gate and play with all the different looks and kind
of exotic fronts.

Speaker 4 (02:36):
That they give.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
And I give their coaching staff credit. I mean, they
had our head spinning, and quite frankly, well we'll own it,
they had our head spinning early. We kind of had
it close a little bit. I think it's thirteen to
seven at half time, and they broke our will in
the second half. I mean, they reeled off two long
touchdown runs late in the game, like in the last
eight minutes, and they did all the things that you

(02:58):
know would just call as status. They kicked our butts,
had a great plan schematically, and then they broke our
will late in the game, and you know, forty to
seven is every bit of the buttwhoop and that it
looked like. So I think that that has humbled us.
I don't think we're ever overconfident, but I think that
a game like that, right out the gate, in front
of your home crowd against your rival, has just held

(03:21):
us at bay even while we've been playing better football,
because we know what can and will happen if we
let up at all. And that's real evidence. It's not
a game from two years ago or some coach speak.
It's like, no, here's the film of that, and so
I think that's really I don't want to say that
it's been good for us to lose forty to seven,
but I also do think that there are some lessons

(03:42):
learned there that have helped us as the seasons progressed.

Speaker 5 (03:45):
Well since that game, you've won seven of eight, your
only loss coming to undefeated Catholic Central, and you were
throwing it in the end zone in the final seconds
to win that game. So you've played really well tell
us about this defense, how much better you've gotten that
side of the football, how good you are on that
side the football, and what has led to that.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
So we had a feeling, i mean going into the
year that our front seven was going to be the
strength of our whole team, and quite frankly, we thought
we'd be just be really good upfront and in the box.
So it's not really a surprise in the front seven.
I mean, we were pretty good defensively last year and
we bring a lot of those kids back.

Speaker 4 (04:20):
We had a great year.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
In the off season in the weight room and good
summer and everything, so we felt like if we stayed
healthy defensively in the box that we'd be really really
good against the run. I think what has been the
biggest pleasant surprise is how our back end is played,
and so we really haven't. You know, we've played a
lot of different styles of teams obviously throughout nine games,
where we've seen some power stuff that Lowell brings at

(04:42):
you with the option elements to it. We've seen the
true spread teams, like going against any Danny Brown team,
they're going to challenge you with the spread components, and
how in Christian and Dave does such a good job
of getting the ball out quick and the quick game
in formations like how and Christian doesn't you're going against
triple option under center with TK and then Central's got
and just everybody's kind of the athletes Northew has. So

(05:04):
we've seen so many different looks. I just think the
back end of our defense keeping everything in front of them,
we really haven't. You know, last week, the only touchdown
we gave up to SHC was a double move, but
other than that, we really haven't gotten beat deep over
the top. And so that's been a pleasant surprise for
us as the back end has really added that nice
compliment to what we thought we'd be pretty good in
the box.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
East Grand Rapidtite coach Johsh Shannick. That'll be our game
of the week on Friday night to start the drive
to Ford Field, brought to you by Vandelid Home Improvement.
Will be live from Memorial Field myself and Buck Gino
on the shores of Reeds Lake. Always a great atmosphere
against Cedar Springs, the RedHawks coming in eight and one.
We'll get to them in a second, Coach, but I
want to ask you this, when you look at all

(05:44):
said and done, and that's not taken away from a
great season that your team has had. I always like
to ask coaches this question after Selection Sunday, how hungry
is this team? Because as good as seven to two is,
you're playing an eight to one team and neither one
of you won your conference. So this is kind of
like that second season. But it's like, okay, boys, let's
go out and get it right.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah. I think we we preach. I mean, you could
call a coach speak, but we say every year like
we want to be playing our best football at the
end of the year. I firmly believe that we are
playing our best football and I'm very confident that our
best football is yet to come. And we got to
we got to put together a great week and we
have a very very good opponent obviously, with that presents
so many challenges for us. And we haven't seen a

(06:27):
TEE team. We just haven't And uh, you know a
lot of people like, oh do you like that matchup?
Because our defense is good in the box. It's like
the tee is not the same as just against a
standard you know, run team, like we would probably be
considered a run team offensively, but it's a different thing.
The tee is is you know, you're defending their players, sure,
but you're really defending the scheme and it's just so different.
So you know, I would say that from a hunger perspective. Yeah,

(06:51):
I mean, we haven't won a playoff game since I've
been here. We've been here three years, and it's.

Speaker 4 (06:54):
Not about me.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
It's about our players that are playing for us. I
haven't seen a playoff win since they've been in high school.
I think it's been for probably pushing a decade since
the last EGR playoff win, and that's with a lot
of pretty good teams just haven't gotten done in the postseason.
So one game season. We feel like we're playing some
good football right now. You know, if you could pick
a side to be good on right now, I'd take

(07:15):
defense ten times out of ten in the tournament. And
it's allowed our offense to really, you know, progress and
get better. And I really think our offense has gotten
a lot better over the last month of the season.
So we're playing some pretty good, complimentary football right now,
and we're going to need all three phases on Friday,
for sure.

Speaker 5 (07:30):
Well, I wanted to ask you about the offense because
you talked earlier about how you guys overhauled it. You're
doing things completely different outside of the ball the show.
I guess, why do that? And how has it progressed
throughout the season.

Speaker 3 (07:40):
That's a great question. It's a I could go on
forever about this one, probably a separate, separate conversation, but
the key was, you know, we had three years where
we were in the playoffs, and if you look at
our losses in big games, whether that's the playoff games
or big regular season games, there is one glaring consistency.
We can't score. You know, in twenty twenty three, we

(08:03):
were seven to two and we were shut out in
both of our losses in the regular season, albeit to
state champion FHC and a regional finalists Environ Center, really
good teams, but we could score. And then we lost
to Coopers Zill in the playoffs fourteen to thirteen, went
for two to try to steal it at the end,
and so just slow scoring. Last year we lost seven
to zero to Forest Hill Central. So we kind of

(08:24):
looked down in the big picture of our program. As
you know, we're a community school, even though we're in
Grand rapids like we don't get transfers. That's not the
world we live in here at School of Choice. Really
is very challenging here, but we also don't lose our kids.
We know our kids from kindergarten are going to be here.
It's kind of a destination community for families. And so
when I look down the pipeline, it was like, all right,

(08:45):
we've got to put more on our quarterback. We feel
like we can we will always be able to find
a quarterback who's good kid with a multi skill set
and we can develop that. And then we need to
be an option team. If we're relying on running backs,
wide receivers, there's just going to be years we don't
have the kind of talent that we need to compete
with Northview and you know, Catholic Central in the top

