As the MHSAA football postseason enters the Regional Finals, teams from different corners of the state with varying pedigrees get the chance to clash with a trophy on the line. This is perhaps highlighted nowhere greater than in Division 7, where the Lawton Blue Devils will face the Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders.

For the first time in program history, Lawton secured a District Championship last week, defeating Union City 35-6. After thirteen winning seasons and eleven playoff appearances since 2006, this was a monumental step for the Blue Devils football program. “Lawton is a football community,” Lawton Head Coach Wade Waldrup shared. “We have experienced a lot of winning, but not necessarily a trophy. This first district championship is a big deal.”

On the other side of this battle, Muskegon Catholic Central is amongst the most successful programs in the history of the state. The Crusaders recorded their 500th victory this fall, and they have 12 State Championships in the playoff era. Their 50-14 win over Ravenna in last week’s District Championship game gave MCC their 88th all-time victory in the postseason.

Despite the difference in pedigree, Coach Waldrup believes that his team is prepared for the big stage, and that starts with his coaching staff. “If you look at our staff, we have experience. We have ten coaches on staff, and while Lawton as a program might be new to this big stage, our staff is not. We have former head coaches, and former coordinators at bigger schools. Coaches on our staff have been working on their craft for 20-25 years, and we have coached in big games. As a staff, we know what it takes.”

In addition to his staff, the camaraderie of his players has Waldrup confident that they will not be blinded by the big lights of Hackley Stadium on Friday night. “We have 10 senior starters on this team. Many of these guys have been playing together since they were eight or nine years old. In our game against Montrose, we played a strong football program, and were viewed as an underdog. Our kids handled it really well, even when Montrose made a run. These kids have played together for so long, that they’ll be ready for the big stage.”

Muskegon Catholic Central has prepared themselves for this moment as well, with a schedule that was rigorous. In addition to playoff teams Manistee and Muskegon Heights in their Lakes 8 slate, the Crusaders scheduled Centreville, North Muskegon, Oakridge and West Catholic in non-league play to push their team. Head Coach Steve Czerwon believes that this schedule has his team ready for Friday’s ballgame. “This team really believes in each other,” Czerwon shared. “We blew a 16-point lead to Centreville before winning, and we rallied against Oakridge late. This team continues to battle, no matter the circumstances. Regardless of how things are going, they are going to be ready to fight for four quarters. We are playing our best football at this point in the season, getting better each week.”

Lawton is led offensively by an offensive line that has a trio of three-year starters. “This is a physical bunch that loves to be violent blockers,” Waldrup explained. This paves the way for the Blue Devils’ star tailback, Jake Rueff. In eleven games this fall, Rueff has taken 130 carries to rack up 2,029 yards and a remarkable 44 touchdowns.

In addition to Rueff, the Blue Devils feature Carter Cosby (850 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns) and Carter Geib (750 yards and 10 touchdowns) in their rushing attack that has tallied over 4,500 yards this fall. When Lawton airs it out, Chase Mitchell has managed to haul in five receiving scores. This well-rounded offensive attack has led Lawton to be one of the state’s scoring leaders at 53.1 points per game. “We need to be able to stop them defensively,” Czerwon emphasized. “They are big up front with strong blockers. Their running back (Rueff) is a great player. They emulate a lot of what we do offensive with their full-house T sets, and they have an ability to spread things out a bit too.”

Muskegon Catholic prides themselves on their defense, a unit that allows 12.5 points per contest. This strength has caught the attention of Waldrup. “Defensively is where they make their name,” Waldrup shared. “You never see anyone take a play off. They attack the football downhill, and they are fast.”

When the Crusaders have the football, they have shown a few different wrinkles throughout the season, including a more sustained passing attack. “This is the best passing team I’ve had since I’ve been at Catholic,” Czerwon shared. “At the same time, we have a quarterback who can run and a talented running back. We are very diverse offensively.”

Elliot Reigler commands the Crusaders offense, completing 63% of his passes for nearly 800 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is also the team’s second leading rusher with 570 yards and 11 scores on the ground. Sam Convertini is the preferred target for Reigler with 450 yards and 6 touchdown grabs.

The ground game is anchored by Joe Waller, the media’s selection for Lakes 8 Player of the Year. Waller racked up over 800 rushing yards to go along with 14 rushing touchdowns. David Hill also has crossed the 500 rushing yard plateau on the season. “Their running back (Waller) is outstanding”, Waldrup praised. “They have a playmaker at quarterback as well, and he has great protection with their 4-year starter at left tackle (Jaden Johnson).”

Lawton’s defense faces a challenge in limiting Muskegon Catholic’s offense, but all year they have thrived on the defensive side of the ball. The Blue Devils have yielded just 94 points this fall, with 40 coming in their shootout win over Montrose. Five opponents have been shut out. “Lawton as a brand of football is physical and violent,” Waldrup explained. “Our defense plays downhill, and they get to the ball with violence. We love to play physically, and I’m amazed at how our guys give up their body to make plays.”

This is just one of many thrilling games in the Division 7 playoffs, where former State Champions Detroit Loyola, Jackson Lumen Christi, Pewamo Westphalia, and Traverse City St Francis also remain alive. “This is an extremely talented division, with so many historically talented programs still in play,” Czerwon remarked. Without a doubt, the State Champion in this division will earn their rightful seat atop the throne. That pursuit becomes one step closer to a reality for the winner of this game on Friday night.