Photo Credit: Lou Murray
The OK Green always features some of the area’s best programs. There is reason for optimism throughout the remainder of this league as well, eliminating some of those “easy wins” on the league slate. As this league continues to improve, it will be more must-watch football in West Michigan.
Holland
2021 Season: 1-8
Last Conference Championship: 1968 Valley-Coast Conference
Last Playoff Victory: 2020
Non-Conference Schedule: Holland Christian, at Comstock Park
The Dutch had one win a season ago, they outlasted Wyoming in a 52-49 shootout on September 17. In the other eight contests, they lost all by at least 13 points. The Dutch defense struggled, giving up 519 points on the season. This was the most in program history.
This fall, the Dutch will be under the direction of a new coach. Will Siffin, who played football at Wayne State and for the Sioux City Bandits arena football club. Recently, Siffin was also the Hoover High School (IA) head football coach. He will try and rekindle the Dutch football program, that has had just one winning season since 2012 (they were 6-4 in 2017). This fall, they will have many graduating seniors to replace, including quarterback Zach Hop. As the team and program starts fresh with Siffin, they will try and get off on the right foot against rival Holland Christian.
Mona Shores
2021 Season: 8-3 (lost in District Finals)
Last Conference Championship: 2020 OK Green
Last Playoff Victory: 2021
Non-Conference Schedule: Manitowoc Lincoln (WI), at Rockford
The Sailors entered 2021 as the two-time defending State Champions in Division 2. They look strong and poised for another playoff run, with a 7-2 regular season. In the playoffs, the Sailors saw their season end in the District Finals at the hands of Caledonia, the first time since 2017 that Mona Shores bowed out that early in the postseason.
In 2022, Mona Shores looks to get back atop the OK Green and to Ford Field. They return key skill players, such as Brandon Bankard, Dahmir Farnum, Jaylen Vinton and Kewan Farnum. Up front, Jesse Love, Luke Emmons and Sam Wahlberg will anchor the Sailors. These experienced players will create a great situation for whichever newcomer takes over at quarterback, either Hayden Terpstra or Jonathan Pittman. This will be the third quarterback in as many years for Mona Shores, as they have replaced Brady Rose and Mark Konecny. Those are enormous shoes to fill, but Coach Koziak’s Sailors will certainly be up to the challenge. They begin the year with a unique non-conference bout with Manitowoc Lincoln, a high school from Wisconsin. The schedule also includes Muskegon and Rockford, meaning that Koziak’s crew will be tested often. Don’t be surprised when the Week 9 battle against the Big Reds is for the OK Green title, and if this team is playing deep into November.
Muskegon
2021 Season: 9-2 (lost in District Finals)
Last Conference Championship: 2021 OK Green
Last Playoff Victory: 2021
Non-Conference Schedule: East Kentwood, at Warren DeLaSalle
It almost feels like a November tradition that the Big Reds are one of the final teams remaining in the State Playoffs. Last fall, they had an uncharacteristically early exit. Muskegon was stunned by Cedar Springs in the district finals, the first time since 2011 that they did not capture the district trophy.
Muskegon is loaded, with experience at nearly every position. M’Khi Guy will slide into the quarterback position, taking the reigns from Myles Walton this fall. Destin Piggee and Jakob Price, two skill players with double digit touchdowns last fall? They’re back too. Up front, the Big Reds return Chris Jones, D’Andre Hudgins, Karl Brooks, Miguel Botello and Nickarri Lane. This is just the start of the talent that Muskegon returns in 2022. This program is hungry for a State Championship, with their last time coming in 2017. With Mona Shores and Warren DeLaSalle on the schedule, they may not make it through the regular season unbeaten. But it should not surprise anyone if they win the OK Green, or if they are playing in Ford Field on Thanksgiving weekend.
Reeths-Puffer
2021 Season: 3-6
Last Conference Championship: 1997 Seaway
Last Playoff Victory: 1992
Non-Conference Schedule: Grand Haven, at St Johns
The Rockets started last fall with a 2-1 record, and were just a few plays away from a 4-0 start. Losses in five of their last games grounded the Rockets’ flight, and they finished with a 3-6 mark.