(09:07):
of our schedule, where we feel like we're going to
be physical, we're going to be big, we're going to
be strong. But we wanted to, you know, be an
option team, and so we've gotten into ten personnel. We're
run the quarterback. I mean we run quarterback twenty twenty
five times a game and try to get a numbers
advantage there. And when we have really good talent at receiver,
Like I feel like we have this year, we'll throw it,
and if there's years we don't, it becomes a little
bit less of a less of an issue. So that's

(09:29):
kind of the shorter answer of a big scheme question.
But that was the reason for the change, and then
the progression has been amazing. I mean, if you look
at our first two weeks, we were just a mnemic.
Offensively kind of broke out of a slump. Week three
played Obviously Catholic Central will make you feel like you're
not good on offense, but we actually played pretty well.
I felt like an offense that night. And really since
the north View game, I mean north View we had

(09:49):
ten points, which looks bad. We ran for two hundred
and sixty yards. So since that point in time, I
think the last month of the season, we're putting up
about forty two to forty three points a game. When
you combine that with giving up about six or seven
pretty good formula.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
Talk about some of your players on offense, coach, and
let's start with a quarterback, because when you do that,
as you know, it's good to have a veteran quarterback.
I think to make that transition a guy who've got
some experience, and that's Josh McCowen. Oh, by the way,
it might help, he's a senior sixty three to two thirty, right, Yeah, he's.

Speaker 3 (10:17):
A big boy. He's uh yeah. I mean it's kind
of funny this week with us who we play with Sedar.
I mean, he's going to play some D tackle, So
not many kids out there playing quarterback and D tackle.
But there's also not a lot of kids in Division
three who are six three two thirty that just stand
on the sideline. So you know, it all starts with him.
We knew, uh, you know, he just had an unreal

(10:37):
off season in the weight room. I mean, he is
one of the hardest working kids I've ever coached when
it comes to the weight room and just buy in.
And it's not just like this offseason, it's forty years
of it, and so we knew he'd be able to
handle a big load. Uh. In terms of running the football,
feel really good about our offensive line. Obviously, we've had
some injuries that have hurt us moving forward down the stretch,
but I mean I feel like grand Adloff is the

(10:58):
best two way lineman that I've seen this year probably
and it's not very close. And so when you have
an elite offensive lineman and a really big quarterback like that,
it just simplifies the game a little bit because we
play in four receiver sets all the time, and you know,
you got to defend four receivers, and most teams don't
want to defend those four with four, so they're defending
them with five or six. And all of a sudden,

(11:18):
we've got six man box as kind of the heaviest
that teams can give us in theory. And so the
last week, for example, we got a seven man box
and we threw it. You know, we're sixteen for twenty
for almost three hundred. Dard's passing, they're all pretty easy throws.
So we're getting to a point now where that quarterback
run game is just a nice, nice way to alleviate
kind of the obstacles we had in the pass where

(11:39):
he just kind of hand to hand it off a lot.
So and Josh is a huge Josh McCown is a
huge part of being able to do that. It's not
just his ability to run, it's his durability. I mean
the Northview game, we got the ball with six and
a half minutes to go, never gave it back to him,
took a knee on the five yard line, ran ten
straight downhill quarterback runs. There's just not a lot of
teams that could do that, and that's a testament his
weight room.

Speaker 6 (11:58):
You know, the off season he had big kid.

Speaker 5 (12:00):
But he's also All state baseball player too, So clearly
a really good athlete.

Speaker 3 (12:03):
We're talking with great athlete, great athlete.

Speaker 5 (12:06):
E scron Rapids head coach Josh Shaddeck and coach. Looking
at your district, it's interesting to me. I want to
get your thoughts on this, Daniel. You're just focused on
Cedar Springs, so that's all you can worry about right now.
But you're in an RCA district, right it's you and
three River Cities Alliance teams. Did that catch you by surprise?
And everybody has their own way of looking at what
might happen when you saw that draw?

Speaker 7 (12:24):
Just what did you think?

Speaker 3 (12:26):
Yeah, when we came off the you know, obviously we
had a big game here Friday, Hearts of Gold Senior
Night youth football. My all of our you know, focuses
on that. And that's kind of the nice part about
Michigan playoffs because you don't know your opponents, so there's
really no that you can't really look forward to playoffs.
You don't you have a clue who you play. So
we came off the field and started doing let everybody did.
It was just a little score watching, just to kind
of see what was going to shake out. And so

(12:48):
when we left Friday after our home game, we I
thought it was about a fifty to fifty chance a
Sedar in Zepland West. And so the nice part about
that is for our defensive staff was like, well, we'll
probably getting the team or what someone asked which I'd
rather have? And I was like, it's between like would
you rather jump out of an airplane or ground? It's
like one. I mean, you know, so I think that
uh surprised maybe. I mean if you if you forced

(13:11):
me to pick, I would have guess they would have
sent us to Zealand. But that wasn't what I didn't
have strong convictions of that. You know, kind of knew
we were playing a T team. So either way, I mean,
I think either way you slice it. You know, do
you want to play the defending state champs with the
history they have, or do you want to play a
team that runs the tee and is eight and one,
averaging fifty points a game. I don't know that there's
a good answer to that, so but yeah, the district's tough. Obviously,

(13:33):
those RCA teams. We've we played Cedar a couple of
years ago in Week one. Coopers will beat us here
in the playoffs two years ago we haven't seen kind
of wa So yeah, I mean just it's it's kind
of an intriguing district with those three RCAs and then just.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
Kind of throwing us in the next coach and wrap
up in the last thirty seconds. And I know that
you sent me some information on it too. You have
a lot of respect for Guskpoga's coaches dead, but just
kind of talk about what their tea looks like.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yeah, So, I mean they're as good as it gets
running it. And that's the thing you're you're almost defending
the system more than you're defending the players. And that
is not a discredit to any of their kids.

Speaker 6 (14:04):
The system.

Speaker 3 (14:05):
I mean, GUS is a national resource for that. You know,
there's a reason they host the whatever Midwest or National
Tea Clinic. And I mean he's, uh, he's just as
good as it gets. On that, so they'll have some
things dialed up for us. Obviously, we have to have
a unique game plan. You can't just sit there in
your base defense. I mean, if we give them our
base defense, they might rush for five hundred yards, it's
worth a three down. And obviously that's going to be
a challenge against that. So kind of just finding what

(14:27):
you like personnel wise, and you know, Gus is going
to have some some wrinkles and we're going to have
to adjust and you know, play on the fly and
just kind of see what fits. And I mean they
are big, they are physical, their backs run really hard,
they're fast, and I think what's different about this version
of it than the one we saw a couple of
years ago is they have some explosive players on the backfield.
Their quarterbacks a good athlete, they're they're running backs, full

(14:48):
back are they're just they're just good. I mean, there's
a reason they live in one or two formations and
score fifty points a game. They're really really good at it,
well coached, good athletes.

