**ARTICLE BY NICK TUORI AND JOSH LONGSTRETH**

The second week of the MHSAA season is now upon us. After a memorable first week of games, we have another full slate on Thursday and Friday this week.

 

Rockford vs Mona Shores

Two of the area’s best programs square off in the second week of the regular season. Rockford is poised for a big season this fall, as they rattled off a big 27-7 win over Muskegon. Mona Shores also enters this week’s contest 1-0 after a 58-7 thrashing of Manitowoc Lincoln (WI). It’s the latest edition of a rivalry that has produced several thrillers in the last decade. Last fall, Rockford was able to escape the Sailors’ grasp in a 31-27 victory.

East Kentwood vs Byron Center

Last week, East Kentwood started the season with a victory for the first time since 2017. They had little trouble against Hartland in a 35-10 victory. This week, they will try to improve to 2-0 when they face the Byron Center Bulldogs. Last week, Byron Center throttled Battle Creek Central in a 55-14 rout. Byron Center should be a tall test for the Falcons, as they have been one of the area’s best the past few seasons. These teams last met in 1966, when they were members of the OK Blue. In that game, East Kentwood rolled to a 39-7 victory.

Caledonia vs North Farmington

The Fighting Scots took down Romeo in a Week 1 thriller at Michigan Stadium. On Friday afternoon, they saw a 21-point lead evaporate before scoring in the final minutes to snag a 35-28 win over the Bulldogs. Caledonia will look to take it’s state ranked squad into battle yet again this week when they face North Farmington. This is a rematch of last season’s Week 2 against the Raiders, which saw Caledonia blitz North Farmington in a 68-14 victory. That win was a statement to the state how legitimate Caledonia was last fall. This year, they will try to dominate the Raiders yet again. Last week, North Farmington fell to Birmingham Groves 36-3.

South Christian vs East Grand Rapids

The South Christian Sailors set a school record on Thursday night, lighting up the scoreboard with 66 points. They needed most of those points in a 66-42 shootout victory over Grand Rapids Christian. This week, they will face East Grand Rapids, who flexed their muscle in its season opener. In week 1, the Pioneers blanked Cedar Springs 14-0, their first season opening victory since 2017. The strength-on-strength battle is the 7th time the schools have met the last eight years (missed 2020 that was scheduled due to COVID). Last fall, South Christian saw its offense explode in a 35-6 victory. This week, EGR is looking to tighten the cap and snap the Sailors’ 15-game win streak.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs River Rouge

This past week, the Cougars began their season with a humbling defeat at the hands of Illinois’ best club, Loyola Wilmette Catholic, 45-7. It’s the first time since 2015 that the Cougars start the season with an 0-1 mark. This week, they will try to avoid the program’s first 0-2 start since 2014 when they face River Rouge. The Panthers are one of the state’s most consistent programs as well, with playoff trips in each season since 2010. Last week, they took two-time defending State Champion Belleville to the brink before falling 35-28. These two teams met back in 2019, when GRCC escaped with a narrow 17-14 victory. We expect nothing short of another thriller this fall.

Coopersville vs Sparta

The Coopersville Broncos dominated Otsego in a game that started Thursday but ended Friday evening. It was a 49-6 rout, in which Coopersville flexed its muscle on both sides of the ball. This week, it’s the latest chapter in a longstanding rivalry with Sparta. The Spartans were defeated in their season opener by Muskegon Oakridge, 27-15. Both of these programs have experienced a resurgence of late, with Sparta making four straight playoff trips and Coopersville three, and this win will be pivotal to both teams in their quests to keep those streaks alive. Last fall, Coopersville raced out to a fast lead in a 45-20 victory.

Hudsonville vs East Lansing

It was a successful season opener for Hudsonville. Their defense did not yield a point in a 28-2 victory, the lone Highlanders points coming on an errant punt snap. Hudsonville will look to start the season 2-0 when they face the East Lansing Trojans. The Trojans struggled offensively in their season opener, falling to Portage Central 17-7. East Lansing made their seventh straight playoff appearance last fall, and they will need this victory to get back on track. Hudsonville, meanwhile, will look to build on their momentum heading into league play.

Grandville vs Davison

The Bulldogs delivered a statement victory in their season opener, handily defeating Grand Blanc 41-13. Jayden ‘Tank’ Terry picked up where he left off in his sophomore season debut. This week, Grandville will square off against Davison, another east side stronghold in the MHSAA football landscape. The Cardinals delivered their own statement victory with perhaps the most marquee win of all in Week 1. They took down Warren De La Salle 31-26. These two programs have never squared off, but many OK Red fans will remember when Davison knocked out Rockford in the 2020 playoffs, 27-3.

Cedar Springs vs Zeeland West

The Zeeland West Dux came into the 2023 season as a team that has the look of a playoff team that could do some damage this season. For a team that has had as much success as any, it is now expected. A team led by Parker Holman and quarterback Trenton Bolhouse, it’s a team that is deep and has other weapons that can make teams pay. They showed that much last week by kicking off the season with a 56-8 over Lakeshore.