Reeths-Puffer fans enter 2022 with tremendous optimism. Cody Kater, a West Michigan football legend for his career at Montague, takes over as the leader of the Rockets. He has brought in a great staff, including former Holton Head Coach Alex Smith as his Defensive Coordinator. There are only a few starters returning, but two of the offensive returners are the best from last year’s squad. Brody Johnson (9 rushing touchdowns) and Tayte Vanderleest (5 receiving touchdowns) are back, providing two strong weapons for their new quarterback. This program is poised to take off in the next few seasons under Kater and his energetic staff. With a non-league slate that presents opportunities, results may appear in the win column earlier than anticipated.
Union
2021 Season: 4-5
Last Conference Championship: 1998 City League
Last Playoff Victory: 1993
Non-Conference Schedule: at Ottawa Hills, at Detroit Osborn
The transition at Union under Head Coach Don Fellows has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2020, the Red Hawks snapped a 45-game losing streak with a win over Wyoming. Last fall, the Red Hawks were 4-5. If not for some late season injuries, there is a strong chance that you would have seen Union in the postseason in 2021.
As the 2022 campaign begins, the Red Hawks hope to get to the postseason. The Red Hawks have some key returners this fall, starting with Tommy Stevens. The electric quarterback, who took the area by storm in 2020, battled injuries last fall. Despite limited action, he still accounted for 13 touchdowns. He will be joined by key players such as Alec Martinez, Elijah Taylor, Chris Ware-Murphy, Keith Griffin, Kharri Caldwell, Jersey Broen, Meciah Reed, Najah Thornton, Syncere Hobson. With increased depth, and experience at key positions, and a favorable non-league slate, the Red Hawks are poised to battle in the OK Green this fall. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if Union is playing for a playoff spot as the calendar turns to October.
Wyoming
2021 Season: 1-8
Last Conference Championship: N/A
Last Playoff Victory: N/A
Non-Conference Schedule: at Forest Hills Northern, Northview
The Wolves began the Carlton Brewster era with a 1-8 record last fall. After seven defeats, they were able to take down Union 33-17, rallying from an early 9-0 hole. As Brewster continues to create the culture at Wyoming, there will be improvement each season.
Replacing quarterback Bernie Varnesdeel will be a tall task, but there are experienced players still in the Purple and Grey. Logan Schroeder, Kevin Underwood and Royce Shropshire are back to build the foundation of this program. With a challenging non-league schedule and the always daunting OK Green, the Wolves will look to be consistently competitive this fall.
Zeeland East
2021 Season: 5-5 (lost in playoff opener)
Last Conference Championship: 2018 OK Green
Last Playoff Victory: 2018
Non-Conference Schedule: at Williamston, Spring Lake
The Chix had their first campaign under new head coach Joe Woodruff. They had what some pundits would refer to as a “textbook” season. They beat five teams that many believed they would and lost to five schools in matchups that saw them as underdogs. In the postseason, they gave Stevensville Lakeshore a run for their money, ultimately falling 30-23.
This fall, the Chix hope to get back to the postseason and capture their first postseason win since the 2018 semifinal run. They will rely on Austin Keur to lead the offense from under center. Last fall, Keur split the quarterbacking with Max Cochran. Keur, who had 8 touchdowns a year ago, will look to grow in his second year in Woodruff’s system. On the defensive side, the linebacking core is strong for East. They return leading tackler Nick Williams, and they get a boost with the addition of Evan Berghorst. They have a tough schedule with Williamston and Spring Lake in non-league action, so the Chix will need to learn to fly quickly this fall.
Zeeland West
2021 Season: 6-3 (lost playoff opener)
Last Conference Championship: 2015 OK Green
Last Playoff Victory: 2020
Non-Conference Schedule: at Stevensville Lakeshore, at Cedar Springs
Last fall, the Dux made the playoffs for the 12th straight season, and the 15th time in the 17-year history of the program. For the first time since 2016, the Dux were eliminated in the first round of the postseason. They suffered a tough 29-26 defeat against St Joseph, ending their season in Week 10.
Trevor Wallar is back to direct the offense from the quarterback position. Last fall, he threw for four touchdowns, a fairly large amount in Coach Shillito’s “T” offense. Luke Hulsman is back as a stalwart on the offensive line. These are two of 14 starters that are back for Zeeland West, as they try to reclaim their spot atop the OK Green. This year, the Dux will test themselves in the non-conference slate with tough contests against Stevensville Lakeshore and Cedar Springs. These games, paired with the September 23 and 30 stretch against Muskegon and Mona Shores, will be against some of the area’s best. These matchups will reveal where the Dux stand in the area’s pecking order, but expect to see them in the postseason for the 13th straight year.
2022 MSR FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