Speaker 1 (14:55):
Tomorrow Night six thirty with the J and H Families
first pregame show ninety six one game, Buck Geno and
I'll have the call East Grand Rapids hosting eight and
one Cedar Springs in Round one of the MHSA Football Playoffs.
He is East Grand Rapetit coach Josh Shatick joined us coach.
I know it's a busy week. Thank you so much
for your time and best of luck tomorrow night.

Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yeah, thanks guys, good talking to you for.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
Our LMCU Game of the Week schedules, show in game broadcasts,
and to visit our great sponsors, visit our Trinity Health
High School Football page at ninety six to one in
the game dot com one oh seven, musnmouse dot com
or Wood Radio dot com.

Speaker 1 (15:33):
We go into a playoff edition of the Family four Pack,
and yeah we call it family because it's high school
football playoffs, right, Families are traveling everywhere. It's brought to
you by Janeh's Family Stores, and you need to take
the family to one of their sixty plus locations across
Michigan to serve you. J and HS Family Stores stopping
on the way to your next game, are on your
way home. The way the four Pack works.

Speaker 7 (15:52):
If you're new to the.

Speaker 1 (15:53):
Show, as there's four of us. My name is Brett Pikita,
jas Nutton joins me in studio and our two color
analysts on Friday night. You here Tom Kendra the Lakeshore
Game of the Week on one oh seven, m Us
the Moose with Jason and Bunk Gino with me on
ninety six to one the Game. Join us and we
do four games that we don't cover as our Games
of the week that we think are intriguing matchups and
we just give our thoughts and opinions on It will

(16:15):
start with you, mister Hutton. You've got a rematch which
is always fun this time of year from the regular season,
way back to Week one TK Middleville at Hastings and
here we go. It was a two point game.

Speaker 5 (16:26):
Hastings won it in the regular season. Yeah, what a
game they played in Week one, thirty one to twenty nine.
Hastings kicks a field goal on the final play to
win that thing. TK led really the whole game. They
had a kickoff return for a touchdown before they have
to go up to twenty and fourteen. They had a kickoff,
a long kickoff return that's set up a score early
that put them up seven to nothing. But what really
stood out to me in this game was hastings ability

(16:47):
They're a power T flat te team that wants to
run the football and they I mean, if you look
at the points they put up this year, they score
a ton of points. But they had to go to
the air to beat TK in that week one, Mason
to Silvera their junior quarterback, five of seven f one
hundred and thirty four yards and a couple of big
throws one to set up the score. They made it
twenty nine to twenty eight late and then after they
got a fumble as TK was going in, they drove

(17:07):
down again and to set up that field goal. I
just love this rivalry and it's a great test to say, hey,
who's improved the most from week one? Because it was
so even in week one. But I got a feeling
it's gonna be pretty close again.

Speaker 1 (17:17):
You stole my thunder. I'm gonna hop in here because
I just think it's the year of the Trojans in
what coach Doc is doing. His son has done a
nice job. They're progressing. And I say that because when
you look at this rivalry and it's a true rivalry.
I mean, Hastings has won the last five. Yeah, I mean,
it's it's amazing. They didn't make the COVID year, but
there was one year and obviously they're gonna meet again

(17:37):
in the playoffs this season. But when you look at
Jonah hamp and what he did last week, twelve carries
two hundred and sixty seven rushing yards and four touchdowns
in their win over Whalen. But it was forty eight
thirty four. It was kind of a shoetown game. I
don't know. Something tells me I wouldn't be surprised if
Hastings won this game like they did in the regular season.
I will tell you this, this is going to be
down to the wire. I think a score or less game.

(18:00):
I really do, as far as a touchdown, just because
history tells us that. And with that, I go to
mister Astoring himself when he comes to the NHSA town Kendra, Well, I.

Speaker 8 (18:09):
Don't know about that, but thank you for that introduction.

Speaker 6 (18:11):
Brett.

Speaker 8 (18:12):
Yeah, what a special year in Middleville really for you know,
coach Jeff doc and issan Micah Dock at quarterback. But
you know, not a traditional playoff team. You know, you
look at the Trojan you know, if you don't count
the COVID year all the way back to twenty eighteen
since they've been in the playoff. I think they have
a great opportunity here, you know, in this district in general.
And then you look at Hastings, the perennial Division four

(18:34):
playoff team moving up to Division three. Yeah, looking at
that win they had last week over Whalan. You know,
they only threw one pass in that game. I mean,
they just want to run it and run it and
run it. Will they be able to do that, you know,
consistently or will they have to throw it a little
bit in order to win this game. I think it's
a great first round matchup.

Speaker 1 (18:51):
Buck Gina, let's go to you next.

Speaker 3 (18:53):
Well.

Speaker 4 (18:53):
I've always said the hardest thing to do, other than
being the team the first time, is to beat them
the second time. And I think for haste is playing
Middleville already. Both these teams similar with each other, not
wholy because they played this year, but also because of
the rivalry. This is the type of game that Middleville
can grind out. And we're going to find out from
coach docs squad how much have they matured this year.

(19:14):
Is the first time they've been in the playoffs. Like
Tom mentions this two thousand and eighteen, and they haven't
had a winning season up until that point until this year,
so it's gonna be a little bit different for them.
Right They're playing in the postseason a lot of kids
with just no experience casings. On the other side, they've
got kids that have been in the playoffs before. They're
a team that gets to this level on a regular basis.

(19:36):
I'm looking at this game. It was very close in
Week one. The Week one is a whole heck block
different in the Week ten. What new wrinkles do both
teams have? And like they said, they both like to
run the football. But there's just gonna be those times
where who's got not only the better execution, but maybe
who's got the better toys. Maybe they have a new player,
maybe they have a new look that hasn't been shown

(19:56):
on film yet. That's where these types of games get
very interesting, because pre matches are so fun, and because
they didn't plan on pre matching, right, this is not
something they've talked about in Week one. A lot of
preparation going into this game, and I think it's just
going to come down to not only the execution, but
who has the newest stuff that the other team just
hasn't been able to get a look at yet.

Speaker 1 (20:17):
Let's go to Tom Kendrin next. He's going Division five
and he's seen both these teams in their coverage this year,
Tri County at five and four at Whitehall five and four.
Tom Well.