It was a tough one for Cedar Springs in week one. Facing East Grand Rapids, the Red Hawks defense was able to keep them in the game all night. The offense could just never get going although with high expectations for improvement this season. In a game that was a true defense battle throughout the opening half, the Pioneers were finally able to break things open by taking a 14-0 lead in the third. That was all they needed and stymied the Red Hawks offense throughout much of the night. For a team that is used to their own success, expect some big improvement heading into week two.

Their opening week matchups went in the opposite direction but Cedar Springs has what it takes to upend the Dux. West will welcome them in to Zeeland Stadium on Thursday night.

Comstock Park vs Holland

Things looked a lot different for the Comstock Park Panthers heading into their game with Tri-County last week. Ahead of its game with the Vikings, the area was ravaged by a tornado that left their team trying their best to help their community out. They used that same tenacity by being right in the game for most of the night before Tri-County cruised late. The Panthers offense did some great work on the night but it just wouldn’t be enough. With the defense reeling a bit, they’ll look to see if they can bounce back in week two.

The Holland Dutch would struggle on both sides of the ball in their week one matchup with Holland Christian, falling to the Maroons, 6-42. Christian got off to a solid start and took care of what they needed to do early to stranglehold for much of the game. With the Dutch, expect them to rebound in what should be a solid matchup with the Panthers.

These two square off on Thursday night at Hope College.

Tri-County vs Reed City

The Tri-County Vikings came into the 2023 season with high expectations for themselves. Their offense would get the season started off in a big way in a 56-35 win over Comstock Park. Much of it by way of the ground game as they would run the ball for nearly 400 yards on the night. The Vikings will look to see if their defense can bounce back in week two to make things even easier on their offense.

Reed City didn’t have the same success in week one as they fell to Kinglsey, 12-46. The Coyotes were in the game at halftime being down just 6-20 before the Stags put together a big second half to cruise the rest of the way. It wasn’t the start to the 2023 season that Reed City wanted as they come in with hopes to make a deep playoff run this season. Look for them to bounce back in a big way but it won’t be easy against a Vikings team that is off and running.

Central Montcalm vs Kent City

Central Montcalm came out in a flurry in week one of the 2023 season. For a Hornets team with a high agenda, it wasn’t anything but expected. With some solid youth and experience, it’s a team that could be one of the most improved teams in the divisions the CSAA this season. They showed that by getting out to a 27-0 lead over Morley Stanwood last week before the game was delayed a day. The route only continued as they put together an impressive effort on both sides of the football defeating the Mohawks, 53-0.

The Eagles of Kent City caught themselves in a tough battle with Newaygo last week before pulling it out late, 14-13. It wasn’t always impressive for Kent City but in week one of the season, you’ll expect that. Led by a ground game that was able to pound the ball for nearly 300 yards on the night, their offense will look to see if they can become even more dynamic in week two. Defensively, the Eagles did a great job of limiting the Lions offense and coming up with big stops late.

This should be one of the more intriguing matchups of the week in what will be a tough battle. The Hornets welcome in Kent City (open their first four at home) on Thursday night.

Newaygo vs Big Rapids

It wasn’t the way the Newaygo Lions wanted to start the season in the debut of head football coach, Ralph Munger, at the helm. Newaygo would battle throughout but it just wouldn’t be enough as they fell 13-14 to the Kent City Eagles. The Lions would have a hard time containing a Kent City run game that racked up 269 yards in the game. Newaygo grabbed the momentum first in this one after taking a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. It would be a 7-6 Lions lead after one half of play. The Lions would put together a solid third quarter to head into the fourth with a 14-13 lead. Kent City would put together their biggest drive on the night to grab their first lead of the night at 14-13. This is a Newaygo team that will continue to push forward, it could pay dividends as the season goes.

Big Rapids was able to take a 13-7 lead after one quarter of play over Paw Paw last week before the Red Wolves grabbed a 14-13 heading into halftime. The Cardinals, who play a gauntlet of a schedule this season, look to grow as the season continues. It just wouldn’t happen in this one as Paw Paw went on to dominate much of the second half.

Freeland vs Swan Valley

It was by no means a perfect showing for the Freeland Falcons last Friday night when they took on the Clare Pioneers. The Falcons looked like they would have their way early on when they grabbed a 9-0 lead after a safety and Jake Metiva touchdown within the games first couple possessions. But the Pioneers would battle to make things interesting as things stood at 16-14, Freeland, after one half of play. Things would get heated throughout and Clare would actually hold the lead late and trying to come up with a goal line stand with just seconds remaining. The Falcons would do enough to punch it in all but sealing the deal. They would hold off a couple last Pioneer heaves and get out of town with a win. This one wasn’t pretty on either side as both really cost themselves at times. First game of the year, as expected, you’re going to have that. It’s a lot easier learning from mistakes while getting the win rather and Freeland will look to clean up some of the mistakes. It’s a a team that looks the part and as new player roles come to fruition, they should be even smoother in week two.

The Swan Valley Vikings are a team that begins 2023 after losing some vital upperclassmen from last season. That would show in their week one meeting with Cros-Lex. Cros-Lex has everything it needs to make a deep run in the playoffs, even with a new head man at the helm. For the young Vikings they took it on the chin a bit in this one as they could never really settle in. A week two matchup with Freeland won’t be any easier but this will be a team that continues to gel as the season progresses.