Photo Credit: Lou Murray
The 2023 MHSAA Football season kicked off on Thursday and Friday around the great state of Michigan. Teams began their season-long journey amidst some of the wildest weather patterns we have seen in quite some time. Several games were postponed on Thursday night, finishing late in the evening or Friday afternoon. The MSR team has a complete list of scores, notable stats and links to complete recaps below.
11-MAN FOOTBALL
Allendale 28 Greenville 8
Belding 22 Ionia 11: The Black Knights trailed 11-8 heading into the fourth quarter, but a pair of touchdowns game them the Ionia County Championship. Hayden Halladay delivered the go-ahead touchdown with his 13 yard carry with 8 minutes to play.
Byron Center 55 Battle Creek Central 14
Caledonia 35 Romeo 28: The Fighting Scots raced out to a 21-0 lead, before Romeo was able to even the score at 28 in the closing minutes of play. With just over a minute to play, Brody Betser found Maddox Greenfield for a 58-yard touchdown strike. This was Greenfield’s fourth touchdown catch of the afternoon.
Central Montcalm 53 Morley Stanwood 0
East Grand Rapids 14 Cedar Springs 0: The Pioneers were able to blank the Red Hawks on Friday night. EGR held a 269-67 yardage advantage in this context. Carson Thornton was 11/15 passing for 111 yards for the victors.
East Kentwood 35 Hartland 10: This game was cut short by the weather. With the Falcons in commanding control late in the third quarter, they deemed this contest concluded on Thursday night, so that Hartland would not need to make a return trip.
Forest Hills Central 37 Jenison 9: Mason McDonald finished 11/20 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns, adding 62 rushing yards and two scores. Both passing touchdowns went to Brendan Cargil, who ended the night with 115 yards on four catches. Micah Meadow led the FHC defense with 8 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Forest Hills Northern 37 Wyoming 0
Gladwin 42 Ogemaw Heights 28
Grand Ledge 37 West Ottawa 30
Grandville 41 Grand Blanc 13: It was the Tank Terry show on Thursday night, as the sophomore back got off to an electric start. In this commanding win, Terry rushed for 242 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Goodrich 14 Frankenmuth 8: The Eagles suffered a narrow defeat in their opening game against the Martians. Frankenmuth’s defense recorded a safety in the first quarter, and they held this 2-0 lead into the fourth quarter. After a Goodrich touchdown gave them a 7-2 lead, Jack Rich gave Frankenmuth the lead back with a 37-yard touchdown run. Goodrich would get the last laugh with a rushing touchdown with just 18 seconds left to play.
Hamilton 41 Plainwell 6: It was an opening night breeze for the Hawkeyes on Friday. Ben Boehm led the way with three rushing touchdowns, and an interception return for a score. Hamilton was a well-balanced attack with 104 passing yards and 236 rushing yards, outgaining Plainwell 340-161.
Hart 8 Fremont 6: The Pirates were able to secure a victory over the Packers in a defensive struggle on Friday night. Hart’s defense was relentless, making four fourth down stops and securing three interceptions. Owen Hertel was the lone Fremont player to find the end zone.
Hastings 50 Middleville 34
Holland Christian 42 Holland 6: The Maroons had little trouble in the annual crosstown showdown in Tulip Town. Eli Boyce was 17/27 passing for HC, racking up 179 yards and three scores. Ethan Abberger caught 10 of those 17 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Meta Hoekstra added 91 yards rushing. This is the fifth straight win for Holland Christian in this series.
Kalamazoo United 28 Berrien Springs 27
Kenowa Hills 18 Fruitport 10
Lawton 51 Benton Harbor 20: Kal Motter rushed for two scores, and the lethal aerial combo of Aiden O’Brien and Nolan Collins created a lethal all-out offensive attack on the Tigers. Lawton led big in this game before some late Benton Harbor scoring made the final a bit closer.
Lowell 56 Mattawan 28
Manistee 45 Kalkaska 0
Mason County Central 27 Godwin Heights 7
Mona Shores 58 Manitowoc Lincoln (WI) 7
New Lothrop 34 Muskegon County Central 20
North Muskegon 17 Pewamo-Westphalia 14
Northview 34 Chelsea 14
Oakridge 27 Sparta 17
Orchard View 52 Holton 6: The Cardinals snapped a losing skid that dated back to the 2020 season with a blitzing of the Red Devils. Alex Theile passed for a score and rushed for two more, while four other Cardinals found the end zone on the ground. A truly special night for OV, as they outgain Holton 354-96.
Paw Paw 34 Big Rapids 13: The Cardinals had no answer for Paw Paw’s PJ DeYoung, who turned 22 carries into 124 yards and three touchdowns. Two interceptions and a missed field goal were crucial to Big Rapids in this ballgame. Riley Vennix threw for 217 yards for Big Rapids in defeat.
Petoskey 32 Ludington 14
Reeths-Puffer 41 Grand Haven 15
Rockford 27 Muskegon 7
Saranac 44 St Louis 6
South Christian 66 Grand Rapids Christian 42
Spring Lake 34 Montague 28
Tri-County 56 Comstock Park 35
Wayland 40 Hopkins 7: The Wildcats had little problems with their county rivals. Wayland was led by a phenomenal rushing attack, accounting for all 292 yards of offense. Cameron Bogart was able to score for Wayland with a defensive touchdown and a punt return touchdown.
West Catholic 56 Edwardsburg 7
Whitehall 34 Unity Christian 28
Zeeland East 35 Williamston 28
Zeeland West 56 Stevensville Lakeshore 8
8-MAN FOOTBALL
Bridgman 28 Concord 12
Calvin Christian 34 Eau Claire 32
Climax-Scotts 26 Northpointe Christian 14
Deckerville 68 Ashley 0
Manistee Catholic Central 30 Onekama 8
Marcellus 58 Tri-Unity Christian 8
Martin 62 Colon 6
Maple Valley 38 Mesick 14: The Lions cruised to their season opening victory. Andrew Shepard rushed for 189 yards for the victors, while James Penny scored twice in their ground game. In this victory, Maple Valley held a 422-213 yardage advantage.
Mendon 66 Bangor 20: The Hornets started their 2023 season with a convincing victory. Mendon rushed for 393 yards, including a 202-yard, 4-touchdown effort by Jack McCaw. In addition to that ground prowess, McCaw added a fifth score with a punt return of 32 yards.
Newberry 72 Brimley 42
Wyoming Lee 50 Baldwin 0
Saturday Games
Union v Ottawa Hills – 12:00
Gobles v Lawrence – 1:00
GR Catholic Central v Wilmette Loyola Academy (IL) – 4:00
Fennville v Twin City Sharks – 7:00