Speaker 8 (20:27):
I picked this game, Brett, because it gives us a
chance to kind of look inside the Michigan high school
playoff system. You know, on Sunday night, there may not
have been a team in the state more excited than
the Whitehall Vikings for the draw that they received. Let's
be honest about it. If you're a Division five school
on the west side of Michigan, one thing you don't
want to be You do not want to end up

(20:48):
in that district with Grand Rapids, Catholic and West Catholic.
And somehow Whitehall avoided that when they did that division.
Of course, Catholic, Central and West Catholic were together. They
added Tellogg to build a district and then the final team.
I guess it could have been Whitehall. It could have
been Oakridge that oak Ridge gets put in that district,
Whitehall gets sent North and you know, no offense to

(21:10):
the teams here, but Whitehall feels like, hey, we got
a chance here. We could win a couple of games,
maybe get back to the regionals like a year ago.
So a great draft for Whitehall and then you know
for Try County, and I hope I don't steal any
adjacent thunder here. But you know John Gooden then fifty
ninth year coaching high school football. He's an assistant for

(21:30):
Try County, eighty four years old, still doing it. But
if you look at the playoffs system, you know he
was the head coach at Tri County for twenty seven years.
There was a six year run between nineteen seventy eight
and nineteen eighty three where four of those years Tri
County went unbeaten and the other two years they went
eight and one. So over a six year period they
were fifty one and two and never made the playoffs.

(21:53):
I mean, it's just unbelievable. I guess to kind of
look back because now you look at teams that didn't
make it, maybe that we're close this year, like Orchard
View five and four didn't get in. Caledonia four and
five just missed. But the way I see it now,
the teams that deserve to get in get in. And
but it just makes you feel bad looking back on
some of those teams that went unbeaten never had a

(22:14):
chance to make the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (22:16):
I want to transition to you Hutton on this and
I'll just give my two cents on this game. They're
both five and four, and you and I have talked
about to the ends of the Earth on this show,
and this perfectly proves your point. Unity Christian Zealand West
Portland all on Whitehall's non conference schedule. That helped him
here certainly with points, but I think it helps them

(22:36):
now come playoffs when you face a team like Try
County strength of schedule, I think it's going to help
them in this game.

Speaker 5 (22:41):
Well that and remember they've been opting up to D
four the last couple of years, so they're playing the
South Christians. They're playing in the D four playoff battles,
so they're kind of battle tested. But I just want
to look at this from a Tri County perspective, like
I think we're all just assuming I was going to win.
I do think this is going to be a good
football game. And when you have a quarterback play like
Vaughan Veldtman at Try County, you know, Phil Butler's got
a great, really good team him against Kan's City right
down to the wire in Week seven, and I think

(23:03):
Try County needs to get Jade and Button involved, right
great story with Jaydon. Button suffered caesars on the field
last year against in Awego. They weren't sure if he
was ever going to play football again. Now was he
back playing. He recently committed to Calvin, which is awesome.
So I want to see Number one get involved for
Tri County. But I think this would be good football game.

Speaker 4 (23:18):
Well, now you're talking a little bit of my language,
Tree County, near my neck of the woods where I
grew up in your right time. I mean John Gooden
has been doing it, I think before both of us
were born. I mean, he's just been at it for
a long time and just a tremendous ambassador for the
high school game. I've met him a couple of times,
and just a wonderful gentleman helping out coach Phil Butler. There.

(23:39):
Vikings have kind of returned a little bit to prominence.

Speaker 6 (23:42):
They've hit the.

Speaker 4 (23:42):
Playoffs a few years in a row now and Phil's
got that program humming. But this is a game that
I think Jason and Bett kind of hit it on
the head and non conference schedule for Whitehall was ambitious
and they even had a win over a good deal
in West. Team kind of caught him by surprise. I
think Cole Assebay and the Vikings are primed for a
long run here and they've got a favorable draw. Now

(24:05):
that doesn't mean anything if they don't execute. And we've
seen at times or this white Hall team has fallen
victim to some poor execution and sloppy play. This is
going to be another game where both teams. Talent wise,
there's probably an edge to Whitehall, but there's only so
much talent that can overcome poor execution. So Tony Siegman
and his team have to execute. They just had not

(24:27):
been consistent this year. They can put it together. They
can make a run. As Jason mentioned, they can get
to the regionals or perhaps even into the Semis, depending
on where their draw takes them.

Speaker 1 (24:37):
We're halfway through the Family four Pack. It's brought to
you by Jane H's Family Stores. With our four pack
of games. Besides our games of the week, let's go
to an RCA rematch. So, just like Hutton had earlier
with Week one, this one was within the division. Buck
Geno and I had the call week seven of Coopersville
thirty four to thirty one. Kennalla Hills gets it done

(24:58):
and they are your rcach champs, as you know, Buck. Interesting,
I think coopers Hill has gotten stronger since then, even
though they lost the seed the Springs last week and
Kenaway Hill's got out to a twenty one nothing start
if you remember in that game, Buck, So which team
are we going to see on both sides? I think
that's intriguing.

Speaker 4 (25:14):
Well, I'd always like the rematches because we've talked about
before the hardest thing to do with being in once
is to beat him twice. And I think coover Zill
looks at that game and you and I were there,
it was probably the worst start that they could possibly
get off to. Just could not get a first down,
they couldn't run the football effectively, and they were very,
very suspect on defense. Yes, there was a trick playing

(25:36):
there where Hampton through a touchdown pass instead of running
it in, but overall, I mean they just had the
worst start they possibly could in that first quarter, and
then converting a fourth down going up top to Owen
Mantid that energized them and then they were able to
get some other players to help turn the tide and
get that momentum back. I think, really if you just
look at that game from quarters to through four, and

(25:56):
Caaman is probably pretty pleased with how they played, other
than the fact that they end up losing, but he
was really really happy with how champ Kelly played in
that game. They got dangerous receivers. I think the key
for this one is going to be number one, Kenway
Hills gets to host it. But also I think if
your coach Fellows and Kenaway Hills, and I even said
this during a broadcast, in that game, they just they

(26:18):
got to be who they are.

Speaker 5 (26:19):
They got a.

Speaker 4 (26:20):
Little bit out of character, they tried to do some
things that they probably shouldn't have done, and they gave
Coopers Zilt some actual amensum to get back into that
game when they really could have maybe put it away
either in the first half or early second. Instead, they
found themselves into a dogfight. And now I think if
they get to the same position that they were in
in week seven, if they get an early lead and

(26:40):
get maybe a two score, three score lead, that's where
they can put a team like Cooper still away. Because
Cooper's don't yes They've got some big wins, but they've
also got some close losses against teams that are very good.
They've just lost the Theater Springs in an ot thriller,
lost to Kenia by three. So they can compete, but
they still are probably a year away from really getting
some of those Landard wins. And I just look at

(27:01):
this and I think Kenela Hills had the experience, they've
got the talent. They just need to play to their
identity and if they can do that, they have a
chance to go pretty far in that Division four record.

Speaker 1 (27:12):
Tom Kendra, your thoughts of this when I'm intrigued.

Speaker 8 (27:15):
What a job by Don Fellows there in just his
second year at Kenawa, you know, taking advantage of the
opportunity that Kenela Hills presented to them and getting the
job done. Kenela Hills their fourth in all of Division
three in playoff point and why that is significant is
they have a possibility to host three playoff games. There's
only one team in their region that's Mount Pleasant, that

(27:36):
has more playoff points than the night and that's significant
because they've been really good at home. They're four and
zero at home this year. They've won eight home games
in a row. Their last home lost was the season
opener last year against Forest Hills Northern, So I just
think they have something going there. It's pretty exciting because
it's been a while, you know, since Knight Stadium has
been sort of one of the places to be on

(27:58):
a Friday night, and it's certainly is. I think it's
going to be a great environment. It's a great rivalry
to begin with. You know, Cooper's built, they've been in
playoff mode since their ower and three start. I think
that there's something to be said for that. They've been
playing games to win, maybe Kennell and maybe a little bit,
but more on coasting and you know, they need to
change that mentality here going into Friday night.

Speaker 5 (28:20):
Well, I just love the fact that this rivalry is back.
I mean, for all these years coopers Wille and Knawa
didn't play. I mean they're only separated by eleven miles.
It's a border war. And how much fun is it
that a year ago kind of Wall wins the regular
season matchup, Coopersville wins the playoff. Well, we see the
same thing again this year.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
Now.

Speaker 5 (28:35):
Last year was a little different and that coopers will
win the RCA, And it was kind of Ken of
upsetting them in the regular seasons. I think we all
kind of win into the playoff game thinking, you know,
maybe Cooper's feels the favorite. It's just fascinating to see
these two schools battle four times in two years. It
was obviously a great game the first time around. I
have no reasona believe it won't be a great game
a second time around. But kenawall winning a conference title
playing a home playoff game, obviously, the Knights are pretty exciting.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
All right, guys, I love this game, I really do.
And I know it seems so lopsided with the fans.
Here the records of these two teams, but you know
how South Christian Is and Danny Brown come playoff time
in Division four. South Christian gets in at four and
five after a tough loss non conference to Catholic Central
by just seven on Friday night, and they go up
against the power that is Portland at nine and oh

(29:20):
Portland of course taking care of Whitehall convincingly in week nine.
And I will say this, I wouldn't want to face
a Danny Brown team in the playoffs. Look what happened
last year for Unity Christian. I mean, they just seem
to peak at the right time, right, which is what
a coach is wanting to do this time of year.
South Christian's got some athletes. As I say that, I
think Portland is really good, Jane, I'm gonna go to

(29:40):
you first at nine and zero, like they always are.
They met two years ago in the semi final, and
remember it was Portland falling twenty one to six with
Carson Vissing company. So I think Portland's got a little
revenge on their mind in this one.

Speaker 5 (29:52):
Yeah, of course Portland be the favorite, being nine to
oher and taking by team that's four and five, And
I agree, I think this is a really good matchup.
I mean, Danny, remember South Christian wouldn't be Union Christian
last year in the playoffs. Absolutely, they got smoked by
him in the regular season. So this is a tough
draw for anybody in the playoffs. But I do really
like Portland. You know, they're a double wing type team.
They want to run the football. They've got Caden Dickerson,
They've got Nolaan Zibatowski. I mean they are and they're

(30:13):
really good up front.

Speaker 7 (30:14):
Right.

Speaker 5 (30:14):
The big question for them was quarterback because head coach
johnavard In is twenty seventh year, his son Dom graduated
and they returned most of this team except for quarterback,
and they kind of had a battle going into the season. Well,
you know, last week against Whitehall, Portland didn't run the
ball particularly well. I thought Whitehall did a really good job.
But Ethan Castle eight for nine, two hundred and four
yards and a bunch of touchdowns. Ethan, they can throw

(30:35):
the football and you've got Brady Rowe who can catch it.
They've hit Zimbatowski out of the backfield, like Portland is
a complete football team. And I've even talked about him defensively.
I mean, they are lights out on that side of
the football. So I do think it's a tough game
for Portland because South Christian is tough, a tough matchup.
But I just think Portland's really good. All right, buck Gino,
I'm not gonna make you go last on this one.
I'm gonna let you go next, all right.

Speaker 4 (30:56):
Well, and I think Jason made a great point that
the records you kindly have to take with a grain
of salt on this one. Yes, South Christian is going
through a transition. There is no Carson VISs to come
and fly in with the Superman cap potentially save them
to make a run. But I think that they've gotten
better as the season has gone on. Yes, they've had
some quarterback movement and issues. We saw them in week three.

(31:17):
We saw kind of the skeleton of what could be
a very good team, not only this year but moving
into next year with some of the weapons are going
to have coming back. And I think just the growth
that we've seen in some of these teams, and I
think that's where I really like to see the coaching
and the wealth that we have here on this side
of the state. You see teams in week one and
then you've see in week nine, and there's just a

(31:39):
lot of progression and growth in some of these teams.
In South Christian has been no different. They played a
very difficult schedule with a younger team the Okay Gold
plus the non conference schedule, and I think this is
a team that they could give some folks some trouble. Now. Portland,
on the other hand, like Jay said, they shrilled to
run the ball, and so what they did is they said,

(31:59):
oh we can also throw. We didn't really want to
have to do that, but we will and they were
able to do that. So this is a team that
South Christian is going to have to play perfect execution football.
They cannot turn it over, they cannot give Portland any
sort of extra momentum because this is a very talented
Red Raiders team, and this is another one where you
think that they could go on a long run if

(32:20):
they hit the right stride to Portland. They've been that
far before, but it hasn't been for a little bit,
and they're kind of chomping at the bit. They felt
like last year. They in the last couple of years
they've been kind of sidelined by bad luck or injuries,
and this team feels a little bit different and maybe
they can't make that run. So South Christian is going
to have to come ready to play. But I think

(32:41):
this is going to be a very entertaining game. People
look at the record, will take nine to No. Four
and five, it's a layover, But I think this one
has a chance to be one of the more entertaining
games in that Brack.

Speaker 1 (32:50):
Tom Kendra from the Lake Shore with the last word.

Speaker 8 (32:53):
You know, one of the cool things that pretty much
every team does nowadays is they have those team parties
to watch the selection Sunday show and I'm sure Portland
was gathered and the last thing they wanted to see
fight the record was a first round matchup against South Christian.
It's just one of the really good streaks going on
in the area right now, you guys. Is the Sailors

(33:14):
seven straight years they've won at least one playoff game.
Nobody thought they could do it last year against Unity Christian.
And you know, maybe people don't think they can do
it this year, but they could beat that Unity team
last year. I wouldn't bet against them this week either, guys.

Speaker 1 (33:29):
It's like our Christmas. We're getting ready for it. The
Drive to Ford Field presented by vandalin Ho Improvement and
it will be tomorrow night, Lake Shore Game of the
Week rematch Motorshores and Muskegan six thirty. Jay and Tom
will have the call and then we'll be at Memorial
Field on the shores of Reeds Lake. Buncino myself for
Division three Cedar Springs and East Grand Rapids against six

(33:50):
thirty on ninety six to one the game. Enjoy the games, guys,
We'll see you out there, and thanks for joining us
on the show.

Speaker 6 (33:56):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (33:57):
Out of the short shotgun hand off Hampted Hampton found
outside trying to get wi us. It's out of ten.
It's tide of the five and he'll walk into the zode.

Speaker 7 (34:06):
Welcome back.

Speaker 5 (34:06):
We're going into the Montel Construction coaches Corner. We welcome
in Mona Shores head coach Matt Koziakis his Sailors get
set to battle Muskegan at Hackley Stadium Friday night in
at Division two District semifinal game. Coach, thanks for being
on first just five and four this year. You've had
some really good moments. You've had some moments, were struggled
a little bit. A lot of seasons are like that.
What's the mood of your team here as you guys

(34:27):
head into your second season.

Speaker 6 (34:28):
Yeah, I really think you hit it on the head there.
We've had some moments and we haven't had some moments.
That's really kind of been our im this year. So
we talk about consistency. But you know, we're fortunate to
be in. We kind of left it up to the
football gods, you know, going five and four, and we're
fortunate enough to get in. So we talk about, you know,
it's kind of a gift for us being in, so
let's not squanderus. So we talk about everybody being O

(34:51):
and O, and records are kind of irrelevant now. And
you know, it's not always the best team that wins
on Friday Night, it's the team that plays the best.
So that's kind of what our mo right now.

Speaker 1 (35:00):
Coach, I will say this, And you've always played a
tough schedule. You know, you finish up with Toledo's Central
Catholic and I go back to watching your playoff games
and cover them when you played Caledonia with they had
their nice one and everything. Do you feel this year's
team is as battle tested as the other teams? I mean,
I look at Graham Blank to start things out, you know,
dump the okay, Creed is I mean wow, I mean
it's it's it's a matter of just kind of surviving

(35:22):
injury wise, right getting to this point, Yeah, you know.

Speaker 6 (35:25):
You'd rather obviously you want to win some of those games.
We have played a tough schedule with Graham Blank, who's
had an incredible season this year, and obviously Toledo Central
Cathics of powerhouse. But you know, we lose an overtime
to Byron Center, don't play really well versus Muskegan, and
so you're kind of like, you do play a tough schedule,
but you also want to win some of those tough games.

(35:45):
And you know, we played we beat a good force
force those Northern teams who you saw what they did
to North View. You know, they just have a kind
of injury bug where they couldn't get in. So, you know,
we're trying to look for that quality win that we
had this season, and it's it's tough to find. You know,
you want to beef up your schedule, but you also
want to be able to win some of those games,
and that's where we've kind of struggled is pulling some

(36:06):
of those games out.

Speaker 5 (36:07):
You talk about miskiging the first time. You know, you
fell behind twenty eight nothing in that game. How much
can you take it was what five weeks ago, Like,
how much do you take out of that game? How
much do you look at that game in preparation for
this one and try to like tweak some things to
have them go in your favor.

Speaker 6 (36:22):
Yeah, you look at the game and you see that,
you know moments where like, hey, we were successful here,
you know, whether it's offense or defense, and then you
look at other moments where you're like we didn't have
much success here. You know, here's the reason, and you
try to We've always talked about, you know, the teams
that are able to move on in the playoffs. Those
teams still make mistakes, but they're able to shrink their mistakes,

(36:43):
and so we need to shrink our mistakes, you know.
To keep it short, we've got to obviously watch the
film and you know, Miskeigan is who they are. They're
going to do what they want to do, and our
kids have to addross to it. And we've got to fix,
you know, fix the things that we didn't do well
and then continue the things that.

Speaker 4 (36:59):
We well coach.

Speaker 1 (37:00):
When you look at all three phases, where do you
think you have the most mistakes that you need to correct?
Is it offense? Is it defense? Is it special teams?

Speaker 6 (37:07):
You know, I really think it's it's a variety. You know.
We we've given up some big kick returns that doesn't
help us. You know, we've we've given up some long
a lot of rushing yards in some of our games,
and then some of our offensively, we've been stagnant, you know,
twelve points last week or sorry, thirteen points you know
against Toledo, only twelve points against Moskeigan, and so you're

(37:28):
not going to win a lot of games. We've really
tried to preach consistency and being consistent because sometimes you
look great and sometimes we're like, what are we doing here? So,
you know, I really can't pinpoint it on one side
of the ball or special teams. It's really been kind
of collectively in inconsistency of you know, overall play. And
it's not for a lack of effort. Our kids are trying,

(37:48):
you know, and they're trying to they're given us, which
is the frustrating part because our kids are really playing
hard that we don't ever really have to question their effort.
It's just sometimes, you know, we're in the wrong gaps,
or we missed through, or we miss a block here,
and so that's where we've got to get better.

Speaker 5 (38:03):
Let's talk about some of the positives of your team
this year. Obviously, you have an outstanding running back and
Ike Stewart, who's who's committed Division one mimive Ohio. Obviously,
I'm sure other teams are game planning against him, right
they're going to try to stop him. How has he
handled that this year and how big of a factor
will he be for you guys here in the playoffs.

Speaker 6 (38:19):
You know, we're, uh, we're going to feed him until
we can't. He's he's a big part of our offense
and what we do, and you know he'll make you
look good even if it's a bad call a lot.
But some of the guys are going to have to
step up. You know, we can't be one dimensional. We've
got to be able to mix it up, maybe some
play action or you know, other guys making plays. And

(38:42):
so obviously we're gonna we're going to continue to give
him the ball because he's a big part of who
we are, but we do have to have some other
guys step up, and we're trying to put things in
where that can happen.

Speaker 1 (38:52):
Coach you went through this and other coaches that you know,
I think of Mark Cisco, I mean a Brent Sandy
and Hudsonville who are run on this week? Is the
Detroit Lions coach of the week? Is you guys are
all about that same age where when you were young
and you fed off of Tony and Nice and you
fed off the coaching tree and different people that you
had experienced. How impressed are you now?

Speaker 4 (39:11):
Is?

Speaker 1 (39:11):
And I don't want to say elder statesmen, but you've
been around the block to see some of the coaching
that's going on and some of these young coaches that
have learned as assistants like you did in different programs.
I mean, I think the high school football, regardless of
the division, around Muskege and Grand Rapids east side of
the state has been incredible.

Speaker 6 (39:28):
Agreed. You know, I'm so glad young coaches are, you know,
getting into this. I remember Tony and he's given a
speech about, you know, we're going to get old soon
and we need younger coaches in there. And now you know,
you know, I've kind of been tho my twenty sixth year,
which just blows my mind. But to see the young
coaches come in and you know, football it's just just

(39:49):
changed so much. I mean, obviously it's the contact and
the physicality we love, but just the play calling and
the schemes and to have these young minds come in
and have success, that's super cool.

Speaker 7 (39:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (39:58):
And Aaron James, your long time off It's coordinator now
head coach. George Review, they had a really nice, really
nice season as your five and four. Unfortunate they just
missed out in the playoffs, but big improvement for the Cardinals.
We're talking with Matt Koziak, head coach at Mona Shore's
his sailors getting ready to tack on the Skeigan. It
will be our Lake Shore Game of the Week at
one O seven.

Speaker 7 (40:13):
Mus the Moves.

Speaker 5 (40:14):
Coach, You've obviously had a lot of playoff success at
Mona Shore, several trips to ford Field, multiple state championships.
From all your years and all your experiences, can you
pinpoint what it takes to put together a run and
just and have some success this time of year? Is
there any any like similar traits that you can point to?

Speaker 6 (40:30):
Yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean you got to play well,
you know that's a no brainer, but you also have
to play well. You got to take care of the
football and I know that seems like football one on one,
but I can't stress how much importance that is and
moving the sticks, making sure your offense has the majority
of the possessions. And then you know what I don't
think a lot of people take in too account is

(40:51):
you got to have.

Speaker 3 (40:52):
Some block tail.

Speaker 6 (40:53):
You know, we in that twenty nineteen run, we were
you know, we had three out of our four games
in the playoffs away and came down to some plays here,
a drop pass by the other team here, or a
box snap or something like that. And so sometimes the
ball has to bounce your way, and I know that,
you know that's easier said than done to make happen.
But you know, in some of those runs you really
have to have a little bit of luck. And obviously

(41:14):
you got to play well and tackle well and all
that stuff, but you do have to have some breaks
go your way, for sure.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
Coach, you've certainly seen different versions of the Big Reds
of Muskegan, and you were on that sideline as well.
But when you look at it, every team has their
own characteristics, Right, what do you think is the strength
of this year's Big Reds team? Offense or defense? You
pick a side, So.

Speaker 6 (41:35):
You know, offensively, they want to pound the rock. You know,
they beat us last time. They threw the ball three times,
and so we're not going to have a lot of
success with them if we can't stop their run. So
the Big Reds want to pound it, whether it's their quarterback,
whether it's their back, but they want to run the football,
and if you can't match their physicality, they're just going
to continue run the football, so you know, that's one
aspect we have to be better at. And then defensively,

(41:57):
they are just they get off blocks that they're they're
sounding their gaps, they're tough, they tackle well, and so
you know they want to play hard nos physical defense.
And then on the other side of the ball, offensively,
they want to pound the rocks. So we've got to
match that. That's Number one is we've got to stop
their run.

Speaker 5 (42:15):
I know you love Hackey Stadium, right, I used to
coach there and that staff at Muskegan and in one
years a head coach, and you've had some success as
Mona Shours coach playing there. So just how exciting is
it to go playoff game Friday night Hackley Stadium, you
know Mona Shores and Miskeigan.

Speaker 7 (42:28):
To me, that's as good as it gets.

Speaker 6 (42:30):
Yeah, there's no place like Hackley. You know, I've coached
there as in a long time assistant and you know,
one y're as the head coach and then shoot, we've
gone there, you know, several years and we've actually had
more success here than we've had at home, which is
which is a unique thing just doesn't make a lot
of sense. So but faul you know late October at
Hackley Stadium. Come on, Muskeghan, Mona Shores. It's just if

(42:53):
you can't get up for that, you.

Speaker 7 (42:54):
Don't have a pol You got a costume for Friday
this Halloween.

Speaker 6 (42:58):
Yeah, I'm gonna come out and shirt and tie and
a hat.

Speaker 3 (43:01):
That's my.

Speaker 6 (43:01):
That's my I'm gonna pretend to be a head coach
for Friday.

Speaker 7 (43:06):
Love it. Great stuff. Mat cozy Ck head coach at Monashors.
Thanks a lot. We'll see a Friday n at Hackley Stadium.

Speaker 6 (43:11):
Appreciate you, guys. Thank you.

Speaker 1 (43:13):
We'll be back with more of the high school football
preview this week one playoff edition after this on nainety
six to one The game or.

Speaker 2 (43:20):
Your one stop site for up to date schedules, scores,
and standings for the ok Conference in River City's alliance,
go to West Michigan oksports dot com powered by the
great winning clabor Win Shuoler's chief spreads all right.

Speaker 1 (43:33):
That leads us into our final segment with our top
ten rankings. Jay has his I have mine going into
Week one of the playoffs with a drive to Ford
Field and also our uptown cheapskate offensive players of the game.
And oh my goodness, did we have some stats put
up in week nine to and the regular season. Wait
to hear some of these. We've even got an honorable
mention I got to throw out there. But Jay, it's
your turn to go first on the top ten rankings

(43:53):
before we do that. For people who don't know, you've
added a new element to the coverage this year with
our good friend head coach Bryan Oshnock getting nor Few
and they had an unfortunate loss got knocked out of
the playoffs. But you guys have been doing this every week.
You asked me to join you on Selection Sunday with
the playoffs. Tell people about the Local Legends podcast and
you're going to continue that and where they can find
it through the playoffs.

Speaker 7 (44:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (44:14):
So basically we just talk about the games. On Friday nights,
Ash and I get together about ten thirty eleven o'clock
on on our little computers and we talk about the
games and what jumped out to us. We always have
an area coach on or our coach on from the
state of Michigan, and we learn a lot about them. Right,
we talk about their team the game that night, but
we also just kind of talk about their history in
the background. It's been a lot of fun. We just
super casual. We just kind of talk about games or whatever.

(44:35):
Not a lot of whole stats or breakdowns, but it's
just kind of like, you know what jumped out to
us on a Friday night. We're going to keep that going.
So yeah, we do it. It's available on YouTube Local
Legends on YouTube. It's available on Spotify, It's available on
Apple Podcasts, anywhere you get podcasts, just search Local Legends.
So I appreciate you. You've been on a bunch of times,
and so yeah, it's been a whole lot of fun.

Speaker 1 (44:53):
And Don Paton posted on West Michgan okaysports dot com,
which is powered by wind shoelss G spread so you
can find it there as well.

Speaker 5 (45:00):
Which is where our top tens are. Where my top
ten is as it has been all year long. Hudsonville
number one, I have Rockford number two. East Kentvin moves
into number three for me. I dropped Miski in one
spot with the lost Muller to four. I have Byron
Center up to five.

Speaker 7 (45:11):
This week.

Speaker 5 (45:12):
I just think with five straight wins, the Bulldogs are rolling.
I ported Central at six at nine, and oh grand up,
it's Catholic Central goes up a spot for me with
the nine and zer Perfert regular season to seven. I
dropped Uniti Christian one spot to eight after they lost
to Pontiac Notre Dame Prapp last Friday. I think that's
a good thing for unity going into the playoffs and
I like the Crusaders to make a little run here.
Now if Eastern rabas at nine, at seven and two,
and then I have West Catholic at ten, so those

(45:33):
didn't change.

Speaker 1 (45:33):
Boy, I'm really impressed with West Catholic and if it
ends up being again Catholic Central West Catholic in a
district final Division five, I just think that's going to
be a heck of a matchup. Really impressed with the
Falcons in our Week nine Game of the Week hosting
Zealand West and getting that victory. So I've got Hudsonville
number one. Congrats to Brent Sandy, who, by the way,
is this week's Detroit Lions Coach of the Week for

(45:54):
the State of Michigan. Wow, what a job he has done.
And to run through the ok Red not once but
twice unblemished and be outright okay, Red Conference champions. That's
impressive for the Egos. Obviously making that run to Ford
field of last year Portage Central, I moved up one spot.
I flipped flop with the Unity Christian's loss to eight
and one their three Portage Central at nine and er.

(46:15):
How about that for mick Anders, lookout for them in
Division two at number two. Rockford then at six and
two is four. East Kentwood at six and two is five.
I'm sorry, seven and two. I think I've got that wrong.
And then yeah, Muskegan at six and three is six.
Grand Rapids, Catholic Central tip of the Captain Town Coaster
and the Cougar is a perfect nine and zero. You're outright, okay,

(46:36):
Black champs. We had them then impressed and went over
Northview a week ago. Luddington finishes it off at nine
and oh, number eight for me. Kenowa Hills at eight
and one number nine, and then East Grand Rapids at
seven and two is ten. So we've got Kenoway Hills
and I'm sorry, we've got Cedar Springs in East Grand
Rapids as our matchup. Kenoway Hills is the number one
seed in that very good Division III district that I

(46:57):
love annible mentioned for me is wes Cathoic eight and one,
Cedar Springs at eight one, Belding eight and one, and
then Kent City at nine and oh.

Speaker 5 (47:05):
Yeah you talk about that district. I mean, I don't
know if we're gonna get the Easter Grand Up. It's
kender Hills District final. If seeds hold, that's what we'll get.
But both have such difficult games, like that would be
a fascinating matchup because Kenwill Hills is just so good
on offense and East grandup Its is just so good
on defense.

Speaker 1 (47:18):
It's like it would be awesome. And I feel bad
for Kent City. I know you went and covered them
nine and zero. They don't even get a chance to
host a playoff game. We've seen this before, it was
Northfeld last year. But I just I think that's so
unfortunate for the Eagles.

Speaker 5 (47:29):
Yeah, it's super unfortunate, no question, nine to zero not
to get a home game. We have seen it before.
But Tom Kenner was talking our four pack segment. Trey
County with nine er a bunch of years didn't even
get into the playoffs. So at least they're in the playoffs.
But yeah, you'd like you'd like see the Egals get
a home game, all.

Speaker 1 (47:43):
Right, eye popping numbers for our uptown cheapskate players of
the week. I'll go first with this performance. Wow, I
want to see and I haven't watched the video yet
of this game. What happened? But Forest Hills Northern just
an explosion seventy points against Northview. They beat them seventy
to thirty five. I mean, it's a great rivalry game.
But nineteen carries for junior quarterback Owen Ostipo, who was fantastic,

(48:06):
four hundred and thirty yards, five touchdowns. They couldn't stop him,
and he threw for a six touchdown, thirteen most rushing
yards at MHSA single game history. Congratulations Owen Ostapo, my
uptown cheapskate player of the Week.

Speaker 5 (48:19):
And the most disappointing part of that whole thing is
I didn't even get to hear Brettmackee to say and
only a junior.

Speaker 7 (48:24):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (48:25):
I did mention he was a junior. I just didn't
say only, but you're always only a junior. Yeah, So
some college coach is going to be thrilled to get
Owen Ostapo. All right, I'm gonna go with Keyante Gibson,
the senior running back for Kelloggsville almost as good as
Owen ostpo four and sixteen yards rushing and five touchdowns.
How about this, kV will be top Eric Holland and
that's going to get him in the playoffs. Kelloggsville in

(48:47):
the playoffs. Yes, they're gonna go to Grama's Catholic Center.
I resid's a tough matchup with the huge, huge strides
for Kelloggsville this year and Justin denn in his first
season to get the Rockets back to the postseason. And
a great job by Kanta gibbson.

Speaker 1 (48:57):
If there's a note will mention I can throw in there,
I mentioned him earlier in this show. How about Eastings
running back Jonah hamp twelve carries two hundred and sixty
seven hours. I don't even have the percurry average there
off the top of my head, but four touchdowns in
there went over Whalen and now they've got the matchup
with TK Middleville.

Speaker 5 (49:11):
Well it's over twenty two yards of carry. Yeah, I
mean that's incredible. And the crazy thing is is like
he's kind of like a he didn't run the ball
at all in the TK games. I think he might
be a rotational piece, like they've got Trevan Russell, and
they've got some really good running backs.

Speaker 1 (49:23):
That give them the ball. Jack, Wow, just give him
the ball.

Speaker 7 (49:26):
They've got some dudes that can run into Hastings. I
know I'm telling you.

Speaker 1 (49:29):
Hey. Congratulations to this week for the regular season. Wrapping
up Week nine, Uptown Cheapskate Players of the Week brought
to you by Uptown Chiefs Skate Locations in Grandville, can
Wood to serve you Uptown Chiefskate. They buy what you
loved yesterday, sell what you want today. Each of those
players will get a twenty five dollars gift card do
some shopping on us courtesy of Uptown Cheapskate. That's going
to wrap up the show for this week. Don't forget

(49:49):
one more show next week from six to seven Thursday night,
right here on your home for the drive to Ford Field.
In the NHSA High School Football Playoffs, we are ninety
six to one.

Speaker 2 (50:00):
We hope you enjoyed this 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.
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, Wing, Doozy,

(50:24):
Straight Line Fence, Rapid Radios, Uptown, Chief Skate in Granville
and Kentwood, MKD Funeral Homes, Windsheeler's Delicious Cheese Spreads, Pulse,
Jepson Physical Therapy, Discount Door and Montel Construction.

Speaker 1 (50:39):
And just a reminder that you can follow

Speaker 2 (50:41):
All of the high school sports action this fall with
conference schedules, scores, and standings for your favorite teams by
logging onto West Michigan oksports dot com